The Scriptures
We believe that "all Scripture is given by
inspiration of God." (2 Timothy 3:16). We
understand this to mean that the whole Bible is
inspired in that holy men of God "were moved by
the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21) to write the
very words of Scripture.
We believe that this divine inspiration extends
equally and fully to all parts of Scripture as
it appeared in the original manuscripts.
We believe that the whole Bible in the originals
is therefore without error. We believe that all
the Scriptures center around the Lord Jesus
Christ in His person and work, in His first and
second coming, and hence that no portion, even
of the Old Testament, is properly read, or
understood, until it leads to Him.
We also believe that all Scripture was designed
for our practical instruction. (Luke 24:27, 44;
John 5:39; Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11; 2 Tim. 3:16)
The Godhead
We believe that there is only one true God. He
is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy
Spirit, each with distinct personal attributes,
but without division of nature. (John 4:23-24;
Matt. 28:19)
God the Father
God, as Father, reigns over His entire universe
with providential care.
He is all-powerful, all loving, all knowing and
all wise.
He is fatherly in attitude toward all men but is
Father, indeed, to those who have become
children of God through Jesus Christ, Who will
deliver them into the Father's hands. (Gen. 1:1;
1 Chron. 29:10; Jer. 10:10, Matt. 6:9; Acts 1:7;
Rom. 8:14, 15; 1 Cor. 8:6; 1 Cor. 15:24;
Eph.4:6)
God the Son
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the
eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing
to be God, having been conceived of the Holy
Spirit and born of a virgin, in order that He
might reveal God and redeem sinful man.
This redemption He accomplished by voluntarily
giving Himself as a sinless, substitutionary
sacrifice on the cross, thereby satisfying God's
righteous judgment against sin. After
substantiating the accomplishment of that
redemption/justification by His bodily
resurrection from the grave, He ascended to the
right hand of His Father where He intercedes on
behalf of those who trust Him. (Luke 1:34; John
1:1, 2, 14, 18; Rom. 3:24-26, 8:34)
God the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Divine
Person who convicts each person of sin
(righteousness and judgment), that He alone
brings new life to those who are spiritually
dead; that He baptizes (or places) all believers
into the one true church, which is the Body of
Christ; that He indwells them permanently, seals
them unto the day of final redemption, bestows
spiritual gifts upon them, fills (controls)
those who are yielding to Him.
Every believer is called to live so in the power
of the indwelling Spirit that he will not
fulfill the lust of the flesh but will bear
fruit to the glory of God. (John 3:3-8, 14:16,
17, 16:7-11; 1Cor. 12:7-11, 13; Eph. 4:30, 5:18)
Creation
We believe that man was created directly by and
in the image of God. We believe that God created
the heavens and the earth, including all life,
by direct act. (Gen. 1:1; John 1:3; Col. 1:16,
17)
The Fall of Man
Although man was created in the image of God, he
fell into sin and is lost; this is true of all
men, and except a man be born again by the Holy
Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (Gen.
1:26, 27; John 3:3; Rom. 3:10, 23)
Atonement for Sin
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for
our sins according to the Scriptures as a
substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who
believe on Him are redeemed by His shed blood.
We believe in the resurrection of the crucified
body, of our Lord Jesus Christ and in His
ascension into heaven; He is our High Priest and
Advocate. (John 1:1-3, 14; 3:1-7, 16; Heb.
10:4-14; 1 John 2:2)
Salvation
We believe that salvation is the gift of God's
grace.
It cannot be gained or made more secure by
meritorious works, but is freely bestowed upon
all who put their faith in the finished work of
Jesus Christ at Calvary.
All who so trust the Savior are forgiven of
their sins and born into the family of God by
the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. (John
1:12; Acts 16:30-33; Rom. 10:9,10; Eph. 1:7,
2:8-9)
Our Calling
We believe that we are called with a holy
calling, to walk not after the flesh, but after
the Spirit, and so to live in the power of the
indwelling Spirit that we will not fulfill the
lust of the flesh. But the flesh is never
eradicated in this life and the individual
chooses to keep the flesh in subjection to Jesus
Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit or
it will surely manifest its presence in our
lives to the dishonor of our Lord. (Rom.
6:11-13; 8:2, 4, 12, 13; Gal. 5:16-23; Eph.
4:22-24; Col. 2:1-10; 1 Pet. 1:14-16; 1 John
1:4-7: 3:5-9)
The Great Commission
Until the return of Christ, it is the
Christian's duty and privilege to seek the
fulfillment of Christ's Great Commission and to
minister in His name to a needy world.
We are to be instruments of Jesus Christ as the
Holy Spirit ministers redemption and
reconciliation in the world. (Matthew 25:31-46;
28:18-20)
The Gospel Church
We believe that a visible church of Christ is a
congregation of baptized believers associated by
covenant in the faith and fellowship of the
gospel.
We observe the ordinances of Christ, are
governed by His word and exercise our gifts.
(Acts 2:41-42)
Baptism and Communion (The Lord's Supper)
We believe that Christian baptism is the
immersion in water of a believer. (Acts 2:41)
The Lord's Supper is the commemoration of the
death of the Lord Jesus, preceded by solemn
self-examination. (1 Corinthians 11: 23-31)
The Resurrection
We believe that the Scriptures clearly teach
that Jesus rose from the dead.
He now exists in His glorified body at God's
right hand.
There will be a resurrection of the righteous
and the wicked.
The bodies of the righteous will conform to the
glorious spiritual body of Jesus Christ. (1
Thessalonians 4:16-17)