WHAT WE BELIEVE

 

  • We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be inspired by the Holy Spirit in the original writings. They are complete and the final authority for our salvation, life and faith. (2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12)

  • We believe in one God, Creator of all things, eternally existing as One in three distinct persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; Ephesians 2:18)

  • We believe Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. In the one person of Christ there are two natures, each in its own completeness and integrity. They are distinguishable but indivisible. He lived a sinless life and became the only sacrifice for the sins of the world. (Ephesians 1:3-5; Romans 5:1-11; Acts 4:12; 1 Peter 1:18-23)

  • We believe the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, is active in the church today. The Spirit indwells and seals each believer at the new birth. Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a tacit experience of God for all Christians to empower them to be witnesses of the Kingdom of God. We believe in and encourage the use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. (John 14:16-17; Acts 1:8, 2:1-4)

  • We believe Jesus Christ died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Further, He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He now is our High Priest and Advocate. (Luke 24:38-47; John 20:24-29; Acts 1:6-8)

  • We believe the requirement of our salvation is repentance toward God for sin and a personal heartfelt faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. His shed blood and His resurrection provide the only ground for justification and salvation. Thus we are born again of the Holy Spirit and become children of God. (Ephesians 2:6-10; Romans 5:1; Acts 3:19-20)

  • We believe in the personal and imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and that this “Blessed Hope” has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all the dead; of the believer to everlasting joy with the Lord which is heaven, of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting punishment which is hell. (John 14:1-3; Revelation 21:1-4; 20:11-15)

  • We believe the true Church is composed of all such persons who, through saving faith in Jesus have been born again by the power of the Holy Spirit and are united together in the Body of Christ of which He is the Head. The church has universal and local expression. Each local church has the right under Christ to decide and govern its own affairs. (Acts 16:18; 20:28)

  • We believe that a believer’s water baptism and the Lord’s supper are the preeminent ordinances of the church and should be practiced regularly. (Acts 2:38-47; Romans 6:3-10; 1 Corinthians 10:16-21)

  • We believe man was created in the image of God but fell into sin. In our natural state humankind is therefore lost, undone, without hope, and without God. Only by grace through a new birth by the power of the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life be obtained. (Ephesians 2:1-2; Romans 3:23)

  • We believe Satan is a fallen, created being who is the “god of this world.” He and his organized company of the demonic work to defeat and destroy the believer. While his activity is real, he and his demonic forces have been defeated and overthrown by Christ’s victory on the cross. (Luke 10:17-20; Colossians 2:13-15; Ephesians 6:10-18)

  • We believe in the visible, bodily return of Christ to this earth to judge the world and to claim His bride. (Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Revelation 1:7; 19:11-16)