The Word of God

We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  We believe that it is the exclusive, final and complete revelation of God for all people and is the ultimate authority in all matters of faith and daily life. (Galatians 1:8-9; Ephesians 3:4-5; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 2 Peter 2:1-2)

The Trinity

We believe that there is one living and true God, existing as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  We believe that He is eternal, unchanging and sovereign over all things. We believe that these three are equal with distinct yet harmonious roles.  (Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

God the Father

We believe in God, the Father, Creator of heaven and earth.  He is righteous, holy, all-knowing, all-powerful and ever-present.  In perfect love, He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of all people.  He hears and answers prayer.  He forgives sin and saves from condemnation all who by His grace come to Him through Jesus Christ. (Genesis 1; Deuteronomy 4:25, 30, 31; Psalm 139; Psalm 145; Isaiah 6:3; John 4:24; Ephesians 2:8-9, 4:6; Titus 3:4-5)

God the Son - Jesus Christ

We believe in Jesus Christ, God's one and only Son, fully God and fully man.  He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. We believe in His sinless life, miracles and teachings.  We believe that He died in our place for our sin, that He rose again, and that He ascended into heaven.  We believe He continually intercedes for His people and will personally and visibly return to earth.  (Luke 1:27-28; John 1:1-2; Romans 5:8-10; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 4:15, 7:25)

God the Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit, sent to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment.  He restores, sets apart for God's purpose and empowers all who believe in Jesus Christ.  We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide.  (Genesis 1:2; John 14:1-16:33, 16:8-9; Romans 8:26; 1 Corinthians 12; Galatians 2:20)

The Human Condition & God’s Solution

We believe that all people are sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under condemnation from which they are incapable of saving themselves. We believe that God alone by His gracious gift of love has provided the only means for salvation through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  We receive eternal life and enter a personal relationship with God, when we confess and repent from our sin and commit our lives under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, our only Savior.  (John 1:12; Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9-13; 1 John 1:9)

Christian Lifestyle

We believe that as a result of our new life in Christ and in response to the Great Commandment, we should live for the glory of God and the well-being of others.  We believe that, empowered by the Holy Spirit, our behavior should be blameless before God and the world.  We should be faithful with our possessions, and we should always be growing into the people God desires us to be.  (Mark 12:29-31; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 4:1-6, 21-24; Colossians 1:10-14; James 1:27; 1 Peter 1:14-16)

The Church

We believe in the global church, the living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all followers of Jesus Christ are members. We believe in the local church, accountable to God alone, where we unite for worship, work, learning and fellowship as a community of believers in Jesus Christ.   We believe that we, in response to the Great Commission, have been sent out and given the task of making disciples (committed followers of Jesus Christ) from among all peoples. (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 2:42-47)

The Ordinances

We believe that Christ has, according to the Scriptures, instituted two church ordinances for believers:

  1. Believer’s  Baptism as an act of obedience and a joyful, public expression of a previous, personal commitment to Christ and discipleship. The baptism of the believer into and under water “in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” is symbolic of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ; the end of an old way of life; and the beginning of a new life in Christ.  (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:3-4)

  2. The Communion of the Lord’s Table as a repeated and frequent reminder of our communal life in Christ, whose death we remember, whose resurrection we celebrate, and whose return we eagerly await. (Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-20; 1 Corinthians 11:17-26)

Spiritual Gifts

We believe that the Holy Spirit bestows a gift or gifts to every believer, as He wills, to build up the Church.  All believers are commanded to earnestly desire these gifts in their lives and use them appropriately.  The gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures.  (Rom 1:11, 12:4-8; I Corinthians 12:1-31, 14:1-40; Ephesians 4:16; 2 Timothy 1:5-16, 4:14; Hebrews 2:4; 1 Peter 4:10)

  1. We recognize speaking in “tongues” as a legitimate spiritual gift.  It is, however, not a proof of salvation, the evidence of the filling of the Holy Spirit, a sign of maturity or a necessary experience of all believers. (1 Corinthians 12:11)

  2. In all things we must strive to demonstrate love toward all regardless of their experience or lack thereof.  All persons in the body need to be careful of any prideful or superior attitude that could result in division. (1 Corinthians 14:26)

  3. In keeping with biblical teaching, we do not practice “the gift of tongues” in our corporate worship or small groups, unless the specific guidelines of 1 Corinthians 14:27-28 are followed (limited in number, interpretation required). (1 Corinthians 12:1-14:40, particularly verses 12:1-14, 27-30; 13:1; 14:1-5, 12, 26-28, 28, 40; Galatians 5:22-26; Ephesians 5:18)

The Last Things

We await the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth in His full glory and power and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment of all humanity, the eternal joy in Heaven of those who are made righteous through faith in Jesus Christ alone, and the endless suffering in Hell of those who did not place their faith in Him.  (Matthew 24:1-25:46; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, 15:50-54; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; Revelation 20:11-15, 21:1-4)