What We Believe

Concerning the Unity and Being of God: We believe in the existence of one living

and true God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the

same in essence and attributes. (Matt 28:19, John 1:1-4, Acts 5:3-4, 2 Cor 13:14)

Concerning the Holy Scriptures: We believe in the divine inspiration of the 66 books

of the Bible, comprising the Old and New Testaments. We believe them to be the

very word of God, written by holy men of old as they were moved by the Holy Spirit,

inerrant in the original manuscripts, and therefore a completely infallible and divinely

authoritative rule for faith and practice. (Ps 12:6, 2Tim 3:16-17, 2 Pet 1:21)

Concerning the Person of Jesus Christ: We believe that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son

of God, fully divine, was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, thereby

taking upon Him full and complete humanity, yet without sin. (Matt 1:18-23, Luke

1:35, Phil 2:6-8, Heb 2:14; 4:15)

Concerning the Person of the Holy Spirit: We believe in the full deity and

personhood of the Holy Spirit and His present work of exalting Jesus Christ by

convicting sinners of sin, righteousness, and judgement, by bringing about

regeneration, and indwelling, equipping, and empowering the believer. (John

7:38-39; 14:16-17, Acts 1:8, Romans 8:9, 1Cor 12:4-7, Eph 5:18, Tit 3:5)

Concerning Mankind: We believe mankind created in the image of God, fell from his

state of innocence and purity through disobedience. We believe in the consequent

universal depravity of all mankind, his deadness in trespasses and sin, and his need of

redemption. (Gen 1:26; 3:1-17, Is 64:6, Rom 8:5-8, Eph 2:1-3)

Concerning the Atoning Work of Christ: We believe in Jesus Christ's vicarious death

upon the cross through which He accomplished complete atonement for the sins of

the world. We believe in His bodily resurrection, His ascension to heaven, His

exaltation, and His present High Priestly ministry before the Father's throne. (Rom

4:25, 1Cor 15:3-4, 1Pet 2:24; 3:16, 1John 2:1-2, Acts 1:9, 2:31-32, Phil 2:9-11, Heb

7:25)

Concerning Salvation: We believe that by grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ's

atoning sacrifice, apart from works, a person's sins are remitted. Thereby being

imputed with Christ's righteousness, the believer is justified, indwelt by the Holy

Spirit, receiving the gift of eternal life. (John 3:16, 2Cor 5:21, Rom 6:23, Eph 2:8-9,

Tit 3:5)

Concerning The Believer's Security and Assurance: We believe that all who are

genuinely born again by the Spirit of God through faith in Christ are eternally secure

in the Father's hand and that it is the privilege of all such to be assured of their present

salvation and eternal safety. We further believe that this in no way diminishes the

seriousness of the call of Scripture to persevere in faith and obedience. (John

10:28-28; Rom 8:33-39; Phil 1:16; Hebrews 6:9-12; 10:35-39; 1 Pet 1:5; 1 John

5:11-13).

Concerning the Church: We believe the universal church is composed of all who are

born again and baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ. We further

believe the local church is a particular visible expression of the universal church

whose members are members one of another and to be knit together in love. (Rom

12:5, 1 Cor 12:13, Eph 4:1-16, Col 1:18; 2:19)

Concerning the Ordinances: We believe the Lord prescribed two ordinances for His

church, baptism and the Lord's Supper. The rite of baptism by immersion on the part

of one professing faith in Christ is a public testimony to and symbol of that one's

death to sin and new life in Jesus Christ. The Lord's Table is to be kept by Christ's

disciples as a memorial to His death until He comes again. (Matt 28:19-20, Rom

6:3-4, Luke 22:19-20, 1Cor 11:23-26)

Concerning the Return of Christ: We believe in the personal, bodily, and visible

return of Jesus Christ. (Matt 24:30, Acts 1:10-11, 1 Thess 4:13-5:11, 2 Thess 1:7-10,

Rev 19:11-16)

Concerning the Nature of the Millennium: We believe that the timing of the rapture

and nature of the millennium are not essential issues for fellowship and that each

member should be free to humbly search the Scripture and develop a personal

position on these matters (John 14:1-3; 1 Thess 4:13-18; Rev 20:1-10).

Concerning Final Judgment: We believe in the bodily resurrection and final

judgment of all mankind, the righteous to reward and eternal blessedness, and the

unbelievers to condemnation and eternal punishment. (John 5:28-29, Rom 2:6-11;

14:10-12, 1 Cor 3:11-15, Rev 20:11-15)