What We Believe

God is the Creator and Ruler of the Universe. There is one true Holy God, eternally existing in three persons-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and equally possess all the attributes of deity and characteristics of personality. In the beginning God created, out of nothing, the World and all the things therein. By His sovereign power He continues to sustain His creation and to fulfill His redemptive purposes. (Genesis 1:1, 26, 27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Jesus Christ is God’s eternal Son. He is co-equal with the Father. He allowed Himself to be born of a virgin through a miraculous conception of the Holy Spirit, without ceasing to be God. Being true God and true man, He lived a sinless human life, and voluntarily offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins by dying on a cross as our substitute. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven and will return again to earth some day, personally and visibly, to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. (Matthew 1:22, 23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; Romans 1:3, 4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14, 15; Titus 2:13)

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He enlightens the minds of sinners, awakens in them to recognize their need of a Savior, and brings spiritual life to them. At the point of salvation, He permanently indwells every believer to become the source of assurance, strength and wisdom, and uniquely endows each believer with gifts for the building up of the body of Christ—the Church. The Holy Spirit guides believers in understanding and applying the Scriptures. As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily, to exhibit Christ-like character, and to bear fruit to the glory of the Father. (2 Corinthians 3:17; John 14:16, 17, 16:7-13, 16:17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13, 5:17-21; Galatians 5:25)

Salvation is God’s free gift to us, but we must accept it. It is offered to all, but individually received by personal faith in Jesus Christ, alone, for the forgiveness of our sins. Salvation is wholly a work of God’s free grace, not the result, in whole or in part, of human works or goodness. We can never on our own satisfy God’s righteous demands for salvation. Eternal life and the forgiveness of sins begins the moment one transfers his or her trust from themselves to Christ for forgiveness of their sins. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of Christians, and when God has begun a saving work in the heart of any person, He promises to continue performing it until the day of its completion. We are involved in this process by choosing to follow Christ, trust Him, and obey Him as our lives are transformed. If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot “lose your salvation.” (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8, 9; John 1:12, 14:6; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1, 8; Philippians 1:6, 2:12-13; John 10:29-30; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 1 Peter 1:3-5)

Men and women were created in the image and likeness of God but rebelled against God through personal disobedience. This rebellion led to their alienation from God and the corruption of their spiritual nature, which renders them incapable of pleasing God on their own merit or saving themselves. The rebellion and fall of man took place at the beginning of human history, and all individuals since have suffered these consequences and are thus in need of the saving grace of God. (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1, 2)

People were created by God to exist forever. Death seals the eternal destiny of each person. For all mankind, there will be a bodily resurrection and a judgment that will determine the fate of each individual. Those who have not personally trusted Jesus Christ will be separated from God into everlasting punishment for their rejection of God. Believers will be received into eternal communion with God and will be rewarded for works done in this life. (John 3:16, 2:25, 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelations 20:15; Hebrews 9:27; Matthew 18:8, 25:44, 46)

The Church is the living Body of Christ on earth and at the point of salvation a person becomes a member of Christ’s Body—the Church. There is one true Church universal, comprised of all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior. The Scriptures command believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, observance of baptism and communion as ordinances established by Jesus Christ, fellowship with one another, service to the body through the development and use of talents and gifts, and outreach to the world. Whenever God’s people meet regularly in obedience to this command, theirs is the local expression of the Church. Under the watchful care of elders and the supportive leadership of deacons, its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the one ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ. (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 2:19-22, 5:23-24; Acts 2:41-47; Matthew 16:15-18; Colossians 3:21; Revelation 4:11; Ephesians 4:11-13; Matthew 22:36-40, 28:19-20; Romans 12:3-16; 1 Corinthians 12:4-12; Acts 1:8)

Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. This church recognizes that it cannot bind the conscience of individual members in areas where Scripture is silent. Rather, each believer is to be led in those areas by the Lord, to Whom he or she is ultimately responsible.

Since we are created in God’s image, we believe all human life is sacred. People are of inestimable worth in all our dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, and the physically or mentally challenged. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life at every stage or condition from conception through natural death. (Psalm 139:1-24)

We believe God created marriage to display the gospel, to provide a secure foundation for raising children, and to encourage the joy and holiness of mankind⁽¹⁾. People are wonderfully and immutably created as male and female, and these distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God⁽²⁾. God ordained marriage as the union of one man and one woman in an intimate covenant relationship lasting until death⁽³⁾. Therefore, no sexual activity should take place outside of biblical marriage⁽⁴⁾. Furthermore, divorce should be rigorously avoided because reconciliation is central to the Christian life⁽⁵⁾. However, due to the hardness of the human heart and brokenness of our world, divorce is a reality and in rare cases may be legitimate⁽⁶⁾. Regardless of circumstances, following the example of our Lord Jesus, Christians ought to display forgiveness, restoration, and love toward one another⁽⁷⁾. (⁽¹⁾Genesis 1:28; 2:24-25; Song of Solomon; Ephesians 5:22-33; ⁽²⁾Genesis 1:26-27; Mark 10:6; ⁽³⁾Leviticus 18:1-30; Matthew 19:4-5; Romans 1:26-27; Romans 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:10; ⁽⁴⁾1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4; ⁽⁵⁾Matthew 19:6; 2 Corinthians 5:18; ⁽⁶⁾1 Corinthians 7:15; Matthew 19:8-9; ⁽⁷⁾Ephesians 4:25-32; Colossians 3:12-13)