The Scriptures
We believe the Bible, consisting of the 39 Books of the Old Testament and the 27 Books of the New Testament, Is God's absolute, objective truth for all people for all times. We believe in the verbal and plenary inspiration of Scripture. It is without error in concept or detail in the original writings. It is inspired in every word, divinely preserved and therefore trustworthy. It is God's written, propositional revelation. It is complete in the 66 Books of the Old and New Testaments. It is the supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and practice. We believe the Holy Spirit directed the human authors so that through their individual personalities and literary styles they composed and recorded God's Word. We believe the true meaning of Scripture is found as one diligently applies the literal, grammatical, historical and contextual method and interpretation under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Biblical Support: 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; John 10:35; 2 Peter 3:16; John 16:7-14; 1 Corinthians 2:7-16
The Trinity
We believe in the one personal, living God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things. He eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They execute distinct, but harmonious roles in creation, providence, and redemption. They are equal in nature, attributes, and perfections. Nevertheless, the Son and the Spirit are submissive to the Father's will. The triune God is worthy of our worship, confidence, and obedience.
Biblical Support: Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Kings 8:60; Psalm 90:1-2; Isaiah 45:5-6; Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 16:16; Matthew 28:18-19; Mark 12:29; John 1:1-14; Luke 22:70; Luke 11:13; John 10:30, John 14:16-17; Acts 5:3-4, 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 1:4-6.
The Father:
We believe in God the Father: an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of humanity. We believe He works everything in accordance with His perfect will, though His sovereignty does not eliminate or minimize human responsibility. God's foreknowledge is exhaustive and not dependent on human decisions and actions. We believe He hears and answers prayer and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
Biblical Support: Genesis 1:1; Psalm 34:6; Psalm 147:5; John 1:3; John 6:27; Romans 6:1-13; 1 Corinthians 15:2-4; Colossians 1:16-26; Hebrews 2:14-15; 1 John 1:5; 1 John 2:1-2; Revelation 3:20; Revelation 19:6
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is God's one and only eternal Son and is fully God and fully man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. We believe in His sinless life, His accuracy and truthfulness in all He spoke, His death on the cross, His bodily resurrection from the dead, and His substitutionary atonement. He ascended into heaven, where at the right hand of God the Father He is our High Priest and advocate.
Biblical Support: John 1:1; John 1:29; 1 Timothy 2:6; Romans 3:25-26; 1 Corinthians 5:14; Hebrews 10:5-14; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:2; 1 Corinthians 15:1-58; Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 John 2:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10; Revelation 19:1-21; Revelation 20:1-22.
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the person of the Holy Spirit, who was sent by God the Father and God the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. His ministry glorifies Jesus Christ and implements Christ's work of redemption. He regenerates, baptizes, seals, and indwells all believers, securing them in Christ forever, and empowers them for godly living and service. The ministry of the Spirit in the church does not need signs and wonders to verify it, nor does His work guarantee abundant wealth or life without illness. His presence is evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit and the building up of believers into Christ-likeness. The Spirit controls, leads, and gifts believer but no one specific gift is a sign of His baptism or filling, nor do they provide extra Biblical revelation contrary to the Word of God, but all are for the common good.
Biblical Support: 1 Corinthians 2:11; Ephesians 4:30; John 16:13-14; John 15-26; John 16:7-8; 1 Corinthians 6:14; Genesis 1:2; 2 Peter 1:21; Acts 5:3-4; Titus 3:5; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:22; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 5:18
Humanity
We believe that humanity, male and female, was uniquely made in the image of God and for His glory, to exercise dominion over the earth, and to enjoy a relationship with Him forever. God created Adam from the dust of the ground and Eve from Adam's rib. Subsequent human life, which begins at conception, is a gift from God deserving of respect, care, and protection. Sin entered the world when Adam, representing us, disobeyed God. The effect is that all people are sinners by nature and choice, are spiritually dead, and are in need of a Savior. The family is established by God and is the foundation institution of society. He has designed marriage to be a life-long commitment between one man and one woman.
Biblical Support: Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 2:15-25; 1 Timothy 2:13-14; James 3:9; Isaiah 43:7; Colossians 1:16; Revelation 4:11; John 3:36; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 5:22-23; Ephesians 6:1-4.
Salvation
We believe in salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is based upon the sovereign grace of God, was purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross, and is received by faith, apart from any human merit, works or ritual. We further believe salvation results in righteous living, good works, and proper social concern, culminating in glorification in God's presence in heaven.
Biblical Support: Romans 3:24; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:5; John 1:12-13; 1 Corinthians 16:19-20; Romans 6:13; Colossians 3:17; John 5:24; Romans 8:29-39; John 17:15; 2 Timothy 1:12.
The Church
We believe the universal Church, launched on the day of Pentecost, is the spiritual body of Christ of which He is the head. This local church administers the ordinances of Believer's Baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper. This local church is made up of all who have made a credible confession of faith and are baptized as believers by immersion, for the purpose of publicly declaring their relationship with Jesus Christ. The ordinance of the Lord's Supper is administered in obedience to His command for the purpose of remembering His death and burial, anticipating the return of Jesus Christ.The church is built into Christ-likeness through the preaching and teaching of the Word, prayer, evangelism, and worship in the context of accountable community.
While the local church is autonomous and congregational, we commit to Biblical interdependence with other churches. Her leaders are responsible first to Jesus Christ and then to the congregation. We recognize the calling and giftedness of men and women to serve together in ministry; however, we believe the office of Elder and Lead Pastor are intended to be filled by biblically qualified men. It is imperative that every believer be an active part of a local church.
Biblical Support: Matthew 16:18; Acts 1:4-5; Acts 2:46-47; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 5:25-27; Colossians 1:18; Matthew 18:15-18; Acts 6:1-6; 1 Corinthians 14: 40; Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-5; Romans 6:3; Colossians 2:12; Ephesians 8:7
Separation of Church & State
We believe that each local church is self-governing in function and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority. We further believe that every human being is directly responsible to God in matters of faith and life and that each one should be free to worship God according to the dictates of conscience.
Biblical Support: Daniel 3:17-18; Acts 5:29; 1 Peter 2:9
Angels
We believe God created angels, spirit-beings possessing power and intellect, who worship and serve Him. Angels are sent to minister to those who will inherit salvation. Satan is a fallen angel, who masquerades as an angel of light. Satan's role on earth, often implemented by demons, is to deceive and destroy. He, along with his demons have been defeated for eternity by Jesus Christ at the cross.
Biblical Support: Psalm 148:2-5; Hebrews 1:14; Isaiah 14: 12-17; James 2:19; 2 Peter 2:4; Genesis 3:1-7; Job 1:12; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; Ephesians 6:12; Revelation 12:10; John 12:31; Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 20:1-3; Revelation 20:10
Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality
We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. Rejection of one's biological gender is a rejection of the image of God within that person.
We believe that the term "marriage" has only one meaning and that is marriage sanctioned by God which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.
We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography, and attempting to change one's biological sex or otherwise acting upon any disagreement with one's biological sex) is sinful and offensive to God.
We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of the church as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by the church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, should abide by and agree to this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality and conduct themselves accordingly.
We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
Biblical Support: Genesis 2:18-25; Leviticus 18:20-30; Deuteronomy 22:5; Matthew 19:3-6; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Romans 1:26-27; Revelation 21:8
Last Things
We believe a person's eternal destiny is forever sealed by their acceptance or rejection of Christ and His work on the cross in this lifetime. Unbelievers will experience eternal separation from the presence of God in hell, a place of great suffering and loss. Believers will experience eternity with God, in a place of joyful worship and fellowship with the redeemed of all ages. We also believe in the pre-millennial coming of Jesus Christ to the earth with His saints to establish His kingdom on earth.
Biblical Support: Luke 16:22-23; Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Philippians 3:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:11-14; Daniel 9:27; Daniel 2:1; Jeremiah 30:7; Revelation 6:1-9; Deuteronomy 30:1-10; Isaiah 11:1-6; Deuteronomy 65:15-17; Ezekiel 37:21-28; Revelation 19:11; Revelation 19:14; Revelation 1-6; Mark 9:43-48; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; 2 Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21:1-4; Revelation 22:5; Revelation 22:11