OUR Essential Beliefs
What we believe about the Scriptures
We believe that the Bible, composed of the Old and New Testaments, is God's inspired and infallible Word, and that it is the supreme standard and final authority for all conduct, faith and doctrine. (Psalms 19:7-10; 119; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
What we believe about God
We believe in one God, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. He is eternally existent as a holy trinity of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit without any division of essence or being. (Genesis 1:1,26-27; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; Acts 17:28; I Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
What we believe about Jesus Christ
We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father and in His personal return in power and glory. (Isaiah 9:6; 53:1-12; Matthew 1:18-23; John 1:1-18; I Corinthians 15:1-11; Galatians 4:1-5; Colossians 1:13-22)
What we believe about the Holy Spirit
We believe in the personality of the Holy Spirit of God the Father and God the Son and that His ministry is to reveal Christ to men, to convict of sin, to regenerate repentant sinners and, by His presence and power, to sanctify the lives of the redeemed. (John 14:16-18; 15:26-27; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; I Corinthians 12:1-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)
What we believe about people
We believe that human beings are created in the image of God as His supreme work and as such have infinite worth and dignity, but, by willful transgression became sinful and justly under the condemnation and wrath of almighty God. (Genesis 1:26-30; 2:7-25; 3:1-24; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 1:19-32; 3:23; I Corinthians 1:21-31; Ephesians 2:1-10)
What we believe about salvation
We believe that the only salvation from sin's guilt and condemnation is through repentance and faith in the righteousness and atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that this salvation is the free gift of God's love and grace. (Acts 3:19; John 1:12; 3:16; 14:6; Romans 3:20-28; 5:1-2; 6:1-23; 8:1-18; 10:9-13; I Corinthians 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 5:1-11; Galatians 5:22-25; Ephesians 2:8-10)
What we believe about eternal security
We believe that because the believer is laid hold of and kept by the power of God and not by self-effort, and because salvation grants eternal life, therefore the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity and can never be lost again. (John 1:12-13; 5:24; 6:44-45; 10:27-29; 15:16; Romans 8:28-30; 11:26-36; Ephesians 1:3-14)
What we believe about the church
We believe that a New Testament church is a body of baptized believers committed to the New Testament teachings of Christ, associated for evangelism, worship, fellowship, discipleship and ministry. Its ordinances are baptism and communion. Its officers are pastors and deacons. (Matthew 16:15-19; 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-47; 6:3-6; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 5:22-32; I Timothy 3:1-15)
What we believe about baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We believe that baptism is only to be administered upon profession of faith in Christ, by immersion, thereby declaring faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Lord, that communion is only for believers and is in remembrance of the Lord's death until He comes. (Matthew 3:13-17; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; 14:22-26; Luke 3:21-22; 22:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; Romans 6:3-5; I Corinthians 10:16-21; 11:23-29; Colossians 2:12)
What we believe about last things
We believe that, according to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth and that, associated with His return, there will be a resurrection of the just and the unjust, the just to be with Him throughout eternity in glory, the unjust to eternal condemnation in hell. (Matthew 16:24-27; 24:27-44; John 14:1-3; I Corinthians 15:24-58; Philippians 3:20-21; I Thessalonians 1:14-18; 5:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; Hebrews 9:27-28; 2 Peter 3:3-13)