Our Core Beliefs

STATEMENT OF FAITH
​
Inspiration of the Scriptures
We believe the Bible is God’s infallible Word, written by men who were divinely and uniquely inspired by the Holy Spirit. As is the perfect treasure of divine instruction from God, it is true, without error, and sufficient. It is the supreme authority and standard in all matters of faith and practice.
(II Tim. 3:16-17; Matt. 5:18; Gal. 1:11-12; John 16:12-13; Psalms 119)

Trinity of God
There is only one true God, Creator of heaven and earth, who eternally exists in three distinct persons - God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (John 1:1-2; John 17:24). The Son is no less God than the Father (Hebrews 1:3), and the Holy Spirit no less God than the Son (Acts 5:3-4); each are equally God with three distinct functions.

God the Father
We believe in God the Father, perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, and immeasurable in power. We believe God is one God, Eternal (Ps. 90:2), Omnipresent (Ps. 139:7-10), Omnipotent (Matt. 18:26), and Omniscient (Heb. 4:13). He is Holy, Righteous, and Just (Is. 6:3, John 17:25). He is Faithful, Merciful, and the God of infinite Love (I Cor. 1:9, Ps. 103:8, I John 4:8-16). God concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, hears and answers prayer, and He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.

God the Son
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son (John 1:18, 3:16), born of a virgin (Luke 1:34-35), and sinless in His life. He atoned for the sins of those who would trust in Him through His death on the cross, making provision for the reclaiming of man from the power of sin. We believe in His bodily resurrection (I Cor. 15:3, 4, 15), His ascension into Heaven, His high priestly intercession for His people, and His physical, imminent, visible return to the world according to His promise.

God the Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from God to convict the world of guilt in regard to humanity’s sin, unrighteousness, and judgment (John 16:7-11). As a result of this ministry the Holy Spirit regenerates (Titus 3:5, John 3:5-6), indwells (I Cor. 6:19), teaches (John 14:26, John 16:13), baptizes (I Cor. 12:13), comforts (John 16:7), and seals forever those who believe in Jesus Christ. He is the Spirit of God filling believers (Eph. 5:18) and bearing fruit (Gal. 5:22). The Holy Spirit exalts Christ (John 16:14).

Man
We believe man was created in God’s image (Gen. 26:27); that in his fall (Gen. 3:16) the whole race was made sinners (Rom. 5:19). All of humanity has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23); man is dead in trespasses (Eph. 2:1), alienated from God (Eph. 4:18), serving his own passions and pleasures (Titus 3:3), and subject to the wrath of God (Eph. 2:3). Man is totally depraved and utterly helpless to save himself (Rom. 3:20, Rom. 3:23, and Gal. 2:16). We are by nature in deep need of rescue.
We believe in the resurrection of the body, both of the just and unjust, and eternal life in heaven for the saved and eternal punishment in hell for the lost. (John 5:28-29; I Cor. 15:20-22; Rev. 20:12-15)

Salvation
We believe salvation is the gift of God offered to all by grace, and received by Jesus’ followers through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose perfect blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of sins (Eph. 1:3-7; 2:8-9; John 1:12; I Peter 1:18-19). Despite humanity’s rejection, God chose to redeem, justify (Romans 3:23-24), and bring sanctification (1 Cor.1:2, 6:11; ll Thess. 2:13) through the Holy Spirit. The death and resurrection of Jesus provides the removal of guilt, unrighteousness, and eternal separation from God those who would be saved. Moreover, God the Father through Christ adopts those who believe and makes them co-heirs with Jesus Christ! (Romans 8:14-17)

The Church
We believe the Church is the body and the espoused bride of Jesus Christ. With Christ as the Head, the Church consists of God’s saints (past, present, and future) who have been redeemed and justified by His blood and will persevere until the second coming of Christ. (Eph. 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 5:21-32; I Cor. 12:12,14)

The Ordinances
We believe Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer under water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Baptism is an act of obedience testifying to the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, and symbolizing the believer's death to sin, burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark. 1:9-10; Acts 2:41; 8:36-39; Rom. 6:3-5)
The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby believers, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming. Faithful self-examination should precede its observance. (Mark 14:22‑26; Acts 2:42; I Cor. 10:16; 11:23‑29)
The ordinances have no saving merit.

Last Times
We believe God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end and new beginning. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return physically and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord. (Mark 8:38, 9:42-49; John 14:1-4; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:14‑18; 5:1; Rev. 20:11-22:17)

Satan
We believe in the existence of Satan, the author of sin and the cause of humanity’s fall into sin. He is the open and declared enemy of God and man. He is the accuser of believers and tempter of all men. He will be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. (Job 1:6-7; Is. 14:12; Matt. 4:2-11, 25:41; Rev. 20:10)

Evangelism and Missions
We believe it is the command and privilege for the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ and every follower to witness by life and word the truths written in the Holy Scripture and to seek every opportunity to proclaim the Gospel to all mankind. (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; Rom. 10:13-15)