What we believe

We believe the Bible is God’s Word to all men. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit; therefore, it speaks with the authority of God yet reflects the backgrounds, styles, and vocabularies of human authors. Because we believe it is fully inspired and without errors in the original manuscripts, it is the source of truth and final authority for Christian beliefs and living. To disobey its commands is to disobey God Himself. There are no other writings similarly inspired by God. (Psalm 119:105,160; II Tim. 1:13; II Tim. 3:16,17; Matt. 24:35; 2 Peter 1:20,21)

God

We believe there is one true and holy God eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and perform distinct but harmonious functions. We believe God, the Father, is an infinite and personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, justice, power and love. In the beginning and out of nothing, God created the world and all things in the world in six literal days, manifesting the glory of His power, wisdom and goodness. By His sovereign power, He continues to sustain His creation, He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, He hears and answers prayer, and He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (Gen. 1:1-31; Duet. 6:4,5; I John 5:7; Matt. 3:16,17; Matt. 28:19; II Cor. 13:14; Eph. 4:6; I Cor. 8:6; I Tim. 2:5; John 5:17,18; Gal. 4:4-7).

Man

We believe man is made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. He is the supreme object of God’s creation. Although the original man and woman (Adam and Eve) were created good and for the purpose of having fellowship with God, they defied God, chose to go their independent way, and were marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called sin. All generations after them have inherited this attitude of disobedience (sinful nature) which separates man from God, and results in a corrupted nature unable to please God. (Gen. 1:26; Gen. 2:17; Gen. 3:1-6,24; Ezek. 18:20a; Rom. 3:23; Rom. 6:23; Ps. 8:3-6; Is. 53:6a; Is. 59:1,2)

Human Destiny

We believe man was created to exist forever. Every person will either exist eternally separated from God by choosing to remain in sin, or exist eternally in the presence of God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is eternal death in Hell. To be eternally in the presence of God is eternal life in Heaven. Heaven and Hell are literal places of eternal destiny, and physical death seals the destiny of each person. There will be no second chances for salvation after death. (John 3:16; John 2:25; John 5:11-13; John 8:24; Rom. 6:23; Rev. 20:15; I Jn. 5:11-12; Matt. 25:41; Luke 16:19-31; I Cor. 6:9-10; Heb. 9:27; Heb. 2:3; II Cor. 6:2)

Jesus Christ

We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal second Person of the Trinity who was united forever with a true human form by a miraculous conception and virgin birth, yet who remains fully God. Jesus lived a sinless human life in perfect obedience to the Father, and voluntarily accepted the punishment for the sin of all mankind by dying on the cross as the only acceptable substitute. He physically arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and sat down at the right hand of God. As our only Mediator between God and man, He now personally pleads on the Christian’s behalf to God. He will come again to earth, personally and visibly, to reign as the King of kings and Lord of lords. (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18,25; John 1:14; Gal. 4:4; Phil. 2:5-8; I Pet. 1:18,19; Rom. 5:6-11; Eph. 1:7; Rev. 1:5; Luke 24:35-48; Acts 2:23,24,32,33; Acts 1:1,11; Rom. 8:34; Col. 3:1; Heb. 4:16; Heb. 7:25; I Jn. 2:1; Jn. 14:1-3,6; I Thess. 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Phil 3:20; Rev. 19:11-16; I Tim. 2:5; I Pet. 2:5)

Salvation

We believe God has never stopped loving mankind, despite man’s decision to rebel and go his independent way. The central purpose of God’s revelation in Scripture is to call people back into fellowship with Himself. In order to have that relationship with God, one must understand that every person has committed acts of disobedience, and every person has been born with a sinful nature. Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works. He can do nothing on his own to achieve God’s favor because God is holy and cannot tolerate sin. However, salvation is God’s free gift to undeserving people, and we all are undeserving. It provides us the opportunity to obtain God’s grace by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness from sin’s penalty (eternal death and separation from God). The moment a person trusts Jesus Christ as the only method of forgiveness for his sins, he receives God’s gift of salvation and the promise of eternal life in Heaven with God. (John 3:16; John 16:7-9; Mark 1:15; II Cor. 7:10; I Cor. 15:1-4; John 1:12,13; Eph. 2:8,9; Acts 15:7-11; Rom. 5:1; Acts 16:31; Rom. 10:9,10; Titus 3:5; John 14:6; Gal. 3:26)

Satan

We believe in the personality of Satan, who is the prince of demons and is the declared adversary of God and man. He is an angel created by God who was once holy, but through pride and ambition to be as God, he was cast down from heaven with a following of angels. He is a tempter and accuser of man, and the force behind false religions and apostasy. When the Lord Jesus died on the cross, He guaranteed the ultimate triumph of God, and Satan is destined to eternal punishment in hell, along with his angels and those who refuse to acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Savior. (Isa. 14:12-15; Ezek. 28:14-17; Jude 6; II Cor. 4:3,4; II Cor. 11:13-15; I Thess. 3:5; I Pet. 5:8; Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10; Luke 16:19-31)

Eternal Security

We believe that because God gives eternal life as a gracious gift through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in his salvation for eternity.  Just as salvation itself is given as an undeserved gift, salvation is also maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian.  When God makes a promise, such as one of eternal salvation, He keeps that promise, for it is impossible for Him to contradict Himself.(John 10:29; II Tim. 1:12; Heb. 7:25; Heb. 10:10,14; I Pet. 1:3-5)

The Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is the eternal third person of the Trinity who was sent by the Father and the Son to make the world aware of our need for Jesus Christ. He enlightens the mind of unbelievers, helps them recognize their need of a Savior, and transforms their lives into something new after they accept Christ. He resides in believers from the moment of salvation. He provides assurance, strength, wisdom for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right, although His influence is limited by the degree of surrender of each individual. The Christian should desire to live under His guidance daily. (I Jn. 5:7; John 6:7-9,13,14; John 15:26; John 16:7-13; Acts 1:8; I Cor. 2:12; I Cor. 3:16; Eph. 1:13; Eph. 5:1; Gal. 5:25)

Spiritual Gifts

We believe the Holy Spirit uniquely gives each believer spiritual gifts (such as teaching, service, administration, etc.) to contribute to the strengthening of the church body.  Each believer is expected to use those gifts within the local church to build up the church and glorify God.  We believe that some of the gifts of the Spirit, such as tongues and healing, were given to the early church as a demonstration of God’s power and presence to those who doubted Christ as the prophesied Messiah.  However, we do believe that God may choose to heal in answer to the prayer of faith according to His will. (I Cor. 12:7-11; I Cor. 13:8; II Cor. 12:12; James 5:13-16)

The Church

We believe that upon acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior, that all believers become members of the universal church, the spiritual body of which Christ is the Head. The Bible instructs believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, the teaching of the Word, fellowship, service to the body through the development of spiritual gifts, and the observances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The Bible also instructs believers to share the news of Christ to the lost in the world. Wherever God’s people meet regularly in obedience to these instructions, there is the local expression of the church. Under the watchcare of pastors and with support of other leaders, its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the one ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ. We believe the local church is responsible to God and is independent of external control. (Matt. 16:18; Col. 1:18; Rev. 19:7,8; Acts 11:15,16; I Cor. 1:1,2; Eph. 1:22,23; Acts 2:46-47; I Cor. 12:13; Heb. 10:25; Acts 6:1-6; I Cor. 14:40; Eph. 4:11-12; I Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; I Peter 5:1-5).

Baptism and Communion

Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is an outward symbol of the heart decision to accept God’s gift of forgiveness through Christ. It is not a step of salvation, but a symbol of salvation. The Lord’s Supper is observed as a remembrance of the death of Christ and our life in Him. The Lord’s Supper consists of bread and the fruit of the vine (the cup), symbols of the body and blood of Christ which were given voluntarily for our salvation. Both baptism and the Lord’s Supper are to be observed until the return of Christ. (Matt. 28:16-20; Mark 14:17-24; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:41; Acts 10:47-48; I Cor. 11:23-29)

Christian Living

Followers of Christ are called to follow His life of holiness and obedience, attained as we submit to the Holy Spirit. We should live for the glory of God and the well-being of our Christian family, our lifestyle should be free from patterns of sin, and we should lead a life as described in our Commitment to Membership. We believe that Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. This church recognizes that it cannot determine the conscience of individual members in areas where Scripture is silent. Rather, each believer is to be led in those areas by the Lord, to whom he is ultimately responsible. (Rom. 6:11-13; Rom. 8:2,12,13; Rom. 14:1,4,12,22; Gal. 5:16-23; Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 2:1-10; I Peter 1:14-16; I John 1:4-7)

Future Events

We believe the following is the order of future events, although no one but God the Father knows when these events will occur:  One of the coming great events in the fulfillment of prophecy concerning the church is the personal, bodily return of the Lord Jesus to remove from the earth His waiting church and to reward them according to their works. (John 14:2-3; Rom. 14:10-12; I Cor. 3:11-15; I Cor. 15:51-53; II Cor. 5:10; I Thess. 4:15-17; Titus 2:11-13; Rev. 3:10)The next event to come is the seven year period of tribulation during which the judgment of God will be poured out upon the unbelieving world.  These judgments will climax with the return of Christ in glory to the earth.  He will destroy His enemies and restore Israel to her land.  (Daniel 9:27, 12:1; Jer. 30:7; Matt. 24:15-31; Matt. 25:31-46; II Thess. 2:7-12; Rev. 16:1-19, 21, 19:1-21)  Christ will then establish His thousand-year kingdom in which the saints will reign with Him over Israel and all the nations of the earth.  (Deut. 30:1-10; Isa. 11:1-16; Isa. 65:17-25; Eze. 37:21-28; Rev. 19:11, 20:1-6)  At the close of the thousand year reign, the unsaved dead will be raised and committed to eternal punishment and the saved will enter the eternal state of glory with God.  (Mark 9:43-48; I Cor. 15:24-28; II Thess. 1:9; II Pet. 3:10-13; Rev. 20:11-15; 21:1-4, 22:5,11)

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