Our Faith

Scriptures

We believe that the Holy Bible, in its original manuscripts, was verbally and completely inspired, recorded without error, confirmed by the early church, and preserved supernaturally by the work of the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures, as the very Word of God, are the source and gauge of all truth. They are sufficient and authoritative for all matters of salvation and godly living. We believe all Scripture finds its fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Luke 24:27, 44; Acts 1:16; Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:15-16; 2 Peter 1:20-21

God

We believe God exists eternally in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They are one in substance, power and eternality and execute distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. Exodus 20:2-3; Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:18-19; Jn. 1:1-14; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Cor. 13:14; Col. 2:2-3; Heb. 1:1-3; 1 John 5:7; Revelation 4:11

Angels

We believe angels are created beings designed to bring glory to God, and, as such, they are not to be worshiped. They are messengers of redemption and are involved in ministering to God’s people. Lucifer, son of the morning (the highest in rank) – sinned through pride, thereby becoming Satan. We believe Satan is the originator of sin, and that under the permission of God, through subtlety, he led our first parents into transgression. Demons are fallen angels who have joined Satan in rebellion against God. They seek to corrupt the plan of God and oppose the people of God. They attempt to accomplish their purposes through methods of deception, temptation, accusation, blindness and affliction. Their power is limited by God, however, and even in their attempts to oppose God they contribute to God’s providential plan. Gen. 3:1-19; Ezek. 28:11-19; John 8:44; Acts 12:7-11; 2 Cor 11:13-15; Heb. 1:14; 13:2; Rev. 20:1-3

Creation

We believe in the authority, genuineness, reliability, literalness and historicity of Genesis 1-11. We believe the entire Trinity was involved in creation and that man is accountable to the Creator because of God’s self-revelation in the created order. Gen. 1-11; Job 38-41; Psalm 19:1-6, 24:1-2; Amos 4:13, 5:8, 9:6; Zech. 12:1; Rom. 1:18-32; Col. 1:15-17

Mankind

We believe that humans were created in the image of God and represent the climax of God’s creative work. As image bearers of God, all human beings have intrinsic value apart from their function or particular contribution to society – regardless of gender, ethnicity, age or social status. We believe that marriage is the joining of one man and one woman and that sexual intimacy is to be expressed only within the bonds of a Biblically defined marriage. This reflects God’s timeless creation design and pictures Christ’s love for the church. Any other form of marriage or sexual intimacy is immoral and a perversion of God’s gracious will. Genesis 1-3; 1 John 1:1-3; Galatians 3:28; Genesis

Sin

We believe that the first human beings were created by God in righteousness, but their willful and voluntary rebellion resulted in their separation from God. Therefore, all persons are sinners both by nature and by choice. The sinful nature has permeated every aspect of human nature. Death and eternal judgment are the inevitable and just destiny of all persons apart from Christ. Genesis 3:1-6, 24; Romans 1:32; Romans 3:10-11, 23; 5:10-19; Ephesians 2:1; Hebrews 9:27; Rev. 20:11-15

Salvation

We believe that God made provision for salvation solely through the person and work of Jesus Christ. The salvation of sinners is wholly of grace, through the Son of God. By the appointment of the Father, the Son freely took upon himself our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by his personal obedience, and by his death made a full and vicarious atonement of our sins. His atonement consisted not only in setting us an example by his death as a martyr, but was a voluntary substitution of himself in the sinner’s place – the Just dying for the unjust. God elected and predestined those who believe to salvation based on his will, for his glory, and apart from any human merit. This new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel. God’s choice is applied by grace through faith because no individuals deserve to be saved. The Spirit of God sanctifies the believer increasingly into the likeness of Christ. God also preserves those who have been regenerated so that they will not and cannot fall away from grace. Salvation is completed when the believer receives a glorified body upon the return of Christ. Isaiah 53:4-7; Matthew 18:11; John 3:1-21; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24; Romans 3:25; 2 Cor. 3:18; 5:21; Ephesians 2:8; Philippians 2:7; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:17, 5:9-10; 1 John 2:2

Christian Walk

We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and the well-being of his fellow men; that his conduct should be blameless before the world; that he should be a faithful steward of his possessions; and that he should seek to realize for himself and others the full stature of maturity in Christ. 1 Corinthians 4:2; 10:31; Romans 12:1-3; Hebrews 12:1-2; John 14:15, 23-24; 1 John 2:3-6; 2 Corinthians 9:6-9; Colossians 1:9-10

Church

We believe the true universal church is the community of all believers who have been redeemed by Christ. The local church is the organized gathering of baptized believers who meet together for worship, teaching, fellowship and prayer. The church is the body of Christ, the bride of Christ, the family of God, the community of faith, the holy temple, a chosen race, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation. These images point to the distinct sense of unity, community, holiness, and purpose that should characterize Christ’s church. We believe the church has been given the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world. Matt. 28:19-20; John 20:21; Acts 2:42-47, 10:47-48; Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 11:26, 12:12-27; Gal. 5:1-6; Eph. 1:22-23, 4:3-6; Col. 1:18

Ordinances

We believe that the church is given the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper which serve to focus the church on its central mission. Baptism by immersion is the believer’s public identification with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection. The Lord’s Supper serves as a perpetual reminder to the church of Christ’s sacrifice. It also points to the common bond that is found in the church as co-recipients of grace. Matthew 3:16; John 3:23; Romans 6:3-5; Acts 8:36-39; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34; Colossians 2:12

Civil Government

We believe civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society. Officials are to be prayed for conscientiously; honored, and obeyed – except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of the kings of the earth. Exodus 18:21-22; Matthew 22:21; Acts 4:19-20, 23:5; Romans 13:1-7

Last Things

We believe in the personal, visible and imminent return of Christ to earth and the establishment of his kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal joy of the righteous and the endless, conscious suffering of the wicked. Acts 1:9-11; Matthew 24:31; Hebrews 9:28; James 5:8; John 14:3; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, 50-58; Colossians 1:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 1:4-5; Revelation 20:11-15