What We Believe

1. The Bible
We believe the Bible is the inspired, inerrant and only infallible Word of God. It is the source for doctrine, instruction, correction and reproof, and by it God’s people are equipped for every good work that God has called them to do. We believe the Holy Spirit divinely inspired godly men to write truth revealed in the Bible. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

2. One True God
We believe there is one true God, Creator of heaven and earth, Who gives to all life, breath and all things; Who was and is eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. We believe that the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit work together in perfect unity. (Genesis 1:1, 26; Acts 17:25; John 14:26, 16:7-15)

3. The Lord Jesus Christ
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ (the eternal Son of God who became man, without ceasing to be God) fully God and fully man. We believe in His virgin birth, His sinless life (to redeem sinful man), His miracles, His atoning death, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in the blessed hope: the literal, physical, imminent return of Christ to the earth for overcoming believers. (John 1:1, 14; Colossians 2:9; Philippians 2:5-8; John 9:35-38; Matthew 1:18; John 20:28; Hebrews 1:6-8; Revelation 19-22)

4. Man
We believe man was created in the image of God but by voluntary disobedience mankind fell from innocence and purity into sinfulness and spiritual death. Therefore every person born is a sinner by nature and by choice. (Romans 5:12-19; Ephesians 2:1-3)

5. The Atonement & Salvation
We believe Jesus Christ’s vicarious death / substitutionary sacrifice on the cross paid the penalty for the sins of the whole world, but its benefits are only applicable to those who trust (believe as to obey) in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The work accomplished to provide our salvation is of the Lord from beginning to end. The only means of being cleansed from sin is through repentance and faith in the redeeming blood of Christ. Regeneration by the Holy Spirit (new birth) is absolutely essential to personal salvation. We are saved by grace through faith and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God. This saving faith will produce an active lifestyle of loving obedience and service to Jesus our Savior. Salvation (sozo in Greek) means to rescue from destruction, to make whole, and deliver, giving hope through the redemptive work of Christ on the cross. Our new life in Christ includes the privileges of adoption as children and inheritance in the Kingdom of God’s beloved Son. (John 3:16-18; John 1:12-13; Hebrews 12:1-2; John 3:3-5; Ephesians 2:8-9)

6. Perseverance of the Saints
We believe the Christian life is filled with trials, tests, spiritual warfare (against the world system, our flesh and fallen angels). For those abiding in faith and obedience to Christ, kept by His grace, until death or His return, the promises of eternal blessing in the presence of God are sure. Dependence on the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit indwelling the Christian to deny self, is required in order to live a faithful life committed to Jesus Christ through all circumstances of life. (1 John 5:18; 1 Peter 1:5; 1 Peter 5:10)

7. The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is God. The activity of the Spirit of the triune God is seen in the Old Testament, given in fullness to the Church at Pentecost and continues to build up the Church today. He dwells within every child of God and according to Acts 2:4/Luke 11:13, He empowers believers who ask, for service and witness. He guides, teaches, and cleanses believers from the old nature (washing of regeneration), and conforms us to the image of Christ (renewing). He convicts of sin, righteousness and the coming judgment. Receiving of the Holy Spirit, releases the fullness of the Spirit and is evidenced in a person’s life by the fruit (godly changes in one’s life) including a renewed love for God, people, holy living, commitment to the Scriptures, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We are commanded to be continually filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 1:13-14; Acts 1:8; John 14:26; John 16:14; Titus 3:5)

8. The Church
We believe the Church of Jesus Christ is the universal, spiritual body of believers from every tribe, tongue, kindred and race of peoples, and is indwelt by God through the Holy Spirit and divinely empowered to fulfill ministry and her Great Commission on earth. The goal of the Church is to glorify God by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and making disciples of all nations in order to present the saints complete in Christ. In the best interest of the life of the Church, Scriptural patterns of discipline are to be practiced and oversight for Church discipline, individual and corporate, is exercised by the leadership of the Church following Biblical guidelines. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Matthew 28:19-20; Ephesians 3:10)

9. The Second Coming of Christ & Final Judgment
We believe the Second Coming of Christ is personal and imminent. We believe in the resurrection and final judgment of both the saved and the lost (ALL will stand some day before their Creator and give an account), those born-again to everlasting life and those who reject Christ as Savior to everlasting damnation / torment. The unbeliever will stand before the Great White Throne of Judgment and be judged, while the believers in Christ will stand before the Judgment Seat (bema seat) of Christ to have their works judged and rewarded. (John 5:28-29; Acts 17:31; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15)

10. Spiritual Growth
We believe God expects and empowers every Christian to grow into Christlikeness. Christian growth occurs through feeding on the Word of God, following the leading of the Holy Spirit daily and being active and connected to the local body of Christ. (1 Peter 2:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 4:16)

11. Tithes & Offerings
We believe God is generous and He loves a cheerful giver. We believe that God expects His children to imitate His generosity. We believe the method ordained of God for the support and spread of His kingdom on earth is by giving of tithes and free-will offerings. (2 Corinthians 9:7; Malachi 3:10; 1 Timothy 5:17-18)

12. Marriage
We believe that marriage is a God-ordained union and covenant relationship; a lifelong faithful union exclusively between a man and a woman. “The creator made them male and female, and said, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh” (Matthew 19:4-5). The marriage relationship between a husband and wife is to reflect and parallel the beauty of the relationship between Christ and His bride, the Church (Ephesians 5:23-30; Proverbs 18:22)

13. Water Baptism
We believe water baptism by immersion, after repenting of one’s sins (turning away from sin and turning in faith to Christ) and receiving the free gift of salvation, is an outward sign of an inward work. We believe baptism is to be a public profession of one’s faith in Christ. We are to follow Jesus’ example in baptism and thus identify with His death, burial and resurrection…through faith in Him we are raised from our spiritual death to walk in newness of life. (Matthew 3:13-17; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-6; Galatians 3:27)

14. Holy Communion
We believe holy communion (the Lord’s Supper) is a symbolic remembrance of Christ’s suffering and death for our salvation. Communion is ordained by Jesus and commanded to be observed by Jesus Himself. Through partaking of the bread and grape juice, in remembrance of Christ, we proclaim His death (as the only way of salvation) until He comes. Communion is for believers and is a consistent opportunity to examine ourselves – to repent and be reconciled to the Lord and one another. Those who are not in right relationship with God are urged to examine themselves, repent and believe in Jesus. (1 Corinthians 11:23-31; Luke 22:19-20)