Beliefs

We believe the Holy Bible, in its original manuscripts, was verbally and completely God-breathed, recorded without error, confirmed by the early church, and preserved supernaturally by the work of the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures, as the very Word of God, are the source and gauge of all truth. They are sufficient and authoritative for all matters of salvation and godly living (Matthew 24:35; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11; 2 Timothy 3:15-16; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

We believe there is one living and true God, an infinite Spirit, the Creator and supreme Ruler of all that exists. In the unity of the Godhead, there are three persons — the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit — equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5; Matthew 28:18-19; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Revelation 4:11).

We believe God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures and the flow of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all-powerful, all-loving and all-wise. He is inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, trust and love (Psalms 46:8-10; Isaiah 6:3; Jeremiah 32:27; Romans 11:33; Ephesians 1:11; 1 John 1:5, 4:8).

We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal and unique Son of God and the exact imprint of the Father’s nature in human form. His desire is to do the will of the Father in carrying out the work of redemption. We believe in His virgin birth, His sinless life, His substitutionary death, His physical resurrection, His ascension to glory, His divine intercession for His people and His return to earth. Jesus Christ is both true God and true man and the necessary mediator between an infinitely holy God and a totally depraved humanity (Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:35; John 1:14; Acts 1:6-11; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-21, 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 1:1-13, 4:15, 7:25; 1 Peter 2:24).

We believe the Holy Spirit is a divine person and of the same nature as God the Father and God the Son. In His relation to the unbelieving world, He restrains Satan; convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment; and bears witness to the truth of the Gospel. He is the Agent in the new birth who, at salvation, seals and indwells all believers and baptizes them into the body of Christ. He is the believer’s Comforter and Intercessor. We further believe that the sign/revelatory gifts of the Holy Spirit have fulfilled their purpose and are not normative to the work of the Holy Spirit today (Ezekiel 36:26; John 3:5-6, 16:7-11; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:14, 16, 26, 27; Hebrews 2:2-4).

We believe angels are created beings who minister on behalf of God in the unseen, yet real, world. Satan, the Devil, was created by God as an angel but through pride and rebellion became the enemy of his Creator. He is the unholy god of this age, the ruler of all the powers of darkness and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the lake of fire. Demons are fallen angels who have joined Satan in rebellion against God (Isaiah 14:12-14; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2, 6:12; Hebrews 1:13-14; Revelation 20:1-2,10).

We believe humanity was created, male and female, in the image and likeness of God. As image bearers of God, all human beings have intrinsic value apart from their function or contribution to society – regardless of sex, ethnicity, age or social status. By voluntary rebellion the first man Adam fell from his sinless state. That sinful nature has permeated every aspect of human life and all persons are sinners by birth and by choice, and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse (Genesis 1:26-27, 2:24-25,3:1-6; John 3:18; Romans 1:20 & 32, 3:23, 5:12; Ephesians 2:1; Hebrews 9:27).

We believe because of God’s love for humanity and passion for His glory, He made provision for salvation solely through the person and work of Jesus Christ. His call to repentance and faith in Christ is extended to all people, and sinners are declared righteous wholly by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. This is made possible because the Son freely took upon Himself human nature, yet without sin; honored the divine law by His personal obedience; and by His death made a full and voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place – the Just dying for the unjust. This new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel. The Spirit of God sets apart and conforms the believer increasingly into the likeness of Christ. God also preserves those who have been regenerated so that they will not and cannot lose their salvation. Salvation is completed when the believer receives a glorified body upon the return of Christ (Isaiah 53:4-6; Matthew 5:17-20; Luke 19:10; John 3:6-8 & 16; Acts 4:12, 17:30, 20:21; Romans 3:24 & 25, 6:22, 8:17, 29-30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:7; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 Peter 1:3-9; 1 John 2:2, 3:1-2).

We believe the true universal church is the community of all believers who have been redeemed by Christ. The local church is the organized gathering of believers who meet for worship, teaching, fellowship and prayer. As the body of Christ, the Church’s mission in the world is to continue the work of Christ and make disciples of all nations through the proclamation of the Gospel. The two biblical offices of the church are pastors/elders and deacons. The church is given the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism by immersion is the believer’s public identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. The Lord’s Supper serves as a perpetual reminder to the church of Christ’s sacrifice (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 11:26; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 3:1-3, 15).

We believe in the imminent rapture of the Church and pre-millennial return of Christ. At the rapture, the dead in Christ shall be raised in glorified bodies, and the living in Christ shall be given glorified bodies without experiencing death, and all shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. The Tribulation will be culminated by the revelation of Christ in power and glory to establish His millennial kingdom. At the final judgment, the unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous will dwell forever with the Lord in the New Heavens and the New Earth (Daniel 9:24-27; Matthew 24:29-31; Luke 1:31