What We Believe

The Bible, in 1 Timothy 3:15, describes the church as “the pillar and foundation of the truth.” This not only means that the church exists to provide a powerful and unfaltering support for the truth of God but that it is also to be subordinate to that truth. It is not our purpose here to address everything the Bible teaches but to focus on those essential to Christianity. These are the things that stand at the core of our Christian Faith that do not change.

• We believe that there is one true God, the Creator of all things visible and invisible, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1-2; John 1:1-3; Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:19; Acts 17:24-28; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 11:3; James 1:17)

We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son; who eternally existed as God but became flesh and lived among us (John 1:1-2, 14), coming as the Savior of the world (John 3:16-17; Acts 4:12) and now acts as the only mediator between God and people (1 Timothy 2:5)

He was born Jesus of Nazareth, both fully human and fully divine, conceived of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary (Matthew 21:11; John 19:19 / John 1:14; Romans 5;15-17; Colossians 2:9; 1 John 1:1 / Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:26-38)

He suffered and was crucified under Pontius Pilate (Luke 23:1-46)

He died and was buried, and rose again bodily from the dead on the third day (Luke 23:44 – 24:8; John 20:24-29; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8)

He ascended into Heaven and now sits at the right hand of the Father (Luke 22:69; Acts 1:1-9; Colossians 3:1)

He will return to earth to judge both the living and the dead (Matthew 24:36-42; John 14:1-3, Acts 1:10-11; 10:39-42; 1 Peter 4:5)

We believe in the Holy Spirit, who convicts the world in regard to sin, righteousness and judgment, and who at the point of union with Christ indwells every believer and equips them for personal growth and service to the church (John 16:5-16; Acts 2:38; Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Timothy 1:14)

We believe the 66 books of the Bible, in both Old and New Testaments is the written Word of God. They were given by God's inspiration and that in the original writings they are without error. Though originating with God they were written using human agency and therefore speak with the authority of God while reflecting the backgrounds, cultures, styles, and vocabularies of the human authors. As God’s holy Word, they are the unique, reliable, and final authority on all matters of Christian

faith and practice. (Psalm 119:105; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 5:18; 24:35; Mark 12:36; John 14:26; 16:12-15; Acts 1:16; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 2:12-13; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:20-21

We believe that mankind, though created by God for a loving relationship with Him, rebelled against Him, willfully sinning, by choosing to go our own independent way. Having thus fallen away from God, mankind is alienated from God and suffers the corruption of our nature. The effects of this fall upon our intended relationship with God can only be reversed through faith in Jesus Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit, and life in God’s eternal Kingdom. (Romans 3:23; 6:23; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 1:21-23; 3:9-10; Acts 4:12)

We believe that the only way we are saved from this state of alienation from God is by the grace of God through the blood of Jesus Christ—Jesus Christ was sent to die on the cross to save us from the eternal penalty of our sin. No human effort, no matter how well intentioned, can secure this salvation apart from God’s grace through Jesus Christ. This free gift of salvation is offered to all who receive Christ as Lord and Savior. (Matthew 26:28; John 3:16; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:23-25; 5:8-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Colossians 2:6; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 3:18; 1 John 1:7; 2:1-2; 4:10)

We believe that one receives God’s grace by placing faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son, the Lord and Savior of all. The Bible clearly teaches the pattern for placing faith in Jesus Christ involves believing in who He is; repenting, being willing to turn, from personal sin; confessing, or acknowledging, Christ publicly; and being baptized into Christ by immersion. (Matthew 10:32-33; 28:19; Mark 1:9-13; 16:16; Luke 24:45-47; Acts 2:36-38; 3:19; 17:30; Romans 5:1-2; 6:1-11; 10:9-10; Galatians 3:27; Philippians 2:11; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 3:21; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 4:15)

We believe that there is only one true Church, the body and bride of Christ on earth, founded on the Day of Pentecost, universally composed of all Christ-followers everywhere. Because immersed Christians are united in a dynamic relationship with Christ, they are also united with one another and therefore enjoy the privilege of church membership. Scripture instructs believers to gather together for scriptural teaching, fellowship, the communion of the Lord’s Supper, prayer, mutual encouragement, worship of God, and disciple-making. Therefore wherever God's people meet in obedience to this teaching there is the local expression of the church. Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Chur

ch and every local church has the obligation under Christ to decide and govern its own affairs in obedient submission to the will of God, the word of God, and the Spirit of God. (Matthew)

16:13-18; Luke 22:14-20; Acts 2:41-47; 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:11-16; 5:23-24; Colossians 2:18; Hebrews 10:23-25)

We believe that death seals the eternal destiny of each person. When Christ returns he will pronounce the eternal fate of each individual, both living and dead - the saved to eternal life in heaven, the unsaved to eternal separation from God in Hell (John 5:28-29; Daniel 12:2; 2 Corinthians 4:14; Hebrews 9:27-28).