Our Beliefs
The Gospel
The good news of Jesus Christ (who is God in the flesh, yet perfectly holy) dying on the cross for sinners, and being raised from the dead bodily (I Corinthians 15:1-4). God gives new birth to those who repent of their sins and believe in Christ alone; all who do so will have their sins forgiven and be given eternal life (Mark 1:14-15; John 3:1-7, 14-21, 36; John 5:24; John 6:28-29, 40, 47; Romans 10:9-13).
Authority
We desire to study, understand and obey the Holy Writings given by the Spirit of God as God’s self-revelation. This is the Bible and it is sufficient for the church’s faith and practice. We are committed to systematic exposition of this sacred book and believe it is fully authoritative, as the voice of God, in everything it speaks concerning.
Scripture
The sixty-six books of the Holy Bible were written by men, supernaturally inspired by God. Every part of the Bible in the original manuscripts is truth, without error, and is incapable of being wrong. (II Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
Where it can, we teach the literal interpretation of Scripture which affirms the belief that the opening chapters of Genesis present creation in six literal days, God’s special creation of Adam and Eve, and the world-wide flood destroying all life (air-breathing and land-dwelling) apart from what was spared in the ark. (Genesis 1-9)
God
There is only one living and true God who is Creator of all the universe. He is one being who eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. They are co-equal in nature having the same Divine substance, but distinct in personality and role. (Genesis 1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
God the Father
God the Father is the supreme authority and all things are under His control. In His sovereignty, He is neither the author nor the approver of sin. God so loved the world that He sent His Son to be the Savior of the world; He desires that all men would be saved according to truth. He has graciously chosen from eternity past those whom He would have as His own. (Job 42:2; I John 1:5; James 1:13; John 3:16; I Timothy 2:3-6; I Peter 3:9; Ephesians 1:3-12)
God the Son
Jesus Christ is eternally God who came to earth, never ceased being divine. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died to pay the penalty for sin, and rose bodily from the dead. He is seated at the throne with the Father praying and interceding for the church daily. (Isaiah 9:6; John 17:5; John 1:1-2,14; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 53:1-12; John 1:29; Luke 24:51; I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 4:14-16)
God the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit’s ministry is to convict of sin, bear witness of Jesus Christ, and baptize the repentant, believing sinner into the Body of Christ. At the new birth, the Spirit lives within the believer, becomes the seal of divine ownership, and is the down payment that guarantees the final salvation of the believer. The Holy Spirit guides into all truth, teaching and helping the Christian. (John 16:8-11; John 15:26; I Corinthians 12:13; I Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 4:30; John 16:13; John 14:26)
Sin
Though created in innocence, man fell through sin, incurring the penalty of spiritual and physical death. As a result, all people (Jesus Christ being the only exception) are sinners – by nature, by choice, and by divine declaration. Apart from God, all men are naturally wicked and utterly depraved deserving of divine judgment in hell. (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12-21; 1 Corinthians 2:14; 2 Corinthians 4:3-6; Ephesians 4:17-19; Romans 8:7-8; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23)
Salvation
People will only receive forgiveness of sins by trusting exclusively in the shed blood of Christ on the cross and His subsequent resurrection. Salvation is by grace alone, which the Holy Spirit ministers in regeneration. Regeneration involves the sinner seeing his sinfulness, having an inner change of heart that turns away from evil and produces the fruits of behavior pleasing to God (repentance), and to call out in faith to God for salvation. Salvation includes being declared righteous by God (justification), being made to grow in righteousness by the Holy Spirit (sanctification), and the promise of eternal life in a perfected state of righteousness (glorification).
The Church
The church is made up of the universally redeemed people of God, sinners who have been born again by grace. The visible church is the gathering of believers locally and physically for worship and instruction. True believers in Christ will manifest faith in holy living and loving service. Israel of the Old Testament and the church of the New Testament are spiritually connected and related but distinct members of the one people of God.