The Scriptures
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God,
written by men fully inspired by God through the Holy Spirit. We
believe that the Word of God in the original manuscripts is without
error or contradiction providing believers with the supreme authority
in matters of faith, doctrine, and godly living.
2 Peter 1:20, 21; Mark 13:31; John 8:31, 20:31; Acts 20:32
The Trinity
We
believe in one true eternal God who has eternally existed in three
persons, the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. We
believe they are equal in divine nature and perfection, yet have
distinct functions in creation, salvation, and sanctification.
Genesis 1:26; Matthew 28:19-20; Matthew 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 13:14
The Father
We
believe in God the Father creator of all things, perfect in holiness
and purity, all knowing of things past, present, and things to come, in
control of all things, infinitely lovely and good. We believe He
purposes all things for His ultimate glory and our good, as
demonstrated by His grace through the giving of His Son, Jesus Christ,
unto death on the cross.
Luke 10:21; Matthew 23:9; John 3:16, 6:27; Romans 1:7; 1 Timothy 1:1, 2; 2:5, 6; 1 Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:6
The Son
We
believe in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, who before all
time was eternally present with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Being
conceived by the Holy Spirit in His incarnation, we believe that He is
fully God, that is of the same essence and divine nature of the Father,
and fully human. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life,
teachings and miracles. We believe in His atoning death on the cross,
resurrection from the dead, ascension into the heavens after forty
days, and future visible and personal return to earth.
Matthew
1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1, 20:28; Romans 9:5; 8:46; 2
Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:21-23; John 20:30, 31; Matthew 20:28;
Ephesians 1:4; Acts 1:11; Romans 5:6-8; 6:9-10; Hebrews 7:25; 9:28; 1
Timothy 3:16
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy
Spirit who comes from the Father and the Son to convict the world of
sin and conform all those who believe into the image of the Son. We
believe that He indwells believers at the moment of initial faith,
sanctifying, giving gifts, empowering, encouraging, and interceding on
their behalf.
John 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26, 27; John 16:9-14; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; Galatians 5:22-26
Salvation/Regeneration
We
believe human kind was created in God's image, that he sinned resulting
in spiritual, physical, and eternal death, which is separation from
God. This sin affected all human nature resulting in the condemnation
of all human beings, who are born in sin and also sin by choice.
Therefore, we believe that no one is capable of escaping condemnation
by the accumulation of good works or efforts, but can only be saved by
God's grace through faith in the substitutionary death and resurrection
of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; such a faith results in genuine
repentance and forsaking the sinful nature and lifestyle. We believe
that the new believer being justified by faith is regenerated by the
power of the Holy Spirit, becoming a new creature, beginning the
process of sanctification, and receiving eternal life. We believe in
the eternal security of the believer; that is the genuine believer
experiences total justification and forgiveness at the moment of
initial faith never again to be under threat of condemnation and death.
Romans
9:22; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 19:3, 20: 20:10, 14, 15; 21:18;
Psalms 51:7; James 1:14; Romans 3:19; Proverbs 28:13; I John 1:9; John
3:16; John 1:13; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:1
The Church
We
believe in the universal church, which is a spiritual body made up of
many members, where Christ is the head. We believe that God in His
sovereignty has chosen to use the church to establish His kingdom among
the nations. We believe in the local church expressing itself through
unity of faith and baptism, common fellowship and service, and its
efforts in establishing God's kingdom among the nations by making
disciples through sharing of the Gospel and personal discipleship.
Ephesians 2:19; 1 Corinthians 12:12-20; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:19-21; Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:23-25
The Ordinances
We
believe Jesus Christ established two ordinances to be practiced by the
local church, baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe in believer's
baptism by immersion in water into the name of the Father, Son, and
Spirit. We believe that Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper to the
community of faith as a commemoration of His death and as an
opportunity for the local church to express communal thanksgiving for
His atoning death. We believe that both baptism and the Lord's Supper
should be observed until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
The Last Things
We believe in the second coming of Christ to earth and in the future bodily resurrection of believers at the appointed time.
1 Corinthians 15:50-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; Acts 1:10-11; Matthew 25:31-46