The Bible
We believe the Scriptures contained in the 66 books of the Old and New Testament, as originally written, to be inspired of God and free from error. They are the only true, infallible, and authoritative guide in faith and practice. (Rom. 15:4; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21)
The Trinity
We believe there is one God, eternally existing in three persons who are equal in deity, power, and glory: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. (Gen. 1:26; Deut. 6:4; Matt. 3:16-17, 28:19)
God the Father
We believe that God the Father is an infinite, eternal, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. God is the Almighty Creator, Savior, and Judge who governs all things according to his sovereign will and for his own glory. As Father, he forgives, adopts as his own, redeems, and gives eternal life to all those who come to him in faith through Jesus Christ. (Gen. 1; Matt. 6:6-13; Rom. 8:15; 2 Cor. 6:18; Eph. 2:17-19, 1 John 3:1)
Jesus Christ
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and in his complete and perfect humanity. We believe in his virgin birth, his sinless life, and in his miracles. We believe he died on the cross as the sinner’s substitute, shedding his blood for the remission of sins. We believe that on the third day he rose bodily from the dead. He ascended to the right hand of the Father where he performs the ministry of intercession. We believe he will come again, personally and visibly, to complete the eternal plan of God and to rule over the nations. (Psa. 22:27-31; Matt. 1:23; John 14:3; Heb. 7:25; 1 John 2:2)
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is God, a separate and distinct person along with the Father and the Son. He is sent to dwell within the heart of each born-again believer, to comfort, teach, empower, and lead into all truth. (Gen. 1:2; John 14:16-26, 16:7-15; Acts 1:4, 1:8, 10:44-46; Rom. 8:11)
Satan
We believe that Satan, originally a great and good angel, rebelled against God, taking a multitude of angels with him. He was cast out of God’s presence and is at work with his demonic hosts to establish his counter-kingdom of darkness and evil on the earth. Satan was judged and defeated at the cross of Christ and will, at the end of the age, be cast forever into the lake of fire which has been prepared for him and his angels. (Gen. 3:1; Isa. 14:12-15; Matt. 4:10; Rev. 12:9, 20:7, 10)
Sin
We believe that mankind was originally created to be good and holy in the image of God, but voluntarily sinned. This one act of disobedience brought upon the entire human race both physical death and spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God. Because of our sinful nature, no one is able to obey or please God, and the entire human race is in active moral rebellion against our Creator. (Gen. 1:27; Rom. 5:19, 6:23)
Salvation
We believe that it is only by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ that people can be saved from eternal death. By faith, not by our own effort, we are also transformed by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to become holy and acceptable to God. (John 14:6: Acts 4:12; Rom. 10:13-15; Eph. 1:13-14, 2:8-9; Tit. 3:5-7)
Spiritual Gifts
We believe the Holy Spirit empowers believers to obey the commands of Jesus Christ and to be his witnesses in the world. For the edification of the church, the Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts as he determines. We believe the Scriptures teach us that all the gifts of the Holy Spirit at work in the church of the first century are available today, are vital for the mission of the church, and are to be earnestly desired and practiced in love, humility, and in order, in accordance with instructions given in Scripture. (John 14:26, 16:8-11; Rom. 8:26; 1 Cor. 12:4-11; 2 Cor. 3:6)
Communion and Baptism
We believe that communion (also called the Lord’s Supper) and baptism are the two ordinances instituted by Jesus Christ. Neither is required for salvation, but each is a public confession of a Christian’s desire to be identified with Christ and to live in obedience to him. Those who personally and consciously place their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord are welcome to partake of communion and to be baptized. (Matt. 26:26-28, 28:19-20; Acts 2:38-39; 1 Cor. 11:23-26)
The Church
We believe that the church is the body of Jesus Christ and he is its head. The church is comprised of all believers throughout history and is God’s primary instrument through which he is fulfilling his redemptive purposes in the earth. We also affirm the priesthood of all believers and the importance of every Christian regardless of age being joined with and actively involved in a local church. (1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 1:22-23, 2:19-22; Heb. 10:24-25; 1 Pet. 2:5)
Our Mission
We believe that the church is commanded by Jesus Christ to make disciples of all nations, sharing the good news of salvation with non-believers and instructing and baptizing believers, teaching them to obey everything he has taught. God has called the church to care for the poor, the widows, and the orphans, and to minister to their needs through sacrificial giving and practical service. (Prov. 19:17; Matt. 28:18-19; Acts 1:8; 1 Tim. 4:13; Jas. 1:27)
The Resurrection and Return of Christ
We believe in the resurrection of both the unsaved and the saved; those who are unsaved enter into eternal separation from God, which is hell, and those who are saved enter into eternal fellowship with God, which is heaven. When Christ returns, the Kingdom of God will be completely fulfilled in the new heaven and the new earth, where righteousness dwells and where God will be worshipped forever. (Matt. 25:40-46; John 5:28-29; 1 Cor. 15:20-25; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Thes. 4:13-18; 2 Thes. 1:5-10; Rev. 20:11–21:8)
Marriage
We believe that marriage was ordained by God to be a lifetime covenant relationship between one man and one woman, as he created them. (Gen. 2:21-24; Gen. 3:20; Matt. 5:31-35; Matt. 19:7-8; Mark 10:5-9; Rom. 7:2-3; 1 Cor. 7:2-5, 39; Heb. 13:4)