We believe the Bible is God’s Perfect Word. We believe the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is completely trustworthy and the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. Isaiah 40:8; Psalm 119:105, 160; Proverbs 30:5; 2 Timothy 1:13, 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21
We believe there is only one true God. We believe there is one and only one living and true God. He is the Creator, Sustainer, and Ruler of the universe. God is all powerful, all knowing, and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His creation. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal God exists in three Persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, without division of nature, essence, or being. This is called the Trinity. Genesis 1:1, 26-27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Timothy 1:17
We believe Jesus is the eternal Son of God. We believe Jesus is the eternal Son of God, co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. When Jesus took on human form, He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and offered Himself as the one and only perfect sacrifice for sin by dying on the cross. He arose from the dead on the third day to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven and will return again to earth to reign as King. Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14; 10:30; 14:7-11; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 1:3-4; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 4:14-15; Titus 2:13
We believe the Holy Spirit fills every believer at salvation. We believe the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world today to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power, understanding, and guidance. When we are saved, the Holy Spirit gives every believer at least one spiritual gift. As Christians, we seek to live under his control. Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18
We believe mankind is separated from God by sin and our only hope is God’s free gift of salvation. We believe that while every person is made in the image of God and the supreme object of God’s creation, every person is a sinner by nature and by choice and, therefore, separated from God and under condemnation. Our only hope is God’s free gift of salvation provided through Jesus’ death on the cross. When we repent of our sin and trust in Jesus alone, we are saved and regenerated from separation and death unto restoration and life. Since salvation is a gift, gained and given by God, it is secure and permanent. Genesis 1:26-27, 2:17, 3:1-7; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1,2; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 1:12, 14:6; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1
We believe everyone will spend eternity somewhere. God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring this world to His desired end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to earth, the dead will be raised, and Christ will judge all men. Those who are in Christ will spend eternity in heaven. Those who are not in Him will spend eternity in hell. Heaven and hell are real places. John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11, 17:31; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:15; Matthew 26:31-46; Revelation 21:1
We believe every Christian is expected to be a part of a local church. We believe the local church is an assembly of baptized believers, associated by covenant for the purpose of inviting people to believe in Jesus, belong to His family, and become like Him. We believe Jesus is the head of the church but for the purpose of order and direction, He has called pastors and deacons to lead and serve His church, respectively. Matthew 16:15-19, 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42, 47, 5:11-14, 6:3-6, 14:23, 20:28; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:9-14, 3:1-15, 4:14; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:1-4
We believe the family is the foundational institution in society. We believe God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. A family is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption/placement. Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. Children are to obey and honor their parents. Genesis 1:26-28, 2:15-25; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Psalms 127:3; 139:13-16; Proverbs 1:8, 12:4, 13:24, 22:6, 31:10-31; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32, 18:2-5, 19:3-9; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33, 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Timothy 5:8; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7
We believe Christians are to live by God’s standards. We believe all Christians are called to be “salt and light” in the world. By ever increasing obedience to the Word of God, every believer is to mature and progressively become more like Jesus. Through the enabling of the Holy Spirit, each believer is to live an increasingly godly life, build up the church family, make Christ known, actively be involved in making disciples, and perform good works for the glory of God. Exodus 20:3-17; Deuteronomy 10:12-13; Psalm 101:3; Proverbs 6:16-19; Jeremiah 1:5; Micah 6:8; Matthew 5:13-48, 22:36-40, 25:35, 10:21; Romans 1:18-32, 12-14; 1 Corinthians 5:9-10, 6:1-11, 10:23-11:1; 2 Corinthians 6:17; Colossians 3:12-17; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; James 1:27, 2:8