Beliefs

The sole basis for our belief is the sixty-six books of the Bible, which is uniquely God-inspired, without error in the original manuscripts, and the final authority on all matters of faith and practice.

Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-7; 1 Corinthians 8:4), perfect in

all His attributes, one in essence, eternally existing in three per-

sons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 29:19; 2 Corinthi-

ans 13:14) – each possessing all the attributes of deity and deserv-

ing of our worship and obedience. In the beginning God created

out of nothing the universe and all things therein, thus manifest-

ing the glory of His power, wisdom and goodness. By His sover-

eign power He continues to sustain His creation. By His provi-

dence, He is operating throughout history to fulfill His plan of

redemption.

We believe that Jesus Christ – the second Person of the Trinity – though being equal with God (John 10:30; Philippians 2:5-8), surrendered His prerogatives of deity and came to earth to pay the debt for man’s soul. Having been born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23-25), Jesus lived a totally sinless life, and was therefore qualified to pay for our sins by dying on the cross as our Substitute (John 10:15; Romans 3:24-25; 1 Peter 2:24). He literally and physically rose from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the Father where He now mediates as our Advocate and High Priest (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:38-39; Acts 20:30-31; Romans 4:25; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1). We teach that Jesus will return to earth personally and visibly to consummate history and judge all mankind according to the eternal plan of God.

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, co-equal with the Father and the Son in all the divine attributes (Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13-14). He enlightens the minds of sinners, awakens in them a recognition of their need of a Savior and regenerates them. At the point of salvation, He permanently indwells every believer and equips them for personal growth and service to the church. (John 16:7-9; Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 2:22). The indwelling of the Spirit is a divine guarantee which seals the believer unto the day of redemption (Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13-14). Christians are endowed with spiritual gifts through the sovereign act of the Holy Spirit. These gifts are intended to strengthen the church and glorify Christ.

That man, created by God, willfully sinned against God and is consequently lost and without hope apart from Jesus Christ.

That salvation—the forgiveness of sins—is only by grace through the blood of Jesus Christ. That one receives salvation by putting faith in Christ, repenting of sin, and confessing Christ, and that the Bible commands every believer in Christ to be baptized by immersion.

That those who have received salvation through faith in Jesus Christ are sent into the world to proclaim the gospel and to love and serve the world just as Jesus Himself did.

We believe the Church of Jesus Christ, founded on the Day of Pentecost, consisting of all Christians everywhere, and organized into local assemblies, called churches. We believe the Bible teaches that every Christian should be an active member of a local church.

We believe in baptism by immersion for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit as practiced by the early church.

In baptism we unite with Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection.