Beliefs

The Scriptures
The Bible is the authoritative word of God. Every word is verbally inspired (God-breathed) and without error in the original manuscripts. As God’s written revelation to humans, it is our supreme and final authority for all truth and for every human’s life. (2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:20, 21)

God
We believe in the one living and true God, who is one in essence, but eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; each of whom possess equally all the attributes of deity and characteristics of personality, and with each having specific works to perform. Each is co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections. We believe that God is a personal, relational being Who is the creator and sustainer of the universe. (Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14, Matthew 28:19, 20)

Jesus Christ
We believe that God the Son, Jesus Christ, became a human being through His miraculous conception in a virgin by the Holy Spirit. He is, therefore, perfect and complete deity and perfect humanity, these being united without mixture (remaining 100% God and human) in one person forever. We believe that He lived a sinless life and voluntarily and vicariously paid for the sins of all mankind by dying on the cross. We believe in the resurrection of His crucified body, in His ascension to heaven, in His present ministries in heaven, and in His future literal and physical return to earth. (Luke 1:26-35, 2:52; John 1:1-3, 14, 18; 3:16; I Corinthians 15:1-20; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:5-8; I Peter 1:3-5; 1 John 2:1, 2; Revelation 1:17, 18; Revelation 19-22)

Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is God and that He has come to reveal and glorify Christ, to convict sinners of sin, righteousness, and judgement, to regenerate, indwell, seal, and to empower them to live holy lives. His purpose is to conform Christians to become like Christ in character, although the personal choices of Christians prevent us from becoming perfect. (John 16:7-15; Acts 2:1-4; Romans 8:9-11; Ephesians 1:13, 14)

The Need of Humanity
We believe that humans were created in the image and likeness of God for the purpose of glorifying God. But we believe all people have personally sinned and fallen short of God (what He expects of us) and are in need of God’s grace to be justified (declared legally perfect) by faith. (Genesis 1:26, 27; 3:1-24; John 3:16-18; Romans 3:22, 23; 5:12; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12)

Justification Salvation
Eternal life is freely available through Jesus Christ, who made the perfect payment (propitiation) for sin, redeeming us (buying us back) from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us; and thus, we are saved on the basis of His death for us. This free gift of justification salvation is entirely apart from good works or any of human effort and is by grace through faith in Christ as God and Savior from sin. Nothing else is required. It provides the forgiveness of sin, a new nature, and eternal life. Each believer is eternally secure so that he or she cannot lose eternal life. Sin may interrupt the joy of fellowship with God but can never cause the loss of eternal life. Sin will bring God’s loving discipline and the need for personal confession and repentance through Jesus Christ. God expects His children to become more like Christ (sanctification salvation.) (John 3:14-18; John 20:30, 31; Romans 3:21-30; 5:6-9; 2 Corinthians 5:6-11; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2:8, 9; I John 1:5-2:2; 5:13)

Eternal Security
We believe that all persons who have believed in Jesus Christ, having become recipients of eternal life, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure forever. Nothing, including our own choices, can separate us from God’s love. However, God will temporarily punish His children for disobedience. (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 8:35-39; I Corinthians 1:4-8; Ephesians 1:13; Philippians 1:6; II Thessalonians 3:3; I Peter 1:5)

Separation Unto Godly Living
We believe that all believers in Jesus Christ should strive to live in a manner worthy of their Savior and Lord. This means separation from all sinful worldly pleasures, practices and organizations and/or associations that are dishonoring to God as commanded in the Bible. (John 17:15; Romans 12:1,2; 14:13; II Corinthians 6:14; 7:1; Ephesians 4:1-3; Colossians 1:9-12; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; II Timothy 3:1-5; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11)

Marriage and Sexuality
We believe that God has ordained marriage to be between one man and one woman for life. (Genesis 2:24, 25; Matthew 19:3-6)
We believe that God has created each person with their biological sexuality as a part of their essence, having been fearfully and wonderfully made by God as either male or female as evidenced by DNA. (Psalm 139:13, 14; Genesis 1:27)
We believe any and all sexual contact outside of marriage between one man and one woman is sin. (Galatians 5:19-21; I Thessalonians 4:3-8; Hebrews 13:4)

The Church
We believe the church universal, is the body and bride of Christ, and is made up of all persons from Pentecost to the rapture who believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. (Matthew 16:16-18; I Corinthians 12:12-14; II Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22, 23; 5:25-27)

We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. (Ephesians 4:11-16; II Timothy 4:1-5; Titus 1:5-9)

Water Baptism
Water baptism by total immersion of the body is an act of obedience to Christ’s command by those who are already believers in Jesus Christ. It is a public declaration of one’s personal faith in the crucified and risen Savior, Jesus Christ. It is an outward testimony of an inward reality that is witnessed by all who attend one’s baptism. It does not contribute to justification salvation. (Acts 8:35-39; Matthew 28:19, 20; Romans 6:3-6)

Satan
We believe that Satan is real and exists today, often acting through humans. He is the open and declared enemy of God and man, and he shall be eternally punished in the lake of fire. (Job 1:6, 7; Matthew 4:2-11; 25:41; Acts 26:18; Ephesians 6:10-13; 1 Peter 5:8, 9; Revelation 20:1-3, 10)

Future Things
We believe in that “blessed hope”: the personal, imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ for those who believe in Him; and in His subsequent return to earth with His saints to establish His millennial kingdom with the nation of Israel as its centerpiece. (Zechariah 14:3-11; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; II Thessalonians 1:5-10; Revelation 19:11-16; 20:1-6)

Eternal State
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all humankind; the believers in Jesus Christ to eternal life, dwelling forever with Christ; the unbelievers to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire. (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28-29; 11:25-26; Revelation 20:1-5; 22:3-5)