What we believe
01
The Holy Scriptures
We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God. Therefore, all Scripture is authoritative, infallible, and inerrant. The Word of God is the only sufficient rule for faith and practice, life and godliness. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is the focus of divine revelation. The Scriptures are the supreme and final authority (Ps. 19:7; Jn. 5:39; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21).
03
The Trinity
We believe that the Scriptures reveal that the one God eternally exists in three persons: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each person has distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being (Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14).
05
The Fall of Mankind
We believe that God has created mankind to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever. God originally created Mankind in His own image, and free from sin, but, through the temptation of Satan, Adam transgressed the command of God in unbelief, and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity inherit a sinful nature, corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law. As a result they are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors. All people are sinners by nature and by choice (Gen. 1:26-27; 3:1-7; Isa. 43:6-7; Ps. 16:11: Rom. 3:9-18; 5:12-19; Eph. 2:1-3).
07
The Holy Spirit
We believe that God the Holy Spirit brings glory to the Father and the Son. He applies the life, death, and resurrection of Christ to the elect; distributes ministry gifts to every believer, according to His sovereign good pleasure, for the purpose of building up the body of Christ; and He gives understanding to believers concerning the Word of God. He is the Comforter, the Spirit of Adoption, the Seal of our Salvation, and the Guarantor of our inheritance in Christ (John 14:16-17; 16:14; Acts 5:3; Rom. 8:14-17; 1 Cor. 2:6-16; Eph. 1:13-14).
09
Repentance
We believe that repentance is a gift of God's grace, wherein a person is made sensible of the manifold evil of his sin, humbles himself for it, possesses godly sorrow for, and detestation of it, and with purpose, endeavors to walk before God so as to please Him in all things (Acts 2:37-38; 11:18; 2 Cor. 7:10-11).
11
Justification
We believe that justification is both God's gracious and full acquittal of sinners from all sin, and the imputation of Christ's perfect righteousness through faith alone. Justification is accomplished for believers through the satisfaction that Christ has made; not for anything wrought in them or done by them; but on account of the obedience and satisfaction of Christ. By faith alone the Christian receives and rests on Christ and His righteousness (Gen. 15:6; Acts 13:38-39; Rom. 3:21-26; 8:34; 10:3-4; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:9).
13
Perseverance of the Saints
We believe that all those whom God has regenerated will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end; and though they may stumble through neglect and temptation, into sin, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the church, and temporal discipline on themselves, yet they shall be renewed again unto repentance, and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation (John 6:37-40; 10:28-29; Rom. 8:28-39; 1 Cor. 1:8-9; Phil. 1:6).
15
The Lord's Supper
We believe that the Lord's Supper is a sign to be received by faith and obedience, whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, celebrate the New Covenant in Christ's blood, memorialize the death of the Redeemer, profess and signify their persevering faith in Christ, display their communion with Christ's body in church membership, and anticipate His second coming. Self-examination and reflection upon the death and resurrection of Jesus for one's sins should always precede and accompany this solemn and celebratory observance (Matt. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 10:16-17; 11:23-34).
17
Disciple-Making
We believe that it is the joyful privilege and responsibility of every Christian to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the glory of God. This includes spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ to unbelievers, and teaching, admonishing, counseling, warning, encouraging, and correcting one another in love, for the building up of the body in Christ-likeness. The Lord Jesus Christ has commanded His Church to make disciples in the power of the Holy Spirit, by baptizing professing believers and teaching them to observe all that our Lord Jesus has commanded. The verbal witness of the gospel is to always be undergirded by a Christian lifestyle and prayer (Matt. 28:18-20; Eph. 4:11-16; Col. 3:16; 4:2-6; Heb. 3:12-13).
19
Liberty of Conscience
We believe that God alone is Lord of the conscience; and He has left it free from bowing to the doctrines and commandments of men, which are contrary to His Word, or not contained in it. Though both entities are under the sovereign authority of God, church and state are to be separate, with no power being given to the state concerning the worship of God. Civil government being ordained of God, it is the duty of Christians to render loyal obedience thereto in all things not contrary to the revealed will of God. The church should not resort to the civil power to carry on its work. The gospel of Christ contemplates spiritual means alone for the pursuit of its ends (Matt. 15:9; Rom. 13:1-7; 14:4; Acts 5:29; Col. 2:20-23; 1 Pet. 2:13-17).
02
God
We believe that there is but one true and glorious God, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of all things, having in and of Himself, all perfections, and being holy and infinite in them all; and to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience that springs from faith (Deut. 6:4; Ps. 145:3; 1 Cor. 8:4-6; 1 Tim. 1:17).
04
Origins
We believe that God spoke the heavens, the earth and all living things into existence in six days. God directly created the original kinds of plants and animals and ordered them to reproduce after their kind. In its original form, the creation was very good and untouched by sin. Man is unique, created in the image of God, and did not originate from any other living thing (Genesis 1-2; Gen 5:1-2; Gen 9:6; Exodus 20:11; Psalms 33:6-9; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17).
06
Christ the Mediator
We believe that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is fully God and fully man; He is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law, suffered and died upon the cross as a substitute for the salvation of sinners. By His death and resurrection, Jesus satisfied the wrath of God for all of those who would trust in Him. He was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He ever lives to make intercession for His people. As the Good Shepherd who has laid His life down for the sheep, He will return again visibly and bodily to receive them unto Himself. He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest and King of the Church, and Sovereign of the Universe (Isa. 53:10-12; John 1:1, 14; 6:37; 10:11, 16; 14:3; Acts 1:9-11; Rom. 3:21-26; 8:34; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Gal. 3:13; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 1:1-3).
08
Regeneration
We believe that regeneration is a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit, who gives life to those dead in trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and renewing their whole nature, so that they love and practice holiness. Regeneration is a work of God's free and special grace alone (Eph. 2:1-6; Tit. 3:5; 1 John 5:1).
10
Faith
We believe that saving faith is the belief, on God's authority, of whatever is revealed in His Word concerning Christ, receiving, treasuring, and resting upon Him alone for justification and eternal life. Faith is the gift of God, wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, is accompanied by all other saving graces, and leads to a life of holiness (Rom. 3:27-28; 4:1-5; 4:17-25; 10:14, 17; Phil. 1:29; Eph. 2:8; Jas. 2:14-26).
12
Sanctification
We believe that those who have been regenerated are also sanctified by God's Word and indwelling Holy Spirit through faith. This sanctification is progressive through the supply of Divine strength, which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after a holy life in faithful obedience to all of Christ's commands (Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:25-27; Rom. 8:1-17; Gal. 5:13-24; 2 Pet. 1:3-21).
14
Baptism
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience and a profession of faith in Christ, symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. Baptism is the believer's entrance into the body of Christ, and is a testimony to faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord's Supper (Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3-5; 1 Cor. 12:13).
16
The Lord's Day
We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord's Day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead, salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone, and looks forward to the rest that still remains for the people of God. The Lord's Day should include expressions of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private. Activities on the Lord's Day should be regulated and guided by the Word of God, and commensurate with the Christian's conscience under the Lordship of Jesus Christ (Ex. 20:8-11; Matt. 12:1-14; 28:1ff.; Mark 2:27-28; 16:1-7; Luke 24:1-3, 33-36; John 4:21-24, 20:1, 19-28; Acts 20:7; Rom. 14:5-10; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Col. 2:16, 3:16; Heb. 4:1-10; Rev. 1:10).
18
Marriage and Family
We believe that marriage was instituted by God to image forth His triune glory and picture for the world the gospel of Jesus Christ. With that as God’s grand goal in marriage, He has established the marital framework of committed companionship for mutual aid in fulfilling the creation mandate, for sexual intimacy and expression, and for the reproduction and raising of children, who are a blessing from the Lord and, from conception, have been created in the image of God. Marriage is the union of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. Gender is a gift from God. Male and female were created in God’s image, and are equal before Him in dignity and personhood. In God’s wisdom, men and women have been given differing roles and responsibilities within marriage which are essential and complementary (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Ex. 20:12; Deut. 6:4-9; Pss. 78:1-8; 127; 139:13-16; Prov. 1:8; 5:15-20; 6:20-22; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 24:3; 29:15,17; 31:10-31; Eccl. 9:9; Mal. 2:14-16; Matt. 5:31-32; 18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Rom. 1:18-32; 1 Cor. 7:1-16; Eph. 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Col. 3:18-21; 1 Tim. 5:8, 14; 2 Tim. 1:3-5; Tit. 2:3-5; Heb. 13:4; 1 Pet. 3:1-7).
20
Consummation
We believe that God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in power and glory to the earth, the dead will be raised, and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting, conscious punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in the New Heavens and New Earth with the Lord (Isa. 2:4; 11:9; Matt. 16:27; 18:8-9; 19:28; 24:27, 30, 36, 44; 25:31-46; 26:64; Mark 8:38; 9:43-48; Luke 12:40, 48; 16:19-26; 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Rom. 14:10; 1 Cor. 4:5; 15:24-28, 35-58; 2 Cor. 5:10; Phil. 3:20-21; Col. 1:5; 3:4; 1 Thes. 4:14-18: 5:1ff.; 2 Thes. 1:7ff.; 2; 1 Tim. 6:14; 2 Tim. 4:1,8; Tit. 2:13; Heb. 9:27-28; Jas. 5:8; 2 Pet. 3:7ff.; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Rev. 1:18; 3:11; 20:1-22:13).