Beliefs

We believe the Bible is the Word of God. We believe the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments are the only writings inspired by God. We believe that God the Holy Spirit, through the individual style of human authors, superintended the writing of the Bible so that God is the ultimate source of every word written (inspiration) (2Tim 3:16-17; 2Pet 1:16-21). We believe that the original manuscripts of the Scriptures were free from error (inerrancy). We believe that the Bible is true, accurate, authoritative, and trustworthy in all matters to which it speaks (infallibility) (Ps 12:6; Prov 30:5; Heb 6:18).

We believe the Bible teaches that there is one God eternally existing in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is one in essence and three in person (Trinity). Each of the three persons has all the attributes of God, yet each performs a distinct but harmonious function within the Godhead (Deut 6:4; Matt 3:16-17; John 1:1, 14, 18; 1Pet 1:2).

We believe in God the Father, who is an infinite, unchanging, and uncreated (self-existent) spirit, who is creator of all that exists, who has all the power to carry out His desires (omnipotent), who is forever aware of all things (omniscient), and is fully present in all places (omnipresent). We further believe that God is the ground of all perfection, is righteous (holy) and thus wholly separate from creation. We believe God so loved sinners that He sent Jesus Christ to redeem mankind (Ps 90:2; 139:7-10; Rev 1:8; Luke 1:37; Job 42:2; Heb 4:13; Ezek 11:5; Ex 3:1-6; 1Sam 2:2).

We believe that Jesus Christ is the incarnation of God’s eternal Son. God the Son has all the same attributes and perfections as God the Father. We further believe that Jesus Christ is one person with two inseparable natures: one nature being truly divine and the other truly human (hypostasis). As to His humanity, Jesus Christ was conceived by God the Holy Spirit and born of Mary (virgin birth) (Is 7:10-16; Matt 1:23, John 1:1-14; 8:58; Phil 2:5-11). We believe that Jesus Christ was born without a sin nature, and although tempted, lived in complete obedience to God’s law. Jesus voluntarily subordinated Himself to the Father in order to redeem mankind. Jesus died on a cross, was buried, rose from the dead, and ascended to the right hand of the Father where He currently intercedes for His people and rules over creation. We believe Jesus Christ will one day return to resurrect and gather the elect, and to resurrect and judge the lost (John 5:30; Acts 1:9-11; Rom 8:34; 2Cor 5:21; 1Thess 4:13-17; Heb 4:15; 1Pet 3:18).

We believe that God the Holy Spirit has all the same attributes and perfections as God the Father and is deserving of our worship. The Holy Spirit draws the sinner’s attention to and implements the redemptive work of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Scriptures. He regenerates, convicts, baptizes seals, indwells, sanctifies, spiritually gifts, and comforts all believers (John 14:16-17; 16:13-15; Rom 8:26-27; 1Cor 2:9-11).

We believe that God created Adam and Eve (the first man and woman), fully formed, sinless, and bearing His image. We believe that humanity’s purpose is to fellowship with, and glorify God forever. ( Gen 1:27; 2:7; 1 Cor 10:31; Rom 11:36). We believe that all of Adam’s descendants, both male and female, bear God’s image at conception. We believe that all image bearers of God should be protected from unjust harm and killing. We believe that all people are given an immutable biological sex at conception–male or female. Furthermore, we believe that people, in all areas of life, should live in a way that is consistent with their biological sex (e.g. , biblical  roles,  responsibilities and commands, as well as cultural practices consistent with Scripture, i.e., Duet 22:5). (Ps 139:13-16;  Ex 20:13; Prov 6:16-19; Gen 1:27; Mark 10:6-8; Eph 5:22-33; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 2:4-5).  We believe that God instituted marriage to be a monogamous, lifelong covenant relationship between one man and one woman. This is only permissible and blest context for any intimate sexual expression, and the foundation for growing the human family. (Gen 2:24-25; 1Cor 7:1-9; Heb. 13:4) We believe that as a result of Adam’s disobedience, all people are sinners by descent, in addition to their own actions, such that they have a corrupted human nature, are spiritually dead, and are enemies of God. Furthermore, we believe that the death and separation from God, brought about by sin, makes humanity incapable of doing anything to restore fellowship with Him. We believe that a sinner left in this state will face separation from God in hell. (Gen 3:1-24; Ps. 16:11; Rom 3:10-26; 5:10; 5:12; 1Cor 10:30-31: Matt 13:40-42)

We believe that it is only by the graciousness of God by the means of faith in Jesus Christ that sinners can be declared righteous (justification). We believe that God so loved the world that He sent His only Son as a sinless, substitutionary sacrifice for its sins (substitutionary atonement). We believe that Jesus Christ’s death on the cross fully satisfied God’s justice, and that Christ’s perfect obedience to God’s law provides the righteousness that sinners need to be declared righteous before God. We believe that it is only through faith in Christ, apart from works, that these merits of Christ can be appropriated by sinners. We believe that the saving work started by God in the believer will ultimately be brought to completion as guaranteed by the sealing with the Holy Spirit and the intercession of Christ before the Father. God will continue to transform us into what He once and for all declared us to be (sanctification), and will one day bring us into a state of perfection where we can have fellowship with and glorify Him free from the presence of sin (glorification) (Rom 3:21-28; 4:5; 8:30; 1Cor 15:50-54; 2Cor 5:21; Eph 2:1-10; Col 2:13-14; 1Tim 2:6; 6:1-11; Phil 2:12-13).

We believe that all of those who belong to Jesus Christ are members of God’s Church (Universal Church) of whom Christ is the head. We believe the Universal Church is expressed in local churches. We believe members are to have been baptized by immersion upon confession of faith (believer’s baptism), and have associated themselves for worship, instruction, discipline, and service. We believe that having received the merits of Christ each believer can go boldly before God and offer up sacrifices of prayer, praise, possessions, and service (Matt 18:15-17; Rom 5:1-2; Eph 1:22-23; 2:17-22; Heb 4:14-16; Rev 7:9-10). We believe that there are two ordinances that spiritually nourish and bless the local church: 1) Believer’s Baptism and 2) the Lord’s Supper. We believe the Lord’s Supper is a means by which the merits of Christ are participated in, proclaimed, and remembered. We believe baptism is for believers to publicly confess (in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) their new identity in Christ and declare their union with His death and resurrection (Matt 26:26-29; 28:19; Rom 6:3-4; 1Cor 10:13-17; 11:23-34). We believe the local church is to be led by a plurality of elders. Elders are to be men who have met the qualifications for the office as stated in God’s Word (1Tim 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9).

If Christ has not been raised, our faith is in vain. Hallelujah, Christ is Risen! Death is swallowed up in victory! ~ 1Corinthians 15:14, 54