We Believe...
THE BIBLE
in its entirety is a special revelation from God. It is not only a record of previous revelation but is itself revelation. Both the Old and New Testament are equally inspired, authoritative and inerrant in the original manuscripts. It is the final authority for our belief and conduct (II Timothy 3:16; I Peter 1:20-21).
GOD
is the one infinite, personal, spiritual being, unchangeable in His perfect attributes, who eternally self-exists as the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, maintaining an undivided and indivisible divine nature (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 16:15-16, 28:19; John 6:27).
JESUS CHRIST
who is God's only Son, was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He was sinless in His life, died for sins, and arose bodily from the grave. He ascended into heaven and will return to earth in a like manner (Matthew 1:18-25; II Corinthians 5:21; Acts 1:9-11). His return will be personal, physical, visible and unexpected (John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Matthew 24:30, 24:27).
THE HOLY SPIRIT
is the third person of the Trinity. He is God. He was sent by God to convince people of their sin. To all who believe in Jesus Christ, a new life is given and the Holy Spirit then strives to develop their spiritual maturity (John 16:7-14).
ALL PEOPLE
are sinners by nature and are unable to do anything which can gain them any eternal merit and thus stand guilty before God, condemned to spiritual death, which is separation from God (Isaiah 53:6; Psalms 14:1-3, 5-9; Romans 3:23, 5:12).
FORGIVENESS FROM SIN AND ETERNAL LIFE
come by way of grace and are conditioned solely upon one's personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Repenting from sin and accepting Christ's substitutionary death on the cross renews one's relationship to God and secures their salvation. The ultimate result is an everlasting fellowship with God in heaven (Mark 1:15; John 1:12, 3:16; Acts 16:31; Romans 3:23, 10, 10:9, Ephesians 2:8).
THE CHURCH
is the entire spiritual body of those people who through Christ's death and resurrection have been reconciled to God and have received new life. The Universal Church refers to all those who have been born of the Spirit of God, and by that Spirit are baptized into the Body of Christ (Matthew 16:8; I Corinthians 12:13; Colossians 1:18). The Local Church refers to an assembly of believers in any one locality, constituted by an accountability to God and to one another (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38, 41-46, 5, 14:23; Hebrews 10:25).
As a local church, the ORDINANCES of BELIEVER'S BAPTISM and COMMUNION as instituted by Jesus Christ are to be executed as visible signs of obedience and faith (Matthew 28:19, 26:26-28).