The Bible
We believe that the entire Bible is verbally inspired by God and, therefore, absolutely inerrant in the original manuscripts. We believe that it is the infallible Word of God which is our supreme and sole authority in all matters of faith and conduct. (2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:20-21; Matt 5:18; John 17:17)
God
We believe in one living and true God, one in essence, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe each person of the Godhead is equally perfect in every attribute. (Deut 6:4; Matt 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14) We believe that He is the creator and sovereign ruler of all things who deserves our worship and obedience. (Gen 1:1-31; Ps 103:19; Rom 11:36; Eph 3:9; Col 3:16-18; Rev 4:11)
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, is the only begotten Son of God who eternally existed prior to His incarnation. (John 1:1-4, 14; Phil 2: 5-8). We believe that He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary in order to reveal God, redeem sinful man and rule over God’s kingdom. Through His incarnation He became man without ceasing to be God, living a sinless life so that He could be a perfect sacrifice for the sins of man. (Ps 2:7-9; Isa 7:14, 9:6; Matt 1:23; John 1:29; Phil 2:9-11; Heb 4:15, 7:25-27
We believe that Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through the shedding of His blood and substitutionary death on the cross. Our justification was made sure by His literal and physical resurrection from the dead. (Rom 3:24-25; Rom 5:6-8; Eph 1:7; 1 Pet 1:18-19, 2:24; 1 John 2:1-2)
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God the Father, where He mediates as our Advocate and High Priest. (Acts 1:9-10; Heb 7:25, 9:24; Rom 8:34; 1 Tim 2:5; 1 John 2:1-2)
We believe in His imminent return for His own and His personal, bodily and visible return to set up His millennial kingdom. (Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thess 4:13-18; Rev 20)
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, is the supernatural and sovereign agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sanctifying all who believe and sealing them to the day of redemption. He is the abiding helper, teacher and guide of every believer. (John 14:26, 16:7-15; Rom 8:9; 1 Cor 3:6, 12:12-14; Eph 1:13-14, 5:28). We believe that every believer receives the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation and not subsequent to the new birth. (Rom 6:3-5, 8:9; 1 Cor 12:13)
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the sovereign giver of spiritual gifts to each believer for the purpose of edifying the church. We also believe that some gifts were given temporarily for the establishment of the early church (e.g. the gift of tongues) while other gifts were given permanently for the building up of the body of Christ. (Rom 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12:1-31, 13:8-10, 14:12; 2 Cor 12:12; Eph 4:1-7; Heb 2:3-4; 1 Pet 4:10-11)
Man
We believe that man was directly and immediately created in the image of God but through Adam’s sin of disobedience fell and incurred the penalty of spiritual and physical death. Sin is any lack of conformity to the character of God, whether it is an act of omission or commission, disposition, or state. (Gen 1:26-27, 2:7, 16-17, 3:1-24; Rom 3:22-23, 5:1-21)
As a consequence all men are born with a sinful nature, alienated from God and hopelessly lost. Because of the sin nature every person born is enslaved to sin. We believe that man is totally depraved and incapable of remedying his lost condition apart from God’s grace through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. (John 3:36; Rom 1:18-32, 5:1-21, 6:17, 23; Eph 2:1-9; Col 1:21; Titus 3:5; 1 John 1:8)
Salvation
We believe that salvation is solely the work of God provided through Christ’s death on the cross. It is through His shed blood that we have forgiveness of sins. Salvation is God’s gift to man through faith alone in Christ alone. It is of grace entirely apart from man’s works. (Eph 1:7, 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:18-19)
We believe that the Holy Spirit regenerates people, enabling them to repent of their sins, believe (trust) in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, receive the forgiveness of their sins and the free gift of eternal life. They are justified before God and sanctified unto God. (John 1:12, 3:16, 6:44; Rom 8:1, 33, 10:9-10; 1 Cor 6:11; 2 Thess 2:13; Titus 3:5)
We believe that all those who are genuinely regenerated are saved and kept eternally secure in Christ by God’s power forever. (John 5:24, 6:37-40, 10:28-29; Rom 8:38-39; Eph 4:30; 1 Pet 1:3-5)
The Church
We believe that the church of Jesus Christ is a spiritual body which consists of all those who have placed their faith in Him as their Lord and Savior in this present age. All those who believe are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into the church of which Christ is the head. (Rom 12:4-5; 1 Cor 12:13; Col 1:18; Eph 1:22-23; 4:1-6)
We believe that the church began on the day of Pentecost, will be raptured at the coming of Christ, and is distinct from Israel. (Acts 2; Rom 11:25-26; 1 Cor 10:32; 1 Thess 4:16-17)
We believe that the establishment of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. All believers are to associate themselves together in local churches. The purpose of these churches is to glorify God through worship, instruction of the Word, fellowship, prayer, practice of the ordinances (water baptism and the Lord’s Supper), and proclamation of the gospel to the world. (Matt 28:19-20; Acts 2:42; 1 Cor 11:23-34; Eph 4:1; Titus 1:5; Heb 10:24-25)
We believe that according to God’s plan the local church is His primary agent for accomplishing His commission in this age. (Matt 16:18, 28:18-20)
We believe in the autonomy of the local church, under the leadership and guidance of Christ. It has the authority to organize and handle its own affairs and is free of any external authority and control. (Matt 18:15-20; Acts 6:1-6, 20:28; 1 Cor 5:4-7, 13; Titus 1:5; Heb 13:7, 17; 1 Pet 5:1-4)
Future Events
We believe that at the time of physical death there is a separation of soul and body. The souls of those who are saved will pass immediately into the presence of Christ in heaven and those who are not saved to conscious punishment. (Luke 16:19-26; 2 Cor 5:8; Phil 1:21-24; Rev 20:11-15)
We believe in the personal, bodily and imminent return of Christ for His church before the seven-year tribulation period. (John 14:1-3; 1 Cor 15:51-53; 2 Cor 5:10; 1 Thess 4:15-5:11; Titus 2:13; Rev. 3:10) Following the rapture of the church from the earth, the righteous judgment of God will be released on the unbelieving world, climaxing with the second coming of Christ with His saints in glory to earth. (Jer 30:7; Daniel 9:27, 12:1; Matt 24:27-31, 25:31-46; 2 Thess 2:7-12; Rev 16) At that time, Christ will establish His literal kingdom on earth and reign for a thousand years. This millennial kingdom, which is characterized by peace, harmony, righteousness and justice, will be the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel. (Isa 65:17-25; Ezek 37:21-28; Zech 8:1-17)
We believe that following this millennial kingdom of Christ will be the final resurrection and judgment of all unsaved at the Great White Throne. There they will be condemned to an eternal conscious punishment in the lake of fire along with Satan and his demons. (Matt 25:41; John 5:22; Rev 20:11-15) The saved will enter the eternal state of glory with God. He will create a new heaven and new earth where they will enjoy fellowship with Him forever. (John 17:3; 1 Cor 15:24-28; Rev 21-22)