Beliefs

The Scriptures:

We believe the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament, are the written Word of God. The Scriptures are both fully and verbally inspired by God and, therefore, free of error in all it teaches in the original writings. It leads us to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and is the final authoritative rule and guide for our life and doctrine. (II Timothy 3:16-17)

God:

There is one God, the living and true God, infinite, eternal, almighty, and perfect in holiness, truth, and love. In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – co-existent, co-equal, and co-eternal, each having precisely the same nature, attributes and perfections. (Deuteronomy 6:4, II Corinthians 13:14)

God the Father:

God the Father is Creator and Sovereign Ruler of heaven and earth. By His word and for His glory He freely created the world from nothing. In His unfathomable grace, the Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem mankind according to His eternal, sovereign plan and to the praise of His glory. (Genesis 1:1, John 3:16)

God the Son, Jesus Christ:

Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God and continues to be the God-Man forever. He was born of the Virgin Mary, having been supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit. Jesus lived a perfect life and His death on the cross was a substitutionary sacrifice for our sins revealing divine love and satisfying divine justice. Having redeemed us from sin, the third day He rose bodily from the dead. He later ascended into heaven, exalted at the right hand of God where He is our High Priest and Advocate. (John 1:1, 14; I John 2:1-2)

God the Holy Spirit:

The Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, was sent to reveal and glorify Christ and apply the saving work of Christ to men. The Holy Spirit convicts man of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He is the Giver of life and through the proclamation of the Gospel He persuades men to repent of their sins, confess Jesus as Lord, and trust in divine mercy. The Holy Spirit regenerates, indwells, seals, fills and sets apart believers unto a holy life. He also leads the church into a right understanding and rich application of God’s Word. (John 14:16-17, Ephesians 1:13)

Man:

Man was created, both male and female, in the image of God. Being tempted, man rebelled against God, separating himself from God and becoming subject to divine wrath. Apart from divine grace, man is radically and pervasively depraved and utterly incapable of returning to God. Man is lost and without hope apart from salvation in Christ. (Genesis 1:26, Ephesians 2:1-3)

The Gospel:

The Gospel is the good news of God sending His Son and his perfect life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is a substitutionary and propitiatory sacrifice to God for our sins. It satisfies the demands of God’s holy justice and appeases His holy wrath. It also demonstrates His mysterious love and reveals His amazing grace. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man. There is no other name by which men must be saved. At the heart of all sound doctrine is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the infinite privilege that redeemed sinners have of glorifying God because of what He has accomplished. Therefore, we want all that takes place in our hearts, churches, and ministries to proceed from and be related to the Gospel. (John 14:6, I Peter 3:18)

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. While neither repentance nor works save, unless a person is willing to deny himself, pick up His cross, and follow Christ, he cannot become His disciple. 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. (Ephesians 2:8-10, Romans 5:1-2)

Sanctification:

The Holy Spirit is the active agent in our sanctification and seeks to produce His fruit in us as our minds are renewed and we are conformed to the image of Christ. Though indwelling sin remains a reality, as we are led by the Spirit we grow in the knowledge of the Lord and freely keep His commandments. All believers are exhorted to persevere in the faith, knowing they will have to give an account to God for their every thought, word, and deed. (Colossians 1:21-23, I Thessalonians 5:23-24)

The Church:

The Church is the Body and Bride of Christ. It is not a religious institution or denomination. Rather, the Church universal is made up of those who have become genuine followers of Jesus Christ. The Church exists to worship and glorify God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit through preaching the Gospel, discipleship, and church planting. All members of the Church universal are to be a vital and committed part of a local church. In this context they are called to walk out the New Covenant as the people of God, and demonstrate the reality of the kingdom of God. The ascended Christ has given gift ministries to the church for the equipping of Christ’s body that it might mature and grow. Through the gift ministries, all members of the Church are to be nurtured and equipped for the work of ministry. (Acts 2:42-47, I Corinthians 12:12-14)

The Ordinances:

Baptism is intended only for the individual who has received the saving benefits of Christ’s work and become His disciple. Therefore, in obedience to Christ’s command and as a testimony to God, the Church, oneself, and the world, a believer should be immersed in water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Water baptism is a visual demonstration of a person’s union with Christ in the likeness of His death and resurrection signifying that his former way of life has been put to death. (Matthew 28:19-20, Romans 6:3-7)

The Lord’s Supper symbolizes the breaking of Christ’s body and the shedding of His blood on our behalf, and is to be observed repeatedly throughout the Christian life as a sign of continued participation in the benefits of Christ’s death. As with baptism, the Lord’s Supper should only be taken by those who are genuine followers of Jesus Christ. Through this ordinance we remember and proclaim the death of Christ, patiently wait in hope for His return, and signify our unity with other members of Christ’s body. (Matthew 26:26-30, I Corinthians 11:20-34)

Consummation:

The Consummation of all things includes the visible, personal and glorious return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead and 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. The Church will be in the presence of God forever, serving Him and giving Him unending praise and glory. (Revelation 21:1-5, I Thessalonians 4:16-18)