We believe that the 66 books of the Bible are God’s written revelation to mankind—His inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word in the original manuscripts (2 Samuel 7:28; Psalm 119:89; Proverbs 30:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20–21). Every word of Scripture is objectively and verbally inspired, and the Bible stands as the final and sufficient authority for all matters of faith and practice (2 Samuel 22:30; Psalm 12:6; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:3). When the Bible speaks, God speaks.
We believe that God used human authors as instruments to write the Scriptures, guiding them by the Holy Spirit through a process of dual authorship. He sovereignly worked through their unique personalities, writing styles, and backgrounds to faithfully communicate His truth (1 Corinthians 2:7–14; 2 Peter 1:21). Thus, the Bible clearly reveals the person and attributes of God, the way of salvation, and God’s will for mankind (Psalm 19:7–11; Psalm 119:9, 11; Romans 10:17; 2 Tim 3:15, 17). The Word of God is absolutely authoritative, standing in judgment over humanity; never does man stand in judgment over it (Psalm 138:2; Hebrews 4:12–13).
We believe that there is one, true, unchanging interpretation of any given passage of Scripture. Whereas there may be multiple applications of a passage, there is but one true interpretation. The meaning of a passage is to be found as one diligently applies a straightforward, grammatical, and historical interpretation, as the Holy Spirit enlightens the interpreter (Nehemiah 8:8; John 16:12, 13; 1 Corinthians 14:37; 2 Peter 1:20, 21). It is the believer’s responsibility to diligently study, understand, and apply the Word of God with humility and obedience (Joshua 1:8; John 7:17; John 16:12–17; 1 Corinthians 2:7–15; 1 John 2:20).
We believe in one living and true God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5–6; Joel 2:27; Matthew 16:16), who is infinitely perfect in all His attributes and all His works (Matthew 5:48). He is the eternal Creator of all things, visible and invisible (Genesis 1:1; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:16), and He possesses all life, goodness, and glory in and of Himself (Psalm 119:68; John 5:26; 17:26). He is all-sufficient and needs nothing outside of Himself, yet He has chosen to manifest His glory through His creation—He alone is due all worship and praise (Psalm 150:1–6; Philippians 2:9–11; Revelation 5:12–14).
God exists eternally in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14). Each of these three are of one essence, equal in power and glory, and truly God. God the Father is the fountain of all being (1 Corinthians 8:6). God the Son, who is without beginning and is eternally begotten of the Father (John 1:1, 14, 18; Colossians 1:15–16; Hebrews 1:5–6), and is of one essence with the Father (John 10:30; Colossians 2:9). God the Holy Spirit is God, fully divine and personal (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13–14; Acts 5:3–4; 1 Corinthians 2:10–11; Ephesians 4:30). Though God exists in three Persons, He remains one God—unchanging, all-glorious, and worthy of eternal worship.
We believe that, as the first person of the Trinity, God the Father ordains and accomplishes all things according to His will (Psalm 135:6; 1 Corinthians 8:6).
We believe that God the Father is the source of all existence, for whom, from whom, through whom, and to whom are all things (Romans 11:36; Colossians 1:16). He has sovereign dominion over the creatures to do by them, for them, and upon them whatsoever He pleases (Psalm 115:3; Daniel 4:35; Revelation 4:11). In His sight all things are open and manifest; nothing is unknown to Him in His divine will (Psalm 147:5; Romans 11:33; Hebrews 4:13).
We believe that God the Father sent His only Son into the world to save His people (John 3:16–18; Romans 8:32). All who come to the Son are those whom God the Father has graciously chosen from eternity past (John 6:65) to receive the free gift of salvation and become adopted sons of God (John 1:12–13; Romans 8:15; Gal 4:5; Hebrews 12:5–9).
We believe that, as the second person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ is coequal, consubstantial (of the same essence), and coeternal with the Father (John 10:30; 14:9). In Jesus Christ, all the fullness of the Godhead dwells (Colossians 1:19; 2:9).
We believe that God the Father sent His only Son (Galatians 4:4), Jesus the Messiah (John 3:16–17; Matthew 16:16), who was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:34–35), and born of the virgin Mary (Matthew 1:18–23).
We believe that in the incarnation, the eternal Son of God took on a fully human nature, yet without sin (John 1:14; Hebrews 2:14, 17; 4:15), so that two, whole, perfect and distinct natures were inseparably joined together in one Person. Thus, the Person, Jesus Christ, is truly God and truly man (Philippians 2:6–8). As the God-man, He represents humanity and deity in indivisible oneness (John 5:23; 14:9–10; Colossians 2:9).
We believe that by His perfect obedience (Romans 5:18–19) to God and by His suffering and death (Romans 3:24–25; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 Peter 1:18–19; 3:18) as the Lamb of God (John 1:29), Jesus Christ accomplished forgiveness for sins (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14) and imputed the gift of perfect righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9) on behalf of those who placed their trust in Him.
We believe that Jesus Christ made atonement for our sins (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 1:18– 19), absorbed our punishment (Isaiah 53:5; Romans 8:1–3), appeased the wrath of God against us (Romans 5:9; Ephesians 2:3–6; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9), removed the condemnation of the law that was against us (Galatians 3:13; Colossians 2:13–14), and declared us righteous in His justification (Romans 3:25–26).
We believe that Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:38; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4), ascended to the right hand of the Father (Mark 16:19; Acts 7:55–56; Hebrews 1:3), and intercedes for us as our Advocate and High-priest (Hebrews 2:17; 7:25; 1 John 2:1). By the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, God the Father gave proof that He had accepted the work of Christ on the cross (Romans 4:25; 6:5–10) and guarantees the future resurrection of all believers (John 5:26–29; 14:19)
We believe that Jesus Christ will return to receive the church, establish His millennial kingdom on earth (Acts 1:9–11; Revelation 20:1–6), and judge all who refused to place their trust in Him as Lord and Savior (Psalm 2:12; Matthew 25:14–46; Acts 17:30–31; Revelation 20:11–15).
We believe that the Holy Spirit is not a force but a divine Person. He is coequal, consubstantial (of the same essence), and coeternal with the Father and the Son (Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3–4; 28:25–26; 1 Corinthians 12:4–6; 2 Corinthians 13:14). As the third Person of the Godhead, He possesses all of the attributes of personality and deity (Psalm 139: 7–10; Isaiah 40:13–14; Romans 8:26–27; 15:13; 1 Corinthians 2:10–13; 12:11; Ephesians 4:30; Hebrews 9:14).
We believe that apart from the work of the Spirit, none would come to faith. Since fallen man is by nature hostile to God, dead in trespasses and sins, and morally incapable of submitting to God (Ephesians 2:1-6), the Spirit triumphs over resistance (Romans 8:7– 9), awakens the dead soul, removes blindness (2 Corinthians 4:4–6), and magnifies the beauty of Christ so that Christ becomes irresistibly attractive to the regenerate heart.
We believe that the Holy Spirit does His saving work in conjunction with the gospel (John 15:26; 16:14). Therefore, we believe that there is no salvation by any other means than by receiving the Gospel through the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:12; Romans 3:19–22; 1 Timothy 2:5).
We believe that the Holy Spirit was sent by the Father and the Son (John 14:16–17; 15:26) to initiate and complete the building of the Church (1 Corinthians 12:7–10; Hebrews 2:4). The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and He indwells and transforms believers into the image of Christ (John 16:7–9; Acts 1:5; 2:4; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 2:22).
We believe that a Christian is filled with and sealed by the Holy Spirit at the moment of their salvation (John 14:23; Romans 8:9–11; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13). Furthermore, the Holy Spirit bestows spiritual gifts to believers for the edification and building up of His Church.
We believe that God created the universe (Genesis 1:1), and all that is within it (Psalm 24:1–2); He did so out of nothing, by the Word of His power (John 1:1–3; Hebrews 1:2; 11:3).
We believe that God directly and immediately created man, male and female, which establishes biological sex and gender. Both male and female were created in God’s image and likeness, were created without sin (Genesis 1:27; James 3:9), and created to glorify God by enjoying fellowship with Him, trusting in His sufficient goodness, admiring His infinite beauty, and living under His will (1 John 1:3, 5–6; Revelation 7:9–10). We believe that man was created with a rational nature, intelligence, volition, and a moral responsibility to God. Man voluntarily sinned against God and fell from their holy and happy state (Romans 1:18–32).
We believe that in Adam’s disobedience to the revealed Word of God, man lost his innocence; incurred the penalty of spiritual and physical death; became subject to and the object of God’s wrath, separated from the life of God, inherently corrupt and incapable of choosing or doing that which is acceptable to God (Genesis 2:16–17; 3:1–19; John 3:36; Romans 3:23; 6:23; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:1–3; 1 John 1:8).
We believe that, as the head of the human race, Adam’s fall became the fall of all his posterity. Thus, corruption, guilt, death, and condemnation belong properly to all men of every age (Romans 5:12–19; 6:16, 20). Though mankind was created in the image of God, this image was marred by the fall of mankind in sin (Genesis 3), though it did not stop man from being image bearers. We believe that mankind is sinful by nature (Psalm 14:1–3; Ecclesiastes 9:3; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:9–18, 23; 5:10–12).
We believe that man is inclined to evil with a sinful nature and, therefore, under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse (Deuteronomy 29:4; Romans 1:18-32; 3:19–20; 8:7–8). The salvation of sinners is thereby wholly of God’s grace through the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe that salvation is wholly of God and not based on human merit or works (Jeremiah 31:31–34; Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 3:21–24; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 1:4–7; 2:8–10; 1 Peter 1:18, 19). Sinful man is made right before a holy God by His sovereign grace alone (2 Timothy 1:9), on the basis of the Person and work of Jesus Christ alone (Isaiah 53:1–12; John 14:6; Acts 4:12). We believe God sent His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to come to earth to live a perfectly righteous life and to be crucified on the cross. Christ took the wrath of God on behalf of those who would believe in Him, so that in exchange they would receive Christ’s righteousness and not be condemned for their sins (2 Corinthians 5:21).
We believe that salvation involves the redemption of the whole man and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15). A person must repent of his sins by turning away from them and embracing Jesus Christ as Lord. He must believe and fully trust in the finished work of Christ, and love the Lord as his greatest and supreme joy.
We believe that the saved are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever (John 5:24; 6:37–40; 10:27–30; Romans 5:9–10; 8:1, 31–39; 1 Corinthians 1:4–9; Ephesians 4:30; Hebrews 7:25; 13:5; 1 Peter 1:4–5; Jude 24). The redeemed can rejoice in the assurance of their salvation, however, this assurance is not a license to sin (Romans 6:15–22; 13:13–14; Galatians 5:13, 16–17, 25–26; Titus 2:11–14).
We believe that God elects, in Christ, those whom He graciously regenerates, saves, and sanctifies (John 15:16; Romans 8:28–30; Ephesians 1: 4–17; 2:8–10; 2 Timothy 2:10; 1 Peter 1:1–2).
We believe that God’s election is an unmerited, unconditional act of sovereign grace (John 6:37–39; 10:25–29; Romans 8:28–30; 9:11–18; 1 Corinthians 1:26–31; 2 Timothy 1:9).
We believe that election does not contradict or nullify the responsibility of man to repent and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (Isaiah 55:1–3; Ezekiel 18:23, 32, 33:11; John 3:18–19, 36; 5:40). God ordains both the means by which a sinner receives the gift of salvation and the salvation itself. Salvation is wholly of God, through and through (John 6:37–40, 44; Acts 13:48; Romans 2:4; 1 Corinthians 12:6; 15:10; 2 Corinthians 3:5; Philippians 2:13).
We believe that, in order to be saved, a sinner must be regenerated, or born again (Deuteronomy 30:6; John 3:3–8; Titus 3:5). Regeneration is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in which the sinner is given new life through the instrumentality of the Word of God (John 5:24). This new life consists of the creation of a holy disposition: a new heart, mind, and affections (Jeremiah 31:31–34; 2 Corinthians 5:17).
We believe that only after regeneration is a sinner enabled to respond in repentance and faith to the gospel (Psalm 19:7; Romans 8:6–11, 1 Corinthians 2:14–16).
We believe that through union with Christ, God justifies sinners (Romans 5:10–11; 8:30, 33), and counts them as righteous and acceptable before Him by faith in Christ alone, apart from works (Genesis 15:6; Romans 3:23–24; 28; Galatians 2:16).
We believe that the righteousness, which God requires and freely gives to sinners, is accomplished by Christ and imputed to sinners apart from works (Isaiah 53:1–12; Jeremiah 31:33–34; Romans 4:4–5; Philippians 3:8–9). Our sins were imputed to Him, and His righteousness was imputed to us (1 Corinthians 1:30; 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
We believe that justification and sanctification are both the work of God (Psalm 51:2–7; Jeremiah 33:8; Romans 8:29–30). Justification is the act of God, in which the sinner is declared righteous, by faith alone. Sanctification is the act of God, in which the sinner is progressively conformed into the image of His Son, by faith alone (Romans 8:29; 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:3). Though distinct, justification and sanctification are inseparable (Romans 8:29–30; Galatians 1:4; Titus 2:14).
We believe that sanctification is a process that is initiated at conversion and effective throughout a Christian’s life (Philippians 1:6) of increasing holiness in conformity to the will of God (Romans 6:1–21; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:23).
We believe that progressive sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit (Philippians 2:13) who enables believers to understand and obey the Word of God (Psalm 19:7–13; 119:9–11; John 17:17; 1 Corinthians 2:10–16). Christians will be sanctified as they continue to grow in the knowledge of God’s will through the Word, prayer, meditation, and the accountability of believers (Romans 12:1–21; Ephesians 6:10–18).
We believe that sanctification is imperfect and incomplete in this life. Though slavery to sin is broken in Christ, there remains a remnant of corruption in believers that gives rise to a lifelong fight with sin (Romans 6:1–23; 8:1–17). Thus, every Christian is involved in a daily conflict with sin but, by the power of the Holy Spirit, provision is made for victory over sin (Galatians 5:16–25; Ephesians 4:22–24; Philippians 3:12; Colossians 3:9–10; 1 Peter 1:14–16; 1 John 3:5–9).
We believe the church is the people of God who have been purchased by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and are baptized in the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13). The universal church is composed of all those who are chosen in Christ and united to Him through faith by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12), with Christ Himself as the Head (Ephesians 1:22; 3:6; 4:15–16; 5:23; Colossians 1:18). The Church has been and will continue to be the pillar and guardian of God’s truth (1 Timothy 3:15).
The universal church manifests itself locally through lives of committed believers who regularly gather in a Gospel community to serve one another and practice the ordinances (Hebrews 10:24-25). This community cares for the spiritual health of one another (Galatians 6:1–5; 1 Thessalonians 5:12–14), practices the spiritual disciplines, exercises their spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 14:12), participates in discipleship (Matthew 28:19–20; 2 Timothy 2:2; Titus 2), and respects and submits to its church leadership (Hebrews 13:17).
We believe that the purity of the Church is dependent upon discipleship (Matthew 28:19–20; 2 Timothy 2:2), mutual accountability (Matthew 18:15–20), and the disciplining of sinning members of the congregation in accordance with the Scriptures (Matthew 18:15–22; Acts 5:1–11; 1 Corinthians 5:1–13; 2 Thessalonians 3:6– 15; 1 Timothy 1:19–20; Titus 1:10–16).
We believe in the autonomy of the local church, free from any external authority or control, with the right of self-government and freedom from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations (Acts 15:19–31).
We believe that God gives the church spiritual gifts. He uniquely gifts certain men (pastors) for the purpose of equipping the saints for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:7-12), and He also gives unique and special spiritual abilities to each member of the body of Christ (Romans 12:5-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-31; 1 Peter 4:10, 11).
We believe the two ordinances to be practiced in the church are baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
We believe baptism is the first act of obedience of the new believer. Though it is not a prerequisite for salvation, it is a picture of it. The Scriptures teach that it is a command to be obeyed (Matt 28:19-20; Acts 2:38). The purpose of baptism includes the following: (1) it is a symbol of salvation (Romans 6:1-11; Titus 3:5); (2) it identifies a person with the God of the Bible (Matthew 29:19-20; Acts 2:38; 8:18; 22:16); (3) it identifies an individual with the church family (1 Corinthians 12:13; Eph 4:5) ; and (4) it encourages the church body (1 Corinthians 1:13; Acts 10). The participants of baptism are those who have called upon the Lord for salvation and are professing believers in Christ. The mode of baptism taught in Scripture is that of immersion (Acts 8:38; cf. Mark 1:10).
We believe the Lord’s Supper is an act of worship that is to be regularly practiced (Matthew 26:26-35; 1 Corinthians 11:26). It commemorates the work of Christ on the cross and is a proclamation of His future return (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). The Communion elements are only representations of the body and the blood; no change in substance occurs in the elements during Communion. Participants are to examine their lives as they participate in an act of integrity (1 Corinthians 11:27-32), which includes confessing sin, being at peace with the brethren, and being unified with the local church (1 Corinthians 11:17-22, 33).
We believe that God instituted marriage to depict Christ’s love for His church and is defined solely by Scripture. (Ephesians 5:31-32; Revelation 19:7; Genesis 2:18-22; Matthew 19:6).
We believe that marriage is the union between one man and one woman in covenant commitment for life. (Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 19:4-6; Romans 7:1-3; 1 Corinthians 7:10, 3; Mark 10:5-9).
We believe husband and wife are of equal worth before God. They are created in God’s image with distinct and complementary roles. (Ephesians 5:22-30; Genesis 1:27-8; Colossians 3:18-19; 1 Peter 3:1-7; 1 Corinthians 11:3).
We believe that physical death involves no loss of our immaterial consciousness (Revelation 6:9-11), that there is a separation of soul and body (James 2:26), that the soul of the redeemed passes immediately into the presence of Christ (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23), and that for the redeemed, such separation will continue until the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). Until that time, the souls of the redeemed in Christ remain in joyful fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:8).
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life (John 6:39; Romans 8:10, 11, 19-23; 2 Corinthians 4:14), and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment to face the consequences of their sins (Daniel 12:2; John 5:29; Revelation 20:13-15). Yet for the believer, he will dwell in everlasting joy and bliss with God in the New Heaven and Earth (Revelation 21:1–4). We reject any notion of annihilationism.
We believe that when unbelievers die, their souls are kept under punishment until the second resurrection (Luke 16:19-26; Revelation 20:13-15), when the soul and the resurrection body will be united (John 5:28, 29). They shall then appear at the Great White Throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-15) and shall be cast into hell, the lake of fire (Matthew 25:41-46), cut off from the life of God forever (Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:41-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).
We believe that the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent and will be personal and visible. This is the believer’s blessed hope and is a vital truth, which encourages holy living and faithful service. (Matthew 25:1-13, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, Titus 2:13).