We believe that the Bible, consisting of sixty-six canonical books of the Old and New Testaments, was given by Divine Inspiration and is the Word of God, hence free from error in the original autographs (2 Tim 3:16,17 | 2 Pet 1:19-21 | 1 Thess 2:11). These 66 books constitute the only perfect rule and final authority in all matters pertaining to Christian faith and practice (Acts 17:11 | Isa 8:20).
We believe there is only one living and true God, perfect, infinite, and eternal (Matt 5:48 | 1 Kings 8:27 | Psalm 90:2), Who is unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, love and truth (Matt 3:6 | 1 Tim 1:17 | Gen 17:1 | Isa 6:3 | Psalm 19:9 | Ex 34:6 | John 3:16), Who is Creator, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe (Gen 1:1 | Heb 11:3 | Neh 9:6 | Heb 1:2,3 | Psalm 103:19 | Eph 1:11), Who eternally exists in three persons, namely, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Who are equal in their divine perfection and harmonious in the execution of Their distinct offices (Matt 28:19 | John 5 | John 14:16,17 | John 15:26 | Eph 2:18).
Man, created in the image of God, through disobedience feel from his sinless state at the suggestion of Satan (Gen 1:27 | Col 3:10 | Acts 17:24-28)
This fall plunged man into a state of sin and spiritual death, and brought upon the entire race the sentence of eternal death (Gen 1-6 | Rom 5:12,18, 3:10-12, 23, 1:19-31 | Eph 4:18 | 1John1:8-10)
Through the work of the Holy Spirit, the eternally pre-existent Son became incarnate without human father, being born of the virgin Mary. Thus, in the Lord Jesus Christ, divine and human natures were united in one person, both nature being whole, perfect and distinct. To effect salvation, He lived a sinless life and died on the cross as the sinner’s substitute, shedding His blood for the remission of sins. On the third day He rose from the dead in the body which had been laid in the tomb. He ascended to the right hand of the Father, where He performs the ministry of intercession (Isa 9:6 | Matt 1:18-25 | John 1:14 | 1 Tim 3:16 | Heb 2:14 | Matt 20:28 | Heb 9:11,12 | 1 Pet 3:18 | Gal 3:13 | Heb 2:9 | 1 Tim 2:5,6).
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. He proceeds from the Father and the Son (John 15:26). His principal ministry, since Pentecost, is:
To convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8-11)
To restrain the progress of evil until God’s purposes are accomplished (2 Thess 2:7)
To bear witness to the truth preached (Acts 5:30-32)
To regenerate those who repent of their sins and exercise faith in Christ (John 3:3-8 | Titus 3:5)
To instruct, comfort and guide God’s children (John 14:16-18, 26)
To sanctify them (2 Thess 2:13 | 1 Peter 1:1-30)
To indwell and empower them for life and service (Rom 8:2 | Acts 1:8 | Eph 3:16 | 1 Cor 2:1-4 | 1 Thess 1:5 | Rom 8:11)
We believe that salvation is wholly of grace, (Eph 2:8,9 | Titus 3:5) being planned by the Father, provided for by the blood of the Son, and applied by the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-5). In justification the believer is absolved of his guilt and declared righteous in the sight of God to inherit eternal life (Rom 5:1,9, 4:4,5 | Acts 13:39 | John 3:16). In adoption the believer is constituted a member of the household of God (Rom 8). In regeneration a new life is strengthened and developed increasingly (Rom 6:8). In glorification this work will come to its perfect culmination in an ultimate and complete renewal of human nature (1 Cor 13:8-13 | 1 John 5:11-13). Repentance and faith are essential attitudes to be found in any one person who rightly claims the blessing of salvation. They emphasize the fact that it is not through human merit of any kind, but by the grace of God that redemption is achieved.
We believe that the church invisible and universal is an organism composed of the redeemed of all ages. We believe that the church is manifest locally and visibly through companies of believers in Christ, joined together and meeting for worship and to observe the ordinances (Acts 2:42, 20:7 | 1 Cor 16:2 | Acts 6:1-6, 14:23 | Heb 10:24,25). It is the duty of the church to give the Gospel as a witness to all men (Matt 28:18-20 | Acts 1:8). It is the duty of this church to build itself up in the most holy faith (Jude 20:21 | Eph 4:11,12,16 | Acts 20:32) and to glorify God (1 Pet 4:11).
We believe that there are two primary Christian Ordinances, Baptism and The Lord’s Supper, and that they are outward rites appointed by Christ, not as a means of salvation, but as visible signs and seals of the facts and realities of salvation.
We believe that Baptism by immersion is the public confession of Christ as Savior and Lord. It is a symbol of one’s union, by faith, with Christ in death, burial and resurrection, and therefore, is to be administered to those, regardless of age, who have given evidence of faith in Christ as their personal Savior (Matt 28:19 | Mark 16:16 | Acts 2:38-41 | Rom 6:3-6 | Col 2:12 | Acts 8:36-39).
We believe that The Lord’s Supper should be observed by all believers in obedience to the command: “This do in remembrance of Me.” It consists of partaking of bread and wine, and symbolizes the death of Christ for the remission of our sins and our continual dependence upon Him for our sustenance. It witnesses to the mystical union of the believer with Christ (John 15). The union of believers around the Lord’s table is open to all who are in right relationship with one another, and with the Lord, and who clearly understand the meaning of communion (Matt 26:26-30 | Luke 22:19-22 | 1 Cor 11:23-24, 29).
In addition to these two ordinances, we also recognize the Church’s role in conducting and solemnizing marriage ceremonies. Our church holds to the traditional Biblical interpretation of marriage as being the joining of one man and one woman under God’s blessing (Gen 2:24). As with any of the ceremonies we conduct, we understand that there are many differing views on marriage within the Christian community. We do our best to humbly apply the principles from the Bible in everything we do, yet we understand that our interpretations may not be shared by everyone. We have great respect and love for those who differ from us in their understanding of Scripture, and we hope that any differences may be cause for celebration of diversity of thought, rather than becoming opportunities for division. In all things we look to the Holy Spirit for unity, wisdom, and peace (Eph 4:1-6).
We believe that at the end of the age Christ will visibly descend from Heaven and the dead shall be raised bodily. They shall be judged by God, and those redeemed will enter into full possession of eternal bliss in the presence of God, but the unsaved shall be condemned to eternal punishment (Acts 1:11, 24:15 | Matt 25:31-46 | 1 Thess 4:13-18 | John 5:25-29).