The Scriptures

We believe that the Scriptures of both the Old and New Testaments are verbally inspired of God, in whole and in part, error-free in the original writings and the supreme authority of faith and practice for the believer in Jesus Christ. (Psalm

119:160; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21;Hebrews 1:1-2, 4:12)

 

God

We believe there is but one living and true God who is infinite, eternal and unchangeable. We further believe that God is one in essence while existing in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Though each person of the Godhead possesses precisely the same nature and attributes, each function differently in respect to God’s purposes and dealings with mankind. (Deuteronomy 4:39; 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

 

The Father

The first person of the Holy Trinity directs all things according to His own purpose, pleasure, and grace. The Father is sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption. He has decreed all things that come to pass for His own glory. He graciously involves Himself in the affairs of men, hears and answers prayer, and saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (2 Chronicles 29:11; Psalm 103:19; Matthew 6:9; John 5:19-24; Ephesians 1:2-6)

 

The Son

The second person of the Trinity is both the eternal Son of God and virgin-born Son of mankind. Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, surrendered nothing of His deity during His earthly life. Having led a sinless life, He satisfied the Father’s justice concerning sin by His substitutionary death. We believe in His bodily resurrection, His physical ascension and His visible return to earth to establish His earthly kingdom. (John 1:14-18; Acts 1:11; Romans 3:24-26; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 2:17-18; Revelation 20:11-15)

 

The Holy Spirit

The third person of the trinity executes the will of God in the world of mankind. It is the Holy Spirit who applies the salvation that Jesus Christ secured through His death on the cross. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. It is the Holy Spirit who empowers His Church to live a lifestyle pleasing to God, endowing it with special gifts, which equip believers to accomplish distinct ministries, planned beforehand by God the Father. (John 3:1-8; 15-16; 16:4-15; 1 Corinthians 12; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18-21)

 

Mankind

We believe that man was directly created in the image of God to enjoy His fellowship and to fulfill God’s will on earth. Man sinned by a voluntary act of personal disobedience to the will of God; as a result, mankind is spiritually dead and subject to the certainty of physical death. The fall of man was a historical fact, the effects of which are carried forward to all people, each of whom is born with a sinful nature and sins habitually in thought, word and deed. (Genesis 1:26-27, 2:7, 3:3-4; Romans 1:18-32, 3:10-23; Ephesians 2:1-3)

 

Salvation

We believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins as the only sufficient, substitutionary sacrifice. All who believe in Him are declared justified by the Father on the grounds of Jesus’ death and resurrection. All who receive the Lord Jesus Christ by grace through faith have been regenerated by and baptized in the Holy Spirit. They become, thereby, the children of God forever and members of His Church. This salvation will result in righteous living and good works if the believer submits his life to the control of the Holy Spirit Who directs the life of the believer in harmony with the Word of God. (John 1:12; 3:16; 5:24; 14; 6; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:21-26; 5:8; 1Corinthians 15:1-4; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10; Titus 3:4-7; Hebrews 10:10-12; 1John 5:11-13)

 

The Church

We believe that all who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit belong to God’s family throughout the world, but are directed by the Scriptures to associate themselves in a local Body of Believers. We believe the purpose of each local church should reflect the same purpose of the Body of Christ throughout the world, which is to lead lost souls to Christ, mature them in the faith, and equip them for personal ministry. (Matthew 16:13-28; 28-18-20; Acts 2:41-47; 4:1-16; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29; Ephesians 2:19-22; 4:11-13; Hebrews 10:23-25; 1Peter 5:1-3)

 

Future

We believe that prophetic scriptures teach the imminent, personal return of Jesus Christ. We believe that His return will occur in a bodily, visible manner. (Matthew24-25; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:20-28; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; Revelation 20:1-4)