what we believe

We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory; that this triune God created all, and governs all (Genesis 1:1,26; Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; John 17:3; Matthew 28:19-20; John 1:1-4; 1 Timothy 2:5).

We believe in God the Father, who is infinite, personal, and perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love; that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of people; that He hears and answers prayer; that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ, and that He invites us to relate to Him, through Jesus, as a loving Father (Genesis 1:26; Psalm 45:6-7; Matthew 23:9; John 3:16-17; 1 Peter 1:3; Psalm 103:19; Romans 11:33-36; John 1:12-13).

We believe Jesus Christ is both fully divine and fully human. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings, His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people and His personal, visible return to earth to establish His kingdom (John 1:1-4,14,18; Hebrews 1:3, John 5:2-24; John 14:8-9; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Matthew 20:28; Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Peter 2:21-25; Romans 5:6-11; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:28; Acts 1:11; Romans 6:9; 1 Timothy 3:16).

We believe in the Holy Spirit, who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower for ministry all who believe in Christ; we believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that he is an abiding Helper, Teacher, and Guide (Ephesians 1:11-14; John 14:16-17, 25-26; John 15:26; John 16:7-11; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:6, 6:19; Romans 8:16, 26-27; 1 Peter 1:2; Titus 3:5).

We believe that all people are created by God in His image, but are sinners by nature and choice and are therefore under condemnation, and that God regenerates and baptizes by the Holy Spirit those who repent of their sins and confess Jesus Christ as Lord (Genesis 1:27; Genesis 3:6-24; Romans 5:12-19; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:21-25; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 13; Ephesians 2:1-3).

We believe in the free gift of salvation, that through Jesus’ death on the cross our rebellion can be forgiven, and through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ we can be reconciled to God (Romans 5:1-2, 6-11, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:4-8; John 3:16-17; Galatians 4:4-5; Romans 4:5; Colossians 3:1-5; Hebrews 2:14-16, Romans 8:37-39).

We believe that our faith must demonstrate itself through conduct that is consistent with the Bible’s moral standards of honesty, integrity, sexual purity, and a life of good deeds, as taught in Scripture (Galatians 5:19-23; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Tim. 1:9-11; 1 Tim. 3:2-7; James 1:22; James 3:13).

We believe Christ has called all believers to join together in autonomous local churches, which are the visible expression of His one universal church (Matthew 16:18; Matthew 18:17; Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:15-16; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Acts 2:42-47, Hebrew 10:23-25).

We believe in believer’s baptism by immersion in water and communion open to all believers who are walking in obedience to Christ. We are commanded to observe these two ordinances, but we do not depend on them for salvation (Matthew 3:13-17; Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:37-41; Acts 8:36-38; Acts 10:44-48; Romans 6:4; Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20; Acts 2:41; 1 Cor. 11:27-28).

We believe in the personal, visible, appearing of Christ to earth and the consummation of His Kingdom; in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment and eternal blessing of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked (John 14:1-4, 18, 28-29; Acts 1:6-11; Romans 8:34; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 24:23-27; 1 Corinthians 15:24-25; Revelation 20:11-15).

We believe in what is termed “The Apostles’ Creed” as embodying fundamental facts of the Christian faith, and endorse the historic orthodox creeds of the church.