THE SCRIPTURES:
We believe the entire Bible is the verbally
inspired Word of God and inerrant in the original writing. We believe the 66
books of the Old and New Testament are the completed and sufficient revelation
of God and the final authority in all matters of faith and conduct (2 Timothy
3:16-17).
THE TRINITY:
We believe in one living and true God,
eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; and that
these three are one God, having precisely the same nature and divine perfection.
(John 17:3; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-4)
GOD THE FATHER:
We believe in God, the Father, an infinite
and personal spirit who is all-loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful (John
4:24; 1 John 3:20; 4:8; Matthew 19:26). We believe he created all things and
upholds all things by the Word of His power (Hebrews 1:3; Revelation 4:11). He
is faithful and right, full of truth and justice, and without iniquity. (Deuteronomy
32:4; Titus 1:2; 1 Peter 1:16). We believe that He answers prayer and reconciles
sinners to himself through Jesus Christ (Matthew 21:22; Mark 11:24; Romans
5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:18).
JESUS CHRIST:
We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, His total
Deity, virgin birth, sinless life, substitutionary death, burial, and bodily
resurrection, ascension to the right hand of the Father, and future, personal
return in power and glory (Colossians 2:9; Isaiah 7:14; Hebrews 4:15; 1
Corinthians 15:3-4; Hebrews 1:3; Matthew 24:44; Revelation 19).
THE HOLY SPIRIT:
We believe that the Holy Spirit of God comes
to live inside every believer at the moment of salvation. He empowers us to live in obedience to
Christ. He enables us to share the message of God boldly. He seals us, gifts
us, guides us, assures us and empowers us to witness. He comforts the believer,
convicts the world of sin and glorifies Christ. (John 16:8-15; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:15-16; 1
Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13-14).
SALVATION:
We believe all mankind is created in God’s
image and therefore each person has dignity and worth. However, each person and
all of mankind has sinned and needs to be saved (Romans 3:10-11, 23). The
only way of salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians
2:8,9; Romans 6:23; 10:9, 13; John 14:6).
All who repent of their sins and trust in Christ as Savior are
regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Christians are thus justified on the basis of Christ’s
shed blood and given an inheritance that is kept by the power of God (Romans
8:37-39; 2 Corinthians 5:21; John 6:38-40; John 10:27-29; Romans 8:30; 1 Peter
1:4-5).
HEAVEN AND
HELL:
We believe both Christians and non-Christians will experience a
bodily resurrection. Christians will be raised to eternal, conscious bliss in
heaven (Matthew 25:34; John 14:2; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Revelation 2:7).
Non-Christians will be raised to eternal torment in hell in conscious
separation from God. (Matthew 8:11-12; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 13:49-50; Mark
9:47-48; Luke 12:5; Revelation 21:8).
THE CHURCH:
We believe the church is both universal and
local. The Universal
Church means all born
again believers (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 5:25; Philippians 3:6; Colossians
1:18). The Local Church means a local congregation of
believers united together for worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, observance
of the ordinances, fellowship, service to the body, and outreach to the world
in fulfillment of the command to make disciples. The local church is to
function under the shepherding care of Elders, Pastors and Deacons (Matthew
18:17; Acts 14:23; 1 Corinthians 1:1-2; Ephesians 4:16; Matthew 28:18-20).
ORDINANCES:
We believe the two ordinances of the local church are Believer's Baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper (Matthew 28:19; Acts 8:36-38; Romans 6:4; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
STEWARDSHIP:
We believe the ministry of the church should
be supported by the time, talents and treasure of the members of the local
church. Members should engage in mutual ministry towards one another so that
the entire church body grows to maturity (Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Peter 4:10;
Matthew 25:14-30; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7).
RETURN OF CHRIST:
We believe in the personal and imminent
return of our Lord Jesus Christ to the earth to establish His Kingdom (1
Thessalonians 4:16; Matthew 24:44; Acts 1:11; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation
20:4-5; 22:20).
CHRISTIAN CONDUCT:
We believe that all Christians are set apart
unto God and are thus responsible to live for His glory. As believers walk with
Christ over time, they ought to be transformed through the process of progressive
sanctification (Romans 12:1-2; 1 Peter 1:14-19; 2 Tim 2:19; 1 John 2:3;
Galatians 5:16).