THE BIBLE
We believe that the Bible (consisting of the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament) is the inspired and inerrant Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
ONE GOD
We believe that there is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:4; James 2:19), eternally existent in three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:26; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD
We believe that Jesus is the Son of God; co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father (John 1:1). He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary (Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:26-35); lived a sinless life (1 Peter 1:19; 2:22); died as the sinner’s substitute (2 Corinthians 5:21); rose again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3-6); ascended into heaven where He intercedes for believers (Acts 1:9-11; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 1:3; 7:25); and is coming again a second time to judge the quick and the dead (Acts 1:11; 2 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 22:12).
HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD
We believe that the Holy Spirit is also God, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and Son (1 Corinthians 2:10; 3:16; 6:19; and Acts 5:1-5). He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:8-11). He actively works in the conversion of the sinner (John 3:5-8) and permanently indwells believers (John 14:16-17; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20), equipping them for service (1 Peter 4:10-11) and sealing them until the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30).
MAN WAS CREATED IN GOD’S IMAGE
We believe that man was created by God in His own image (Genesis 1:26-27). Although the image of God in man was obscured by the fall (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12), it was not obliterated. Therefore, every human life is worthy of respect and dignity, from conception onward (Psalm 139:13-17). Furthermore, we believe that gender is not a random act of nature, but the loving gift of God (Genesis 1:27). Having created gender, God has also assigned different roles to men and women in the church and family. We also believe that marriage is between one man and one woman (Matthew 19:4-6).
SALVATION
We believe that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and not of works (John 3:16; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8). Because of the finished work of Christ on the cross (John 19:30; Hebrews 9), any convinced sinner who turns from their dead works (wicked deeds and worthless deeds) and looks alone to Jesus Christ as their only hope shall be saved (Romans 4:5). This salvation involves: deliverance from sin’s penalty presently (Romans 8:1); deliverance from sin’s power progressively; and deliverance from sin’s presence perfectly when the believer reaches heaven. We believe that God saves sinners-men as God finds them, guilty, proud, helpless, powerless, unable to life a finger to do God’s will or to improve their spiritual lot. We believe God saves sinners-and the force of this confession must not be weakened by disrupting the unity of the work of the Trinity, or by dividing the achievement of salvation between God and man and making the decisive part man’s own decision.
NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH
We believe that a New Testament church is a church where the true gospel is preached, the two ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper are administered, and believers watch over one another in love and concern. A true New Testament Church will be Christ centered, Biblically guided, elder led, practice church discipline guided by (Matthew 18:15-19) and will find a way to minister to the poor and needy!
BAPTISM
We believe that baptism is the immersion of the believer in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19) and symbolizes the believer’s faith in and union with a crucified, buried, and risen Savior (Romans 6:3-4). The Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of the Redeemer’s suffering (Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25) and an anticipation of His Second Coming (Matthew 26:29; 1 Corinthians 11:26).
TRULY SAVED
We believe that every person who is truly saved will endure to the end (John 10:28-30; Romans 8:30-38). This is so because of the Father’s purpose (Romans 8:28-29); the Son’s purchase and prayer (Luke 22:31-32; Hebrews 7:25); and the Holy Spirit’s presence (Ephesians 4:30).
THE RESURRECTION
We believe in the resurrection of the saved and lost, the one to everlasting life, and the other to everlasting damnation (Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29). We reject the doctrine of annihilation for unbelievers and hold to the teaching of Christ concerning the eternal torment of hell (Matthew 25:41; Mark 9:46; Luke 16:23-26).