Statement of Faith

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The Bible

We believe the Bible says all Scripture is given by inspiration of God (lit. God-breathed), that holy men of God were moved by the Holy Spirit using their own individual style and vocabulary to write the very words of Scripture so that what was written was exactly what God wanted written. This divine inspiration extends equally and fully to all parts of the Bible.  (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21)

The Scriptures in their entirety are without error, and incapable of error in their original writings (John 10:35). We believe that these writings (divided into 66 books in our English Bible tradition) have been handed down and effectively preserved throughout the centuries (in keeping with the implications of the prophecy in Matthew 5:18). The Bible is our final authority in all matters of truth and  practice in our lives and in the Church. 
(John 17:17; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11)

The Godhead

We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are identical in essence and equal in power and glory; they possess the same nature, attributes, and perfections, and are worthy of the same worship, confidence, and obedience. Historically this has been called the Trinity.
(Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 12:29; John 1:1-4; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

The Person and Work of Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, is fully God and became fully man, being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He came to reveal God and to redeem sinful mankind by giving Himself as a sinless sacrifice on the cross of Calvary on our behalf, satisfying God's righteous judgments against sin. He then arose bodily from the dead and ascended to the Father's right hand where He intercedes on the believer's behalf. All the Scriptures, from first to last, testify of Him.
(Luke 1:34-35; 24:27; John 1:1-2, 14, 18; Romans 3:24-26; 8:34)

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Divine Person who convicts the world of sin, gives eternal life to those who place their trust in Christ, unites all believers to Christ in one body by His baptizing ministry, indwells them permanently, seals them unto the day of redemption, fills (controls) those who are yielding to Him, and empowers them for service. He seeks to direct their attention not to themselves nor to their experience, but to Christ.
(John 3:5-8; 14:16-17; 16:7- 11; 16:13-14; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18)

The Condition of Man

We believe that man was originally created in the image and after the likeness of God, free from sin. He subsequently fell into sin by a voluntary act of personal disobedience to the revealed will of God, lost his spiritual life, and became dead in sins and corrupt in nature. These effects of sin have been transmitted to the entire human race, Jesus Christ excepted, and thus every person born into the world is alienated from the life of God and unable to save himself apart from God's divine grace.
(Genesis 1:26; 3:1-24; 6:5; Psalms 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10-18; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3)

The Means of Salvation

We believe that salvation from sin is possible only by the gift of God's grace. This unmerited favor is a free gift that liberates us from the guilt and condemnation of sin. Salvation cannot be gained by good works, sincere efforts, nor submission to the rules, regulations, or ordinances of any church, but is freely bestowed on all who put their faith in Christ alone. This simple act of faith is often referred to as "believing in" Jesus throughout Scripture. All who so trust the Savior pass from death unto life, are forgiven of their sins, accepted by the Father, and born into His family by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God.
(John 5:24; Ephesians 1:6-7; 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:23; John 3:16)

The Believer's Assurance and Responsibility

We believe that all who have been born again by God's transforming grace are secure in Christ forever. It is their privilege to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation, not on the basis of their own worthiness, but on the basis of God's faithfulness, and the testimony of His Word. However, this assurance must not become an occasion for sin. The reality of a believer's faith in Christ should be demonstrated by subjecting their fleshly natures to the power of the Holy Spirit, becoming a fully devoted follower of Christ while personally making other disciples and by doing the good works for which He saved them, especially by demonstrating a Christ-like love for one another.
(Matthew 7:20, 28:19; John 10:27-29; 13:34-35; Romans 6:13; 8:28-39; Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 2:10; 1 John 3:14,23; 5:13)

The Second Coming of Christ

We believe that the next great event in the fulfillment of prophecy is the personal return of Christ to remove from the earth His Church, both dead and living believers, and to reward each individual believer according to his or her works at the judgment (BEMA) seat of Christ. After the removal of the Church the righteous judgments of God will be poured out on the unbelieving world, climaxed by the glorious return of Jesus Christ to the earth with His saints to establish His millennial kingdom.
(1 Corinthians 3:11-13; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3; Revelation 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6)

The Eternal State

We believe that at death the souls of believers pass immediately into the presence of Jesus Christ. When Christ returns for the Church they will be reunited with their glorified bodies and associated with Him forever in glory. At death the souls of unbelievers pass immediately into torment. At the close of the millennium they will be reunited with their bodies, judged before the great white throne, then cast into the lake of fire, (prepared for Satan and fallen angels) not to be annihilated, but to be separated from God forever in conscious punishment.
(Luke 16:19-26; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 20:11-15)

Ordinances

We believe that Christ has commanded us to observe the two New Testament ordinances of water baptism and the Lord's Supper. These two ordinances are observed in obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ as acts of love and devotion, and are not set forth in Scripture as a condition of salvation. We teach and practice immersion as the form of baptism for believers. We view the Lord's Supper as a memorial of our Lord's death, and the elements as symbols of His body and blood.
(Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47-48; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)