WHAT WE BELIEVE
Scripture
(God's Word)
We believe that the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament are the completed Word of God, and that they are fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that they are the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
(Psalm 19:7-11; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
God
(Trinity)
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three distinct Persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit); but always remaining one in both divine essence and purpose. The Triune God is perfect in Himself, needing nothing else in order to exist in perfection.
God, the Father, is an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe 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 who come to Him through Jesus Christ. The goal of all things is His glory.
(Genesis 1:1-2, 26; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Matthew 6:7-13; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 5:14)
Jesus
(God's Son)
We believe that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully Man. We believe in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and substitutionary atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal bodily return in power and glory.
(Matthew 1:18-20; John 1:1-18; Acts 10:42; Romans 3:24-26, 5:12-21; Hebrews 10:5-10)
Holy Spirit
(God's Spirit)
We believe in the Holy Spirit who was sent forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells and seals every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide, enabling Christians to live a godly life.
(John 3:5-6, 14:16-17, 16:8-9, 16:13-14; Ephesians 1:13)
Salvation
(By Grace Through Faith)
We believe that all people are sinners both by nature and choice and are, therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who trust in Jesus the friend of sinners and repent of their sins are forgiven of sin, regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and have eternal life.
(Genesis 6:5, 8:21; Psalm 5:5, 14:1-3; John 1:12-13, 3:36, 5:24; 1 John 5:1)
The Church
(God's People)
We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and
all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus, living blameless before the world for the glory of God and the well-being of all people, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, service, and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary tasks of seeking to realize for themselves and others the full stature of maturity in Christ and offering the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world. We believe that the “sign gifts” have ceased as church practice, though we recognize, happily, that God does still perform miracles for the benefit of his people.
(Matthew 16:18; 1 Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Peter 4:17; 1 Corinthians 14:20-25; Revelation 3:19-22)
Ordinances
(Baptism & Lord's Supper)
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed to the local church the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Christian baptism is the total immersion of a believer in water into the name of the Triune God. The Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We further believe that these two ordinances should be regularly observed and administered until Christ returns.
(Matthew 26:26-29, 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Colossians 2:11-12; 1 Peter 3:21-22)
Discipleship
(Following Jesus Together)
We believe that every Christian has a direct, personal, faith relationship with God; that each local church is autonomous and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; in this way, the Church and State must be kept separate. We further believe local churches best promote the cause of Christ by cooperating with one another through denominational organizations and through interdenominational fellowship with churches of like faith. These organizations exist and function by the will of the local Church. Participation in any conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time.
(Psalm 110:3; Jeremiah 31:34; Mark 12:17; Philippians 1:3-5; Phillipians 3:8)
The Last Things
(Jesus' Return)
We believe in a personal, visible, bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His Kingdom. We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved to the resurrection of life, and they that are lost to the resurrection of damnation. Thus the gospel mandate, inviting all to come to Jesus who invites them.
(Luke 17:20-21, 21:8-9; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9; Acts 17:20-21; Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29)
NOTE: We understand that the aforementioned statements do not by any means exhaust the content of our creed which is the whole Word of God and they are not intended to set a limit beyond which faith cannot go within this world; but we do believe that in-so-far as these articles extend, they are a true presentation of the sound doctrine taught in the Scriptures and therefore binding upon us as Christian believers.