Introduction
We unashamedly declare ourselves to be followers of Jesus Christ, united under His authority and the authority of his original, chosen apostles who gave us the New Testament as a standard for faith and practice as a church.
God the Father
God the Son
God the Spirit
We believe God the Father is the Creator, Preserver and Ruler of all things.
- He is perfect in holiness and love, infinite in wisdom and measureless in power. (Deut 4:35, 6:4; Neh 9:6; 1 Chr 29:11; Exod 15:11–13; Isa 28:29)
- He is the one true God who has revealed himself generally in creation and specifically in the Scriptures. (Psalm 19:1–4; Rom 1:20)
- Since before time, He has ordained a path of redemption for mankind through Jesus Christ. (Eph 1:7)
We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who created and sustains all things. (Col 1:16–17)
We believe that the Spirit proceeds from the Father and He is sent by Jesus to draw us to him and to guide us actively in our lives. This Spirit is a person of the divine nature.
- He became fully man, born of a virgin and lived a holy and sinless life. (Rom 8:3)
- He died for our sins, was raised from the dead and ascended to heaven.
- He is the Head of the Church. (Eph 1:22; Col 1:18)
- He is now the mediator between God and men. (1 Tim 2:5)
- He will return to the earth as our coming King. (Rev 20:4)
- He is credited with the creation of the world, the giver of both physical and spiritual life (Gen 1:2, 2:7; 1 Pet 3:18)
- He convicts the world of sin and righteousness.
- He indwells all believers (Rom 8:9)
- He baptizes all believers into Christ’s body (1 Cor 12:13)
- He unites believers into the one church (Eph 4:3–6)
- He produces spiritual fruit in the believer’s life (Gal 5:22–23)
- He guides the believer into truth (John 16:7–15)
- He inspired the writing of the Scriptures so they might be read and understood in all ages.
The Divine Nature
As these three – God the Father, Jesus, and the Spirit – are credited with the same divine activities and are still revealed as distinct persons; we believe they exist in a divine community [classically called the Trinity] that transcends our understanding. We affirm that they are one in essence but three in person. (Matt 3:13-17, 28:18-20; 1 Cor 2:13; 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:16-21)
The Scriptures
We believe the Bible (defined as the 66 books that make up the Old and New Testaments) is the verbally inspired Word of God which points us to Jesus Christ, the living Word of God. It is inerrant and complete, the supreme and final authority in all matters to which it speaks. (2 Tim 3:16-17, 1 Cor 2:13, 2 Pet 1:16-21)
Man and Sin
Salvation
Man was created in the image of God by direct creation, for God’s pleasure. He sinned and thereby incurred both physical and spiritual death. All men by nature and by choice are sinners. Apart from Christ, man would be forever separated from God. (Gen 1:26, 2:17; Rom 3:23, 5:17)
All who believe in Jesus Christ are declared righteous before God on the grounds of His shed blood. Salvation is by grace through faith, not of works. All who by faith receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are born again of the Holy Spirit, becoming children of God and having eternal security (saved). (1 Cor 15:3,4; Rev 1:5; Eph 2:8,9; John 1:12, 3:3,7)
The Church
The Church is Christ’s body. It is a community of his disciples that transcends all human differences and culture. The local church is the organized, visible assembly of believers, empowered by God’s Holy Spirit and headed by Christ. As its Head, Christ leads the church directly through His Spirit, and brings believers into fellowship and unity of purpose and belief. He gives each local church a vision for ministry in their community, calls leaders and gives spiritual gifts to all those in the church to fulfill this vision. Christ unites local churches for the purpose of sharing the Gospel. (John 20:22-23; Acts 2:1-12; 1 Cor 1:2, 12:13; Gal 1:2; Eph 1:22-23, 4:3-6; Col 1:18)
The Ministers of the Church
We believe the Church is united under Christ’s authority. He appointed His original, chosen apostles to give us the New Testament as the standard for faith and practice as a church.
God’s Spirit moves each local church to recognize His calling of elders as ministers of the Word, shepherds and overseers of the flock. (1 Tim 3:1–6; Titus 1:5–9)
Deacons are chosen from among the congregation and confirmed by the elders to meet needs as they arise in the church’s ministry. (Acts 6:1–7; 1 Tim 3:8–12)
God’s Spirit moves each local church to recognize His calling of elders as ministers of the Word, shepherds and overseers of the flock. (1 Tim 3:1–6; Titus 1:5–9)
Deacons are chosen from among the congregation and confirmed by the elders to meet needs as they arise in the church’s ministry. (Acts 6:1–7; 1 Tim 3:8–12)
The Ordinances of the Church
We believe that every believer should be baptized by immersion in water as an outward profession of faith. Though baptism has no saving merit, it symbolizes the believer’s faith in and union with the crucified, buried, and risen Savior. (Matt 28:18–20; Acts 2:38; Rom 6:3–5; Mark 16:16)
We believe the Lord’s Supper is symbolic of Christ’s broken body and shed blood. Those who have been saved partake of the Lord’s Supper in memory of the suffering and death of their Lord, and in celebration of the Church’s everlasting fellowship with Him. Its observance is to be preceded by faithful self-examination. (Luke 22:19–20; 1 Cor 11:23–30)
We believe the Lord’s Supper is symbolic of Christ’s broken body and shed blood. Those who have been saved partake of the Lord’s Supper in memory of the suffering and death of their Lord, and in celebration of the Church’s everlasting fellowship with Him. Its observance is to be preceded by faithful self-examination. (Luke 22:19–20; 1 Cor 11:23–30)
The End of All Things
We believe the Bible (defined as the 66 books that make up the Old and New Testaments) is the verbally inspired Word of God which points us to Jesus Christ, the living Word of God. It is inerrant and complete, the supreme and final authority in all matters to which it speaks. (Job 19:25-27; Matt 25:41; Luke 16:19-31; John 5:28-29, 14:3; 1 Cor 15:20-24; 1 Thess 4:13-18; Rev 20:11-15, 21:8)