THE BIBLE

We believe the Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, is the verbally inspired Word of God, without error in the original manuscripts, and the final authority and source of all doctrine, instruction, correction, and reproof. We use a normal, literal approach to interpreting Scripture which takes into account history, grammar, and internal harmony.

Isaiah 40:8; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:2

THE TRINITY

It is the testimony of both the Old and New Testaments and of the Christian Church that God is both One and Triune. The biblical revelation testifies that there is only one God and that He is eternally existent in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Genesis 1:26; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14

GOD THE FATHER

God the Father is the creator and sustainer of all things, and He created the universe in love. He created man in His own image for fellowship and called man back to Himself through Christ after the rebellion and fall of man.

Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 63:16; John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 8:6

THE SON

We believe Jesus Christ is the second person of the Godhead and the eternal Son of God. Conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, He is both fully God and fully man. He took on flesh, lived a sinless life, died a substitutionary death, was raised from the dead after three days and appeared to over 500 witnesses. He sent the Apostles, ascended into heaven and currently reigns at the right hand of the Father.  He will literally and physically return again and reign in glory.

Zechariah 14:4, Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:19; John 1:14; Acts 1:8-11; Acts 1:1; Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:6; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:6-11; Revelation 19:11-16

THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead and is active in the world today. He baptizes and indwells all believers at the point of salvation, convicts us of sin, regenerates sinners, works to accomplish His mission, seals believers until the day of redemption, bestows spiritual gifts, guides believers into truth, glorifies Jesus, fills those yielded to Him. and produces spiritual fruit.

John 14:13, 16-17; John 16:8,14; Acts 2:38; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 Corinthians 12; Galatians 6:22-23; Ephesians 1:13-14; Titus 3:5

SALVATION

The Word of God declares clearly that salvation is a free gift of God, based on the merits of the death of His Son, and is appropriated by faith. Salvation is effected by personal repentance, belief in the Lord Jesus (justification), and personal acceptance of Him into one’s life as Lord and Savior (regeneration). The new life in Christ includes the privileges of adoption and inheritance in the kingdom of God’s beloved Son. Salvation is an act of free will in response to God’s personal love for mankind. It is predestined only in the sense that God, through His omniscience, foreknew those who would choose Him. It is secure in the eternal, unchanging commitment of God who does not lie and is forever the same. Salvation should produce an active lifestyle of loving obedience and service to Jesus Christ our Savior.

John 1:12; John 10:27-29; Romans 5:8-9; Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 8:1, 38-39; Romans 10:9; 1 John 5:13

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

We believe that the Scriptures portray the life of the saint in this world to be one of balance between what is imputed to us as Christians and what is imparted to us according to our faith and maturity. Hence, God’s provision for His children is total, and the promises are final and forever. The shortcomings of the individual and of the Church are because of the still progressing sanctification of the saints. The Christian life is filled with trials, tests, and warfare against a spiritual enemy. For those abiding in Christ until their deaths or His return, the promises of eternal blessing in the presence of God are assured. To remain faithful through all circumstances of life requires dependence upon the Holy Spirit and a willingness to die to personal desires and passions.

Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:32; Ephesians 6:10-17; James 1:2, 22-27; 1 Peter 1:6

THE CHURCH

The goal of the Church is to make disciples of all nations and to present the saints complete in Christ. We believe that the church is a spiritual organism, the Body and Bride of Jesus Christ, invisible in its universal form, made up of all believers of this age, and gathers in local assemblies voluntarily joined together to exalt Jesus Christ, edify the Body of Christ, and evangelize the lost. We believe that the Church is distinct from Israel.  The Church began on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit began baptizing individuals into the Body of Christ. We believe that the ordinances of the church are water baptism and the Lord’s Supper

Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:5; Acts 2:42-47; Acts 11:15-16; 1 Corinthians 11:24-26; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Colossians 1:18

ESCHATOLOGY

We believe in the imminent, personal return of Jesus Christ for His Church, the Tribulation, the bodily, personal, second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to establish His millennial reign on earth, and the final judgment. The final judgment will determine the eternal status of both the saints and the unbelievers, determined by their relationship to Jesus Christ. We affirm with the Bible the final state of the new heavens and the new earth.

Matthew 24:21, 29-30; Matthew 25:46; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:1-6, 11-15