OUR BELIEFS

The Scriptures

We accept the Bible, the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament, as the written Word of God. The Scriptures are the authoritative and sufficient rule and guide of all Christian life, practice, and doctrine.

Psalm 19:7-11; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 5:17-18; John 16:13-15; 2 Timothy 3:16

God is Triune

There is one God: infinite, eternal, almighty, and perfect in holiness, truth, and love. In the unity of the godhead there are three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, co-existent, co-equal, co-eternal.

 Genesis 1:1-3, 26-27; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:13-17; 28:17-20; 2 Corinthians 13:14

God the Father

God the Father is the Creator of heaven and earth. He made man for fellowship with Himself, and intended that all creation should live to the praise of His glory.

 Genesis 1:1; 2:7; Exodus 3:14; John 4:24; 5:26; 1 Timothy 1:17

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the eternal Word made flesh, supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary. He is perfect in nature, teaching, and obedience. He is fully God and fully man. He was always with God and is God. He is the only Savior for the sins of the world, having shed His blood and died a substitutionary death on the cross. Having redeemed us from sin, the third day He rose bodily from the grave, victorious over death and the powers of darkness. He ascended into heaven where He is seated at God’s right hand. He is the Head of His body, the Church, and should be worshiped, adored, loved, served, and obeyed by all.

 Matthew 1:18-23; John 1:1-18; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Ephesians 1:7, 20-23; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15-23; 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit has come to glorify the Son, who in turn came to glorify the Father. He is to be respected, honored, and worshiped as God the Third Person of the Trinity.

 John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Romans 8:14-16, 26-27

Man

God made man—male and female—in His own image, as the crown of creation, that man might have fellowship with Him. Tempted by Satan, man rebelled against God. Fallen, sinful people, whatever their character or attainments, are lost and without hope apart from salvation in Christ.

Genesis 1:26-27; 3:1-24; Romans 3:23; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3

The Gospel

The gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ and is revealed in His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man. There is no other name by which men must be saved.

Matthew 1:18-23; Acts 4:12; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; 1 Timothy 2:5-6

Man’s Response to the Gospel

The message of the gospel is only effectual to those who genuinely repent of their sins and by God’s grace put saving faith in Christ. Biblical repentance is characterized by a changed life, and saving faith is evidenced by kingdom service or works.

Mark 1:15; Luke 9:23-27; Romans 10:9, Ephesians 2:1-10; James 2:14-17 

Man’s Inheritance Through the Gospel

Salvation, the free gift of God, is provided by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone, for the glory of God alone. Anyone turning from sin in repentance and looking to Christ and His substitutionary death receives the gift of eternal life and is declared righteous by God as a free gift.

John 1:12-13; Romans 8:14-17; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:4-7

The Church

God by His Word and Spirit creates the Church, calling sinful men and women out of the whole human race into the fellowship of Christ’s Body.

Matthew 16:15-19; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; Ephesians 1:3-14, 22-23; 4:11-16

The Consummation

The Consummation of all things includes the visible, personal and glorious return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead and the translation of those alive in Christ, the judgment of the just and the unjust, and the fulfillment of Christ’s kingdom in the new heavens and the new earth. In the Consummation, Satan with his hosts and all those outside Christ are finally separated from the benevolent presence of God, enduring eternal punishment, but the righteous, in glorious bodies, shall live and reign with Him forever.

Matthew 16:27; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28, 35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-12; Hebrews 9:28; Revelation 20:1-22:13