What We Believe

WE BELIEVE the Holy Scriptures, both the Old and the New Testaments, to be the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings.  We have confidence that present translations are a complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men and the Divine, final authority for Christian faith and life.  2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Hebrews 4:12.

WE BELIEVE in one living and true God, Creator of heaven and earth, eternally existing in three persons who are equal in power and glory: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  He is: all knowing, ever present, unchanging, and infinitely perfect.  Mark 12:29; Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:19-20; Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 57:15; Revelation 1:8; Psalms 139:1-16; Malachi 3:6; Psalms 18:30.

WE BELIEVE in God the Father, an infinite yet personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, and love.  He concerns himself mercifully with the affairs of men, He hears and answers prayer, and He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through the Lord Jesus Christ.  Psalm 103; Matthew 6:6.

WE BELIEVE in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son.  We affirm His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles and teachings, His substitutionary death through His shed blood on the cross, His bodily resurrection from the dead, and His ascension to the right hand of God the Father, where He is now interceding for His people.  Colossians 2:9; Matthew 16:16; Matthew 1:18-23; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Isaiah 53:5-6; Romans 5:11; Luke 24:6; Acts 1:9-11; Hebrews 7:25.

WE BELIEVE in the Holy Spirit, who came forth from the Father and the Son to convict the world of guilt in regard to sin, righteousness and judgement.  The Holy Spirit regenerates, sanctifies, unites, and empowers for ministry, all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.  He dwells within all believers in Christ and is an abiding Helper, Comforter, Teacher, and Guide.  John 16:7-15; Titus 3:5; Romans 8:9; Galatians 5:22-23.

WE BELIEVE the human nature derives from two historical persons, (Adam and Eve), created in the image and likeness of God.  They were created perfect, but they sinned of their own accord, plunging themselves and all humanity into sin, guilt, suffering, physical and spiritual death, as well as separation from God.  As a result, mankind is eternally lost without the intervention of God and His grace.  Though societies and cultures downplay and reject the reality of sin and its consequences, we believe the scriptures have given us a true and timeless description of the nature of sin and its expression in the heart of man.  Because sin is rebellion against God, sinful man will always challenge the righteous expectations of a holy God.  Genesis 1:27; Genesis 3; Romans 5:12; Psalms 51:5; Romans 3:23; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; 1 John 5:17

WE BELIEVE the salvation experience offered by God through Jesus Christ is the only answer for mankind’s fallen state.  It is a gracious gift from God and described as a “new birth” experience that comes to us as a result of repentance from sin and faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  We recognize it is impossible for mankind to earn forgiveness of sin and eternal life through our own personal efforts.  Jesus paid the full penalty for our sin when He died on the cross.  The blood He shed acts as a covering for our sin and makes it possible for God to see us as righteous individuals.  Through His resurrection from the dead we are raised to new life, and an inheritance with Christ.  John 3:3; John 3:16; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 2:8-9; Matthew 26:26-28; Romans 6:6-14 & 23; 1 John 1:9-10; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 1 John 3:1&2.

WE BELIEVE baptism by full immersion into water is an act of faith and obedience which symbolizes our salvation (repentance, forgiveness and new life) and should be experienced by those who are old enough to understand the invitation to receive forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ.  We believe the Lord’s Supper (Communion) symbolizes Christ’s death, His body and His shed blood for our sins.  These ordinances are open to all true believers that make confession in Christ and are to be observed by the church as commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ.  Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 3:21; Luke 22:14-20; Mark 14:22-25; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

WE BELIEVE the Church is composed of all persons who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the Body of Christ, of which He is the Head.  We believe the mission of the Church is to glorify God through worship; to teach and equip the body for service; to proclaim the gospel and to minister and serve each other and the world through the love of Christ.  Matthew 28:19; John 4:23-24; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 4:11-16; James 2:15-18; Matthew 25:34-46; Luke 19:10.

WE BELIEVE in the imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is the blessed hope of the Church.  We believe in a final day of judgement and in the endless suffering of the unsaved and the eternal blessing of the saved.  John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21 & 22.