The Bible

We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired Word of God. God so superintended the human authors that while retaining their own individual personalities and writing styles they chose the very words that God intended. Their original writings were free from error. The Bible is the believer’s only infallible rule for faith and practice (Psalms 19:7-9; Galatians 1:11-12; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

The Godhead

We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are identical in essence and equal in power and glory; they possess the same nature, attributes, and perfections, and are worthy of the same worship, confidence, and obedience (Deuteronomy 4:35, 6:4; Matthew 3:16-17;28:19-20; Mark 12:29; John 1:1-4; 20:21-22; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

The Person and Work of Christ

We believe that the Lord Jesus, before His incarnation, existed in the form of God, and of His own choice laid aside His divine glory and took upon Himself the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men.  In His pre-existent state He was with God and was God. 

We believe that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He is a divine person possessed of all the attributes of Deity, and should be worshipped as God by angels and humankind.  “In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” 

We believe that Jesus lived and taught and wrought mighty works and wonders and signs exactly as is recorded in the four Gospels.  He was put to death by crucifixion under Pontius Pilate. God raised from the dead the body that had been nailed to the cross. The Lord Jesus after His crucifixion showed Himself to be alive to His disciples, appearing to them for forty days. After this the Lord Jesus ascended into heaven, and the Father caused Him to sit at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come, and put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him to be Head over all things to the Church. All the Scriptures, from first to last, testify of Him.

We believe that Jesus came to reveal God to humankind and to redeem our sinful race by His death on the cross as a sinless, perfect, substitutionary sacrifice on the cross, satisfying God’s righteous judgments against sin (Luke 1:34-35; 24:27; John 1:1-3, 14, 18; 3:36; Mark 8:31; 9:30-31; 10:32-34; 15:1-32; Romans 3:24-26; 5:9; 8:34; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 1:20-22; 2:9; 3:1; 1 Peter 1:2, 19, 21; 2:24; 3:18-22; Hebrews 2:14-18; 4:14-16; 12:2; 1 John 2:2; 4:10).

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Divine Person who convicts the world of sin, gives eternal life to those who place their trust in Christ, unites all believers to Christ in one body by His baptizing ministry, indwells them permanently, seals them unto the day of redemption, fills (controls) those who are yielding to Him, and empowers them for service. He seeks to direct their attention not to themselves nor to their experience, but to Christ (John 3:5-8; 14:16-17; 16:7-11; 16:13-14; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18).

The Condition of Humankind

We believe that humankind was originally created in the image and after the likeness of God, free from sin. He subsequently fell into sin by a voluntary act of personal disobedience to the revealed will of God, lost his spiritual life, and became dead in sins and corrupt in nature. These effects of sin have been transmitted to the entire human race, Jesus Christ excepted, and thus every person born into the world is alienated from the life of God and incapable of remedying his lost and depraved condition apart from divine grace (Genesis 1:26; 3:1-24; 6:5; Psalms 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10-18; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3).

The Means of Salvation

We believe that salvation from the guilt and condemnation of sin is possible only as the gift of God’s grace. It cannot be gained by good resolutions, sincere efforts, nor submission to the rules, regulations, or ordinances of any church, but is freely bestowed on all who put their faith in Christ and trust in the work which Christ accomplished on the cross of Calvary. All who so trust the Savior pass from death unto life, are forgiven of their sins, accepted by the Father, and born into His family by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God (John 5:24; Ephesians 1:6-7; 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:23).

The Believer’s Assurance and Responsibility

We believe that all who have been born again by God’s transforming grace are secure in Christ forever. It is their privilege to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation, not on the basis of their own worthiness, but on the basis of God’s faithfulness and the testimony of His Word. However, this assurance must not become an occasion for sin. The reality of their faith in Christ is demonstrated by subjecting their fleshly natures to the power of the Holy Spirit and by doing the good works for which He saved them, especially by demonstrating a Christlike love for one another (Matthew 7:20; John 10:27-29; 13:34-35; Romans 6:13; 8:28-39; Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 2:10; 1 John 3:14, 23; 5:13).

The Church

We believe that all who have placed their faith in Christ are united by the Holy Spirit into one spiritual body, the Church, of which Christ is the Head. This body was formed on the day of Pentecost and will be completed at the coming of Christ for His own. Scripture commands believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, observance of baptism and communion as ordinances established by Jesus Christ, fellowship, service to the body through the development and use of talents and gifts, and outreach to the world. They are likewise to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; 12:12-27; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:3; Hebrews 10:23-25).

Wherever God’s people meet regularly in obedience to this command, there is the local expression of the Church. Under the watch of elders and the supportive leadership of deacons, its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the one ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ (Acts 6:1-6; 20:17-38; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; 1 Timothy 3:1-7, 3:8-13; 5:17; Titus 1:7-9; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:1-4).

The Gifts of the Spirit

We believe that, though there be many fillings of the Holy Spirit, there is only one baptism that occurs at the time of regeneration. The gifts of the Spirit are given to believers according to the Will of God for the purpose of building up the Church. During the foundational era of the Church (i.e., the time of Christ and the Apostles) God gave special manifestations of the overtly supernatural and miraculous gifts (e.g., tongues, healings, miracles) as “signs” that witness to the validity of those bearing new canonical revelation (c.f. 2 Corinthians 12:12; Hebrews 2:3-4). Beyond the foundational era, God in His sovereignty may grant any spiritual gift and work miraculously for the benefit of His church at any time.

The Second Coming of Christ

We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal blessedness of the righteous and the punishment of the wicked (Matthew 16:27; Mark 14:62; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Philippians 3:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Corinthians 15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 20:1-6, 11-15).