What We Believe

holy scripture

We believe the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments to be the full record of God’s self-disclosure to mankind. Different men, while writing according to their own styles and personalities, were inspired by the Holy Spirit to record God’s very words, inerrant in the original writings. We believe that all the Scriptures center about the Lord Jesus Christ in His person and work in His first and second coming, and hence that no portion, even the Old Testament, is properly read or understood, until it leads to Him. Therefore, those applying themselves to study its literal, historical-grammatical context can accurately understand God’s Word. Scripture is fully trustworthy as our final and sufficient authority for all of life.

2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Romans 1:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13

holy trinity

We believe that there is one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each member of the Godhead, while executing distinct, but complementary roles in redemptive history, has precisely the same nature, attributes, and being, and is equally worthy of the same glory and honor and obedience.

Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-14; Acts 5:3-4; John 16:5-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14

god the father

We believe that God is the Father over all creation. Creating all things for His glory according to His will. He is the absolute all powerful, all knowing and ever-present ruler. He is the author of all truth and the final authority and judge.

Romans 11:33-36; Revelation 4:11; Psalm 147:4-5; 1 Chronicles 29:10-13; Psalm 90:1-2; Genesis 1:1-13; Acts 17:24-28; Hebrews 1:10-12; Jeremiah 23:23-24

god the son

We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, all things came into being through Him. Moved by love in accordance with the will of the Father, He took on human flesh, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, fully God and fully man in one person without sin. He is the promised Messiah, the one and only Savior. He died upon the cross, the just for the unjust, as a substitutionary sacrifice, and all who believe in Him are justified on the basis of His shed blood. He arose from the dead according to the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is now at the right hand of the Father interceding and advocating on our behalf. He will come again to judge the living and the dead, to establish His kingdom, of righteousness and peace.

Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:22-23; John 1:1-15; John 1:14; John 1:18; Hebrew 4:14-15; 1 John 2:2; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 8:34

god the spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is God, eternal, possessing all the divine attributes of the Father and the Son, and that in these He is co-equal with God the Father and God the Son.  In all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ during this age. He divinely inspired all Scripture, He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He draws the unredeemed to repentance and faith, and at salvation imparts new spiritual life to the believer, bringing that person into union with Christ and the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit sanctifies, seals, fills, guides, instructs, comforts, equips, empowers, intercedes. He permanently indwells at salvation and bestows spiritual gifts to the believer for Christ-like living and service.

Genesis 1:1-2; John 16:8; Titus 3:5; Romans 8:9-17; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 12:4-13; Galatians 5:22-25; Hebrews 2:1-4; 2 Peter 1:21; John 14:16-17; John 15:26-27; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

the church

We believe that the church began on the day of Pentecost and is comprised of all who have believed in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, therefore, have been baptized into the Body of Christ, of which He is the head. The church is not a building, but a group of people who share life together and celebrate the work of Christ, a group of imperfect people whom God graciously uses to advance His kingdom. The Scriptures command believers to gather locally, to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, fellowship, the ordinances of baptism and communion, service to the local body through the development and use of talents and spiritual gifts, and outreach to the world to make disciples.

Ephesians 1:22-23; Acts 2:42-46; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 10:24-25; Romans 12:4-9; Matthew 28:18-20

the salvation of believers

We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is essential. This He accomplished through the atoning death of Jesus on the cross to pay the penalty of our transgression against Him, and through His resurrection which provides eternal life for those who freely receive this gift of grace, acknowledging that there is no other means of redemption and salvation

John 5:24; Romans 3:21–26; Hebrews 2:17; Ephesians 2:8–9

the resurrection

We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; that heaven and hell are real places which exist as eternal destinations. The lost, at death, are immediately separated from Christ, where they are kept under punishment until their bodily resurrection resulting in eternal separation. The redeemed, at death, pass immediately into the presence of Christ and there remain in joyful fellowship until their bodily resurrection at the return of Christ, resulting in everlasting life and union with God.

Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 16:22-23, 23:43; John 3:14-21; Romans 2:6-8; Philippians 3:10-11, 20-21; Revelation 20:11-15, 21:1-8