What We Believe

STATEMENT OF FAITH

Core Beliefs

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, upholds all, and governs all things (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:8 and 48:16; Matthew 28:19-20; John 10:30; Hebrews 1:3).

 WE BELIEVE that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, fully inspired, without error, and the infallible rule of faith and practice. The Word of God is the foundation upon which this church operates, and is the basis for which this church is governed. We believe that the Word of God supersedes any earthly law that is contrary to the Holy Scriptures. (John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:23-25; 2 Peter 1:3-4 and 1:21).

 WE BELIEVE in the person of God the Father, an infinite, eternal, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love; that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; that He hears and answers prayer; and that He saves from sin and death all those who come to Him through Jesus Christ (Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:2; Psalm 102:27; John 3:16 and 4:24; 1 Timothy 1:17; Titus 1:3).

WE BELIEVE in the person of Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. 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 personal, visible return to earth (Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:23; Mark 16:19; Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1-2, 8:58 and 11:25; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:8; 1 John 1:2; Revelation 1:8).

WE BELIEVE in the person of 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 (Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 3:18; John 16:8-11; Romans 8:26 and 15:13,16; Hebrews 9:14).

 WE BELIEVE the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide (John 6:13, 14:16-17 and 16:8-11; Romans 8:26).

 WE BELIEVE in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, and in the exercise of all biblical gifts of the Spirit according to the instructions given to us in 1 Corinthians 12-14.

 WE BELIEVE that all people are sinners by nature and, therefore, are under condemnation; that God saves and regenerates, based upon faith (by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit), by repenting of their sins, and confessing Jesus Christ as Lord (Acts 8:15-17; Ephesians 2:1-3, 8-9; Romans 3:23 and 5:8; Titus 3:5).

 WE BELIEVE in the universal church, the living spiritual body, of which Christ is the head, and all who are born again are a part of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:15-16).

 WE BELIEVE that the Lord Jesus Christ instituted two ordinances for the church: (a) full immersion water baptism of believers (an outward expression of what God has done inwardly), and (b) the Lord's Supper - Communion (Matthew 28:19; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). We also believe that Jesus Christ validated the ordinance of marriage (Matthew 19:4-5 and John 2:1-11).

WE BELIEVE in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, which is His personal, visible, return to earth and the establishment of His millennial kingdom, in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment and eternal blessing of the righteous, and endless separation of the wicked (Matthew 16:27; Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11-16, 20:11-15).

WE BELIEVE in the pretribulation rapture of the church, where all believers will meet the Lord in the air and be taken out of this world prior to the tribulation that will come upon the earth (Isaiah 26:20; Matthew 24:29-31; Luke 21:36; Romans 1:18, 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 4:13-16 and 5:9; 2 Peter 2:7-9; Revelation 3:10, 5:7-10 and 7:13-14).

WE BELIEVE in a literal Heaven and a literal Hell, and that all those who place their faith, hope, and trust in Jesus Christ will spend eternity in Heaven with the Lord, while those who reject Jesus’ free gift of salvation will spend eternity separated from the Lord (Psalm 9:17; Matthew 5:3, 5:22, 18:9 and 25:31-34; Mark 9:42-49; Luke 12:5; John 3:18; Hebrews 12:23; 1 Peter 1:4; Revelation 14:10-11 and 20:11-15).