What We Believe

The sole basis of our beliefs is the Bible, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. The Bible is unique in that every portion and every word was inspired by the Holy Spirit. It was without error in the original manuscripts, and has been passed down to us with great accuracy. It is the supreme and final authority in faith and life in this age. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

There is but one God, everywhere present; infinite in power and knowledge; perfect in justice, goodness, and love; Creator of the universe; eternally existing in three persons—Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each of whom possesses all the attributes of Deity and the characteristics of personality. (Genesis 1:1, 26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 147:16; Proverbs 15:3;James 1:13; Matthew 28:18; John 10:30; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:3; John 14:16; Acts 5:3-4)

God created the first man and woman in His own image and appointed them to rule and care for the earth. They lived in perfect relationship with God and each other. God instituted marriage, which is the life-long union of one man and one woman and the foundation for bearing and raising children in a family. (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:24)

The first man and woman doubted God’s goodness and rebelled against Him. In judgment, God brought death into the world and creation fell from its state of perfection. Since then, all human beings are born with a corrupted nature and without spiritual life and are under the wrath of God because of their sin. (Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12)

God the Father, by His own choice, for His own glory, and out of love for sinful men and women, sent his Son, Jesus, the Christ, into the world to reconcile sinners to Himself. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. He was God in the flesh, both true God and true man. Jesus lived a sinless life and voluntarily suffered and died as our substitute to pay the penalty for our sins, thus satisfying God's justice and declaring righteous all those who trust in Him alone. (John 3:16; 10:30; Romans 5:8; Matthew 1:18; John 1:1, 10-13; Isaiah 53:5-6; Mark 10:45; John 14:6; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18)

Three days after His crucifixion, God raised Jesus from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died. He bodily ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father, where He, the only mediator between God and man, makes intercession for His own. (1 Corinthians 15:2-4; Philippians 2:9-11)

Men and women are freed from the penalty for their sins not as a result, in whole or in part, of their own works, goodness, or religious observances, but by the undeserved favor of God alone which was given through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God forgives and accepts all who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10, 13)

The Holy Spirit has come into the world to reveal and glorify Christ, to convict men and women of their sins, and to impart new life to all who place their faith in Christ. He permanently indwells believers from the moment of spiritual birth, guides them into truth, and empowers them to live a life pleasing to God. (John 14-16; Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Titus 3:5)

All who are born again of the Spirit can, through the sure promises of God, be fully assured that God will complete the work He has begun in them. They are sealed with the Holy Spirit, who is God’s deposit, guaranteeing their eternal inheritance. Good works are not the basis for acceptance by God, but as believers grow in doing good, they grow in their assurance that they are truly children of God and that they will be with the Lord when they die. (John 10:27-29; Romans 8:31-38; Ephesians 1:3-5, 13; 1 John 5:9-13; 1 Peter 1:3-5)

The Lord Jesus Christ will physically return to earth to reign in glory. He will raise the dead and judge the world in righteousness. The wicked will be sent to eternal punishment. The righteous will receive immortal bodies and be welcomed into eternal fellowship with God in a world where all things will be made new. (Acts 1:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15: 50-58; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9; Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21:1-5)

Jesus commanded that those who believe in Him are to be baptized in water as a declaration of faith and a symbol of new birth in Christ. He also instructed His followers to remember Him by partaking in the Lord’s Supper, which reminds us of His death, resurrection, and future coming. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:38-41,8:38-39; Matthew 26:26-30; 1 Corinthians 11:23-30; Romans 6)

All true believers, whether Jew or Gentile, male or female, rich or poor—people of all ages and races—make up the Church worldwide as God’s family. They should gather together in local churches for worship, prayer, fellowship, and teaching, in order to become conformed to the image of Christ and to become equipped to carry out the “Great Commission” that Christ gave His followers in Matthew 28:19-20. (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:41-47; 1 Corinthians 12-14; Ephesians 4:11-16; Hebrews 10:24-25)