Beliefs
I. THE BIBLE
We believe that the Bible is God’s word, fully inspired and without error in it’s original manuscripts; written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, preserved through time, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
(EX. 24:7; PS. 119; MAT. 4:4; I TIM. 3:16-17; 2 PET. 1:20-21)
II. THE TRINITY
We believe that there is one living and true God – eternally existing in three persons; that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption.
(GEN. 1:26; MAT. 28:19-20; JOHN 16:7-15; 2 COR. 13:14)
III. GOD THE FATHER
We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of each person, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
(GEN 1:1; PS. 139:7-10; ISA. 46:9; ROM. 11:33; EPH. 4:6; 1 TIM. 1:17; REV. 19:6)
IV. JESUS CHRIST
We believe in Jesus the Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary death, atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into Heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal, visible return to earth.
(JOHN 1:1-3, 14; COL. 2:9; HEB. 4:14-15; 1 TIM. 6:14-16; TITUS 2:13-14)
V. HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer gifts as He sees fit for the edification of the church and the work of ministry.
(MATT. 28:19-20; LUKE 4:18-19; JOHN 16:7-14; ACTS 1:8; 1 COR. 6:19; 2 COR. 3:17; GAL. 5:22-25; EPH. 5:18)
VI. SALVATION
We believe that all people are sinners by nature and by choice, and are therefore under condemnation. We believe that those who repent of themselves and trust in Jesus Christ as savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
(JOHN 3:15-18; JOHN 10:28; ACTS 16:31; ROM. 5:6-16; EPH. 1:13-14; EPH. 2:8-9; HEB. 7:25-27; TITUS 3:3-7)
VII. THE CHURCH
We believe in the universal church; a living, spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work, and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world.
(MATT. 16:18; MATT. 18:15-17; 1 COR. 12:12-14; EPH. 1:22-23; COL. 1:18)
VIII. PERSONAL CONDUCT
We believe that Christians should live for the glory of God and the well-being of others; that their conduct should be blameless before the world, according to God’s word; that they should be faithful stewards of their possessions; and that they should seek to realize for themselves and others the full stature of maturity in Christ.
(JOHN 17:13-18; ROM. 12:1-2; PHIL. 2:12-16; EPH. 1:4; EPH. 4:21-24; 1 COR. 6:9-11; 1 COR. 10:31; JAM. 1:22-25)
IX. TWO ORDINANCES
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local churches; baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that the Christian baptism is by immersion of a believer in water in the name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
(MATT. 28:19-20; ROM. 6:1-4; 1 COR. 11:23-28; COL. 2:12)
X. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
We believe that every human being has access to God through Christ, and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that therefore Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling it’s duties free from dictation or patronage of the other.
(JOHN 8:31-36; GAL. 5:1; 1 TIM. 2:5)
XI. COOPERATION
We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in a denominational organization. Such an organization, whether a regional or district operation in a conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. Churches may likewise cooperate with inter-denominational fellowships on a voluntary independent basis.
(PS. 133:1; 1 COR. 12:13-14; GAL 6:10; 1 THES. 5:12-15)
XII. END TIMES
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His Kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal felicity of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked.