God
There is only one true God, Creator of heaven and earth, who eternally exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All things exist for the glory of God. (Matthew 3:16-17; I John 5:7-8; Deut 6:4; Isaiah 64:8; John 16:7-15; Heb 1:2-3)
Humanity
We believe that man was created in the image of God to have fellowship with Him but became alienated from that relationship through sinful disobedience. As a result, humanity is spiritually dead and totally incapable of coming back into a right relationship with God by his or her own effort. God has made both men and women equally in His image, but there are distinctions in their roles. This is clearly seen in the Creation account before the Fall (Genesis 1—2). Differentiation of roles implies neither superiority nor inferiority, but a divine order. (Genesis 1:26; John 3:16; Acts 2:22-39; Rom 3:21-24)
Sin
We believe that sin is disobedience and rebellion against God. Sin originated in the Garden through the disobedience of Adam and Eve and from that point on humanity has inherited a sinful & fallen nature. Sin leads to death and separation from God. (Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:23; 6:32; Ephesians 2:3; 1 John 1:8-10)
Jesus
We believe that Jesus Christ (the Son of God) became flesh to reveal God to man and from the foundation of the world is the promised Savior to the lost. He, being fully God and fully man, is the only person to have lived a sinless life and pay the full atoning penalty for sin on the cross. He physically resurrected from the dead and is alive today seated at the right hand of God the Father. Jesus will return to earth in power and glory. (Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1, 14; I Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:15; I Corinthians 15:3-4; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 2:9; John 11:25; Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11-16)
Salvation
We believe that salvation only occurs when a person places their faith in the perfect life, death & resurrection of Jesus Christ as the sufficient & full payment for their sin. This justification before God is by His grace. We believe that salvation is a free gift given at God’s initiative, and must be received personally by faith through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 24:46-47; John 1:29; Acts 3:19; I John 1:7-9; Revelation 5:9)
Christian Life
We believe that God has equipped every Christian with the power of the Holy Spirit to live the Christian life. It is only because of God’s mercy and grace that we are saved and sanctified, so we live a life of complete dependence on God for change in our lives. It is only through His strength that we will be able to be conformed to the image of Christ, not because we are able to change ourselves. (Matthew 16:24; John 14:23; Galatians 5:25; II Corinthians 3:18; I Thessalonians 4:3)
The Church
We believe that the church is the body of Christ of which Jesus Christ is the Head. Through the gospel, we are invited into God’s family. The members of the body are those who have placed their faith in the finished work of Christ. The purpose of the church is to glorify God by loving Him and by making Him known to a lost world. (I Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 1:22-23, 3:10-11)
- Believer’s Baptism: Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience to Jesus symbolizing the believer’s faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. Baptism is a response to being saved by Christ.
- The Lord's Supper: The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience in which the church, by partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorializes the death of the Redeemer and anticipates His second coming.
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a distinct person within the eternal Trinity. The Holy Spirit’s purpose is to convict the world of sin, open the heart of sinful humanity to salvation, edify and empower the individual believer and church, and reveal to us the beauties of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is alive and active today and He gifts the Church to do the work of God. (Acts 1:5, 8; Ephesians 3:16; I Cor. 12:4-6; 2 Cor. 13:14; John 3:16-19; I Peter 1:2; Titus 3:5)
The Bible
We believe the entire Bible is the Word of God and God is the hero of the story. It was written by men who were moved by the Holy Spirit to write the inspired words of Scripture. It is God-breathed and without error. It is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (Luke 24:26-17; John 5:39-40; Proverbs 30:5; II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20-21)
The Last Things
God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in the new Heaven and new Earth with the Lord. (Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:5; 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 5:1.; 2 Thessalonians 1:7.; 2; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:27-28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7.; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Revelation 1:18; 3:11; 20:1-22:13.)
