God the Father
We believe there is one true and living God (1 John 5:20). He is eternal, of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness, and the Creator of all things visible and invisible (Gen 1:1). In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (1 John 5:7, Matt. 28:19).
Jesus Christ the Son
We believe Jesus Christ to be the eternal Son of God, co-equal with God (Heb. 1:1-3). He became flesh (John 1:14, Col. 2:9), brought forth by the Holy Spirit (Matt. 1:20, Luke 1:35) and born of the virgin Mary (Luke 1:35). He died on the cross as the substitutionary sacrifice for our sins (1 Pet. 2:24, 2 Cor. 5:21) and rose again on the third day (1 Cor. 15:3-20). He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9) and continues at the right hand of God (Acts 7:56) as High Priest and Advocate (1 Tim. 2:5).
Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit to be co-equal with the Father and the Son (1 John 5:7, Matt. 28:19). Before salvation, the Holy Spirit convicts the lost world of their sinful state (John 16: 8-11). At the point of salvation, the Holy Spirit permanently indwells all believers, sealing them into the family of God (Eph. 1:13-14). After salvation, the Holy Spirit in- structs (Psalm 32:8), teaches (John 14:26), guides (John 16:13), intercedes (Rom. 8: 26), sanctifies (Rom. 15:16), comforts (1 Thess. 1:6), and empowers (2 Cor. 2:12, 1 Cor. 12:7).
Scriptures
We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be inspired by God and in- errant in the original manuscripts. They are the supreme and final authority in faith and life (2 Tim. 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21).
Mankind
We believe man was created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27). When the first man sinned (Rom. 3:23. Rom. 5:12), thereby incurring both physical and spiritual death (1 Cor. 15:21-22, Luke 16:23, Rev. 21:8), the sin nature was passed onto the rest of mankind. Therefore mankind is conceived with enmity toward God (Psalm 14:1-3) and is incapable (without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit) of obedience to His law (Ro- mans 8:6-7).
Salvation
We believe we are saved by grace through faith alone in the shed blood of Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8, 1:7). Upon belief in Jesus Christ's finished work, (that being His birth, death, burial, and resurrection) we are justified by Christ (Romans 5;1) and sealed for eternity by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13-14). Mankind is free to accept or reject God's offer of sal- vation (John 3:36, John 5:24).
Sanctification
While good works cannot save, seal, or assure us of salvation (Rom. 3:20-21), they should be the outgrowth of our salvation (Eph. 2:10). Believers are positionally sancti- fied at the moment of salvation (1 Cor. 6:11), progressively sanctified as they submit to the work of the Holy Spirit, and completely sanctified upon their death or at the coming of Jesus Christ.
The Church
We believe Christ is the head of the church (Col. 1:18) and all saved persons are the body and make up the universal church (Acts 15:13-18, 1 Cor. 12:20-27). We believe the local church are saved persons who come together for the purpose of worship, fellowship, prayer, instruction, service, and the observance of the ordinances.
The Ordinances
The ordinances of the church are the Lord's Supper and baptism. The Lord's Supper is a time of remembrance of Christ's finished work on the cross and is open to all who believe in that work. Baptism is an outward sign of our inward faith (Rom. 6:4). We encourage all who believe to be baptized after salvation, and to do so by immersion.
Eternity
We believe in the personal (Acts 1:11, 2 Thess. 2:1-4, Rev. 20:1-3) and imminent (1 Cor. 15:15-52) return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (John 14:1-3, 1 Thess. 4:14-18). We believe in the resurrection of the just and unjust (Acts 24:15). We believe in heaven as the eternal home of the redeemed, where all who are saved shall dwell in conscious, everlast- ing blessedness (John 14: 1-3, Rev. 21:1-5). We believe hell is the place where the un- saved shall dwell in everlasting, conscious separation from God (Rev. 21:8).
Sanctity of Marriage
We believe marriage is a biblical institution established by God (Gen. 2:24, Eph. 5:22-33). Biblical marriage is between a man and a woman and is intended as a lifetime covenant commitment (Mal. 2:14-16, Matt. 5:31-32, Matt. 19:3-10).