THE SCRIPTURES

We believe that the Bible, consisting of 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired and inerrant Word of God in its original writing (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21). The Bible is the completed special revelation from God the Holy Spirit, and is the final rule of faith and practice for the church.

THE TRINITY

We believe that God exists eternally in three distinct persons – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit – while there is only one God (Exodus 20:2-3; Isaiah 48:16; Matthew 28:18-20). The one and only God is infinitely glorious in His holiness, sovereignty, grace, and power. The Triune God created the universe and all its living beings without existing materials or organic evolution (Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 40:28).

THE PERSON AND WORK OF GOD THE SON

We believe that the eternally existent Son of God was incarnated in the human race as Jesus Christ, conceived in a virgin by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:22-24; John 1:14). He lived a sinless life, was crucified as the Lamb of God to provide atonement of infinite value, died and was buried. On the third day, Jesus was raised from death in His same body in glorified form, was seen alive by hundreds of witnesses, and ascended to Heaven to be enthroned there to intercede for His people until His return to earth. All of this was in fulfillment of ancient prophecy (Isaiah 53; Matthew 28:5; Acts 2:24; 1 Corinthians 15:3-7; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 10:12-14; Romans 4:25).

The death of Christ, the Just One for the unjust ones, fully satisfied the offended holiness of God, so that all who entrust their eternal welfare to Jesus Christ as their Advocate and Savior will be saved eternally (John 10:28; Romans 8:30; Hebrews 13:5; 1 Peter 3:18).

THE PERSON AND WORK OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe in the eternal conscious personhood of the Holy Spirit, active in the original creation of the universe and in the regeneration of believing sinners. The Holy Spirit inspired holy men of God to write the Bible, and now uses the preaching of that Word of God to convict sinners of their need to trust Christ and to convict believers of their need to obey and grow. He indwells believers, baptizing them into one spiritual Body of Christ and sealing them as the guarantee of completed redemption. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to grow in their Christ likeness, to overcome temptations from the devil, to exercise their spiritual gifts, and to live life abundantly for the glory of God (John 14:26, 16:13; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:9, 11; 12:6; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 1:13-14).

THE NATURE AND CONDITION OF MANKIND

We believe that human beings are created in the image of God. We are intentionally created male or female. We are created to reflect His glory and divine attributes and to rule over the rest of creation for Him. (Genesis 1:26-28). When Adam and Eve chose to disobey God, they were alienated from free fellowship and incurred His judgment on themselves and the entire human race (Romans 5:12, 17). Every person is born with a fallen nature that is inclined away from God and in need of reconciliation and regeneration. All are sinners by birth and choice, spiritually dead and unable to please God by their own efforts (John 3:19; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:1-5).

Marriage is God’s design where one man is joined to one woman. Any variation is not a true marriage according to Scripture (Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:22-33).

THE NATURE OF SALVATION
We believe that regeneration – new birth – is the only way into the Family of God. People are born again when, as unworthy sinners, they call upon Jesus Christ as their Savior to forgive their sins and to give them eternal life. Salvation is eternal life in the presence and favor of God, gained by faith alone through the grace of God. Once people have thus passed from spiritual death to life, they can never again come under the condemnation of God, and are assured of eternal life with Him (John 3:3-7; Acts 16:31; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Titus 3:5).

THE AFTERLIFE
We believe that only two options exist for every human being, and that their eternal destiny is determined during their earthly lifetime:
1. Those who have trusted Jesus Christ as Savior will enjoy eternal bliss in the presence and favor of God in Heaven, and later in the New Heaven and New Earth.
2. Those who fail to trust in Jesus Christ are destined for judgment from God in Hell. There are no other options (Matthew 25:46; John 3:15-19; Hebrews 9:27).


THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH
We believe that all true believers in Christ are united in one spiritual body, the Body of Christ, by the baptism of the Holy Spirit at the time of their conversion (John 17:21; 1 Corinthians 12:13).


We believe that the local church is the focal point of God’s work in the world, so every believer is to be a committed member of a biblical church. A local church is an organized body of baptized believers in a locality, voluntarily associated to glorify God through worship, instruction, fellowship, and evangelism; with pastors and deacons as its officers, and observing together the biblical ordinances, while serving as Christ’s ambassadors in their community (Matthew 18:16; 2 Corinthians 5:20; Ephesians 4:11; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 3:16; 1 Timothy 3:1-13).

THE ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH
We believe that biblical Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that this is a prerequisite to membership in a local church (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38, 8:36, 18:8; Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12).

We believe that Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, is symbolic of the broken body and shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and is to be partaken of regularly by believers as the gathered church, after solemn self-examination and confession of sin (Matthew 26:26-30; 1 Corinthians 11:23-31).

THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
We believe that Christians are responsible to be like salt and light in the cultures in which they participate, both in personal influence and in positions of civil influence and office. God established civil government for the ordering of human society and for the restraint of evil. Christians are to pray for government leaders and live as obedient citizens insofar as that it does not conflict with public moral issues that are clearly defined in Scripture (Matthew 5:13-16, 22:21; Acts 5:29; Romans 13:1-7).

THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH
We believe the Church was given a great commission by Jesus Christ to communicate the Gospel among all people and nations, best accomplished by the establishing and encouraging of new churches that are based on the Word of God and are indigenous to the many cultures of the world. This work of evangelism and disciple building, both near and far, is the goal and passion of the churches Jesus promised to build (Matthew 16:18, 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8).

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BELIEVERS
We believe that the spiritual rebirth of believers in Christ brings a new spiritual nature that is able to overcome our natural fallen nature by the working of the resident Holy Spirit and the obedient reading of the Bible. As new creations in Christ, we believers are to conduct ourselves in society and church in ways that reflect the living presence of Christ within us, our joy in the Lord, and the difference from our former lifestyle. Believers are to seek to be constantly controlled by the Holy Spirit in conversation and manner of life. Each one is responsible to discover and develop his or her spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10, 5:18;  1 Thessalonians 1:3, 2:10; 2 Timothy 1:6).

We believe in the reality and personhood of Satan, the avowed enemy of God and man, who seeks by all manner of subtle and delusive means to restrain men from coming to a saving knowledge of Christ (Job 1:6, 7; Isaiah 14:12-17; Matthew 4:2-11; 2 Timothy 3:1-5).

THE FINAL EVENTS
We believe that God’s agenda for the world will complete His promised dealings with the Jewish chosen nation and involve the entire world. No one can know or calculate the starting point of the final events
mentioned in the Bible.

In broad outline, we believe that God’s agenda will realize the
following events:

  1. The Rapture – The taking up to Heaven of the Church, comprising all true believers regardless of denomination (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17).
    2. The Tribulation – A period of about seven years when judgment is poured out on unbelieving people on earth (Daniel 9:27; Revelation 6-19).
    3. The Judgment Seat – Meanwhile, the Church in Heaven will face the judgment seat of Christ and enjoy the marriage feast of the Lamb (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 19).
    4. The Second Coming – Jesus Christ will return to earth with His hosts of angels and believers to interrupt the Battle of Armageddon by conquering both sides and establishing His Promised Messianic Kingdom, which will last 1000 years, with Satan bound and unable to influence earthly life (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 20).
    5. The Final Judgment – After a brief release and uprising, Satan and his demonic hordes will be judged and cast into the Lake of Fire. Unbelievers who rebelled with Satan, and other resurrected unsaved persons, will face the Great White Throne judgment and be consigned to
    Hell for eternity (Revelation 20).
    6. The New Creation – God will create a new heaven and a new earth for His people where they will live joyfully in His presence forever (Revelation 21-22).