Our Beliefs

The Bible

We believe that the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings–the only complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men, and the Divine and final authority for Christian faith and life. (Matthew 5:18; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21)

God

We believe that God exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; John 1:1-2, 14, 10:30, 14:15-17; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14). We believe that God is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe; that creation was a direct act of God, who spoke the cosmos into being from nothing. (John 1:3, 10; Acts 17:24-25; Genesis 1:1)

Jesus, God the Son

We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been born of a virgin. He died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Further, He arose bodily from the dead and ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He is now our High Priest and Advocate. (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6; Hebrews 1:1-2, 7:25; Luke 1:30-35; Ephesians 4:8; John 1:1-5, 10-14, 14:3; Colossians 2:9; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Acts 1:3,11; Revelation 20:4)

God the Holy Spirit

We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, and during this age to convict men, regenerate the sinner, in-dwell, guide, instruct and empower the believer for godly living and service. (John 3:5, 16:7-11; Acts 5:3- 4; Ephesians 1:13, 4:30, 5:18; 1 Corinthians 6:19, 12:13)

Man

We believe that man was created in the image of God but chose to sin, and is therefore lost. (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 1:18, 3:23, 5:12; (Ephesians 2:1- 3, 12) Only through belief in Jesus can a person be saved. (John 3:16, 6:29) Regeneration by the Holy Spirit brings fruitful spiritual life. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Salvation

We believe that salvation is a gift of God and that the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only ground for justification and salvation for all who believe and only those who receive Jesus Christ are born of the Holy Spirit, and thus become children of God. (Acts 13:38-39; Romans 4:5, 6:23, 8:1, 38-39; John 10:27- 29; Ephesians 2:8-9)

The Church

We believe that the true Church is composed of all such persons, who through saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the body of Christ, of which He is Head. That only those who are thus members of the true Church shall be eligible for membership in the local church. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church, and that every local church has the right under Christ to decide and govern its own affairs. (Acts 2:42, 47; Romans 12:5; Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:23-24; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 11:2)

The Ordinances

We believe that water baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances to be observed by the Church during this present age. They are, however, not to be regarded as means of salvation. (Matthew 28:19- 20; Acts 2:38, 41, 8:12, 35-38; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29)

The Kingdom Life

We believe that a believer should walk in holiness and not after the flesh, with the goal of being conformed to the image of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As a new creation, walking in the Spirit, the believer learns to grow in faith, in obedience to Scripture, in prayer, in fellowship with the saints and in a life of service. We believe that the believer will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to have his life evaluated according to his deeds. (Galatians 5:16-26; Hebrews 10:25; Ephesians 4:20-24; Hebrews 11:6, 12:1-2; John 17:17; Ephesians 6:18; Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15)

The Second Coming

We believe in the imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and that this “Blessed Hope” has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead–that is, the resurrection of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord–and the resurrection of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting conscious punishment. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Titus 2:11-13; John 14:1-6; Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:11- 15; 2 Peter 3:10)