Our Beliefs
Statement of Faith
Scripture
We affirm that the sixty-six canonical books of the Bible are the inspired word of God and are wholly sufficient in equipping believers for good works and godliness. These scriptures are without error in all that they affirm and are the only infallible rule of faith and practice.
1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:21
God
We believe in one true and living God who eternally exists in a loving unity of three persons: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. The triune God is the only intelligent and personal being who is also self-existent. He is the source of reality, the creator, sustainer, and redeemer of all creation. He is infinite in greatness and goodness.
Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10, 11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22
The Nature and Person of Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate; the second person of the Trinity. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He is equal in divinity to the Father and the Holy Spirit. In His incarnation, the divine and human natures were indivisibly united in such a way that the properties of each nature were preserved and not mixed. And although He has both divine and human natures, He is one person. Therefore, Jesus Christ is truly God and truly man.
Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31,35; John 1:1,14
The Work of Jesus Christ
We believe that through many miracles, signs, and wonders, Jesus has revealed himself as the Messianic king foretold of in the Old Testament scriptures. His perfect sinless life has redeemed humanity and fulfilled the old covenant law, making it obsolete. His substitutionary sacrifice has provided universal atonement for sin, and through His resurrection, He has defeated death. Jesus has ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father.
Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; John 3:16; Acts 1:9,11; 2:33; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 15:4; Galatians 4:4-5; 2 Timothy 1:10; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3, 2:4, 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22
The Gospel of Jesus Christ
The Gospel is the good news that Jesus, the Messiah and Son of God, died for the sins of the world, was buried, was resurrected on the third day, and appeared to the disciples physically in a glorified body.
Romans 1:1-4, 2 Timothy 2:8, 1 Cor 15:1-8
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is equal in divinity to the Father and the Son. He is the third person of the Trinity. He is the comforter, sent by Christ on the day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit indwells, regenerates, baptizes into the body of Christ, sanctifies, and empowers all who repent and believe the gospel. The Spirit is the deposit of our salvation, and we are called to walk in the fullness of His influence.
John 3:5-8; John 14:26; Acts 2:38
Baptized and Filled with The Spirit
We believe in “being filled with the Holy Spirit” as a deeper Christian experience, empowering for ministry and worship, and in the continuing ministry of the Holy Spirit as evidenced in charismatic gifts and ministries, and in the fruit of the Holy Spirit manifest in the life of the believer.
Matthew 3:11; Acts 2:4; Acts 8:17; Acts 10:46; Acts 19:6; Acts 4:8, 31 Acts 13:9, 52; Rom 8:9; Eph 5:18; 1 Cor 12:8-10, 12:13
Mankind
We believe that Man is created male and female in the image of God. Because of Man’s special status among other earthly creatures, he is responsible for cultivating and subduing the earth. Sadly, the first humans (Adam and Eve) transgressed God’s command bringing sin, death, and corruption into the world. Subsequently, all humans (except for Christ), when they reach the age of accountability, act in solidarity with Adam and Eve, sinning of their own free will. This enslaves them to the power of sin and darkness and brings them under just condemnation before God. Their only hope of salvation is Christ.
Genesis 1:26,27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans 5:12-19
Salvation
Salvation is the reconciliation of man to God through Christ. It consists of the forgiveness of sins, regeneration and possession of the Holy Spirit, justification, sanctification, and glorification, and eternal life. The Gospel is the power of God for salvation. Therefore, when people hear the message of the Gospel and respond with genuine faith, evidenced by repentance and allegiance to Christ, they are saved from the second death.
Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7
The Church
The Church is all people who have entered into a saving relationship with Christ, post-Pentecost. It is universal and local. The universal Church consists of all people who are in Christ, past and present. Local churches are local assemblies of believers who operate according to Biblical mandates and patterns. When someone accepts Jesus as their Lord and savior, he/she is baptized by the Spirit into the body of Christ. This person is then responsible for becoming a disciple, identifying with the Church through water baptism, and joining the mission of Christ in a local church. As the body of Christ, the Church is Christ’s continuing ministry in the world, called to evangelize and bring about the obedience of faith among the nations.
Romans 1:5; Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19,20; Mark 16:15,16). 1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 14:12; Psalm 112:9; Galatians 2:10; 6:10; James 1:27
Ordinances
Baptism
As part of His Great Commission, Jesus commanded the disciples to Baptize everyone who receives the message of the gospel in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, baptism is an identification with the Triune God. Baptism also represents the washing away of sin, the believer’s union to the person and work of Christ, and the spiritual realty that one has been born again into the New Covenant community.
Matt. 28:19; Rom. 6:4
The Lord’s Supper (Communion)
On the night He was betrayed, during His last meal with the disciples, Jesus instituted the ongoing practice of the Lord’s Supper. It involves two elements: bread and wine (or grape juice). The bread represents Jesus’s body given as a sacrifice. The wine represents the pouring out of His blood for the forgiveness of sins and the ratification of the New Covenant. Although, communion involves symbolic elements, we affirm that there are spiritual realities present in its observance.
John 6:48,51,53-57; Luke 22:19,20; 2 Pet. 1:4; 1 Cor. 11:25
Last Things
We believe in the immanent return of Christ, and that one day He will return personally, visibly, and physically. He will judge the living and the dead, consummate His kingdom, and renew the whole creation. All will face the judgment seat of Christ. Those who reject Christ will suffer the second death. Those who accept Him will enjoy everlasting life and happiness.
Matthew 10:28, 25:46; Mark 9:43-48;1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 2 Peter 2:6, 3:13; Revelation 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:1-2, 21:8; Revelation 21 and 22