Doctrinal Statement

Scripture

We believe the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God in its original documents. We believe it to be the final and infallible standard of faith and Christian living in Jesus Christ. We believe Scripture is properly interpreted when understood in its grammatical, historical, and literary context, under the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. (Mt. 5:18; Lk. 16:17; Jn. 10:34-35; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:19-21; Isa. 55:11; Ps. 119; 2 Tim. 2:15; Acts 17:11; Jn. 16:13-14; 1 Cor. 2:12-13)

 

God

We believe in one living and true God, the Creator of all, Who is infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His being and attributes, Who eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that each person of the Godhead has the same nature, essence, attributes and perfections, each being equally worthy of human worship. (Isa. 40:28; Deut. 6:4; 2 Cor. 1:3; Jn. 8:58; Acts 5:3-4; Mt. 28:19)

 

General Revelation

We believe mankind is able to come to a knowledge of God only through God’s gracious self-revelation, for God is transcendent and incomprehensible. God has revealed Himself to all humanity in general revelation through His created order, His providential care, and the individual conscience. We believe that God graciously receives those who believe this general revelation; however, they are only able to do so by means of the illuminating power of the Holy Spirit. The universal response to God’s self revelation, apart from this work of the Holy Spirit, is willful rejection. (Isa. 40:18; 1 Tim. 6:16; Ps. 8:1; 19:1-6; Rom. 1:18-21; 2:14-15; Acts 14:17; 17:27; Jn. 6:37; Mk. 4:11-12; 1 Cor. 2:14-16; Rom. 3:10-12)

 

Special Revelation

We believe that God has specially and particularly revealed Himself and His redemptive plan to mankind through the Bible, prophets, angels, theophanies, dreams, visions, and miracles, but most perfectly by means of the incarnate Son of God, Jesus Christ. (1 Pet. 1:19-21; 2 Chr. 24:19; Gen. 18:1; 22:1; Mt. 1:20; Heb. 1:1-3; Jn. 1:1, 14; Col. 2:9)

 

Mankind & Sin

We believe God specifically and purposefully created the first man out of inanimate matter, and the first woman from out of the man’s body. They bore the image of God—as does every human being, each one a descendant of the first man and woman. We believe that as Adam rebelled against God, his innocent nature was transformed into a sin nature, with the result that all his descendants have been conceived with that same sin nature, bringing about separation from God and physical death. Because of their sin nature and the sins they’ve committed, men and women universally stand condemned before Holy God, and in need of salvation. (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:7, 21-22; 3:20; 5:1-3; Rom. 3:22-23; Gen. 2:16-17; Rom. 5:12-14; Jer. 17:9; Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 1:18-20; 8:7-8; Col. 1:21)

 

Jesus Christ

We believe that in order to redeem mankind, God the Son became a man without ceasing to be God. He who eternally existed with the Father, being one in nature and essence, but different in person, was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has two distinct natures, Godhood and manhood, perfectly and inseparably joined together. We believe that He provided the perfect grounds for mankind’s salvation through His sinless life, His death on the cross, and His bodily resurrection from the dead. We believe that He has ascended to heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of the Father interceding for believers as their High Priest. (Jn. 1:1, 14; Col. 2:9; Jn. 8:58; 10:30; Phil. 2:5-8; Lk. 1:34-35; Gal. 4:4; Rom. 3:21-26; 1 Pet. 2:22; Acts 2:23; Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:3-5; Acts 1:9; Heb. 7:25; Rom. 8:34; 1 Jn. 2:1-2)

 

Salvation

We believe that, in accordance with the Father’s eternal plan, He chose for Himself a people of His own possession from every people, language, and nation, whom He would call, justify, sanctify, and glorify. Being spiritually dead in sins and trespasses, we believe that fallen man is unable to respond favorably to the call of God in the gospel until the Holy Spirit of God enables him to believe and repent, and thus be saved. (1 Pet. 2:9-10; Rev. 13:7; 14:6; Rom. 8:29-30; Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 8:7-8; 1 Cor. 2:14; Rom. 1:16- 17; Jn. 6:37, 44; 10:25-28; 12:32) We believe that salvation is the gift of God received by grace alone through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. We believe that the Father has permanently set His seal on every one who believes in Christ by means of the indwelling Holy Spirit, guaranteeing that those who have been justified will be glorified. We believe that genuine faith in Christ will produce the fruit of good works in the believer’s life. (Eph. 2:8-9; Jn. 1:12-13; Rom. 6:23; 8:9-10; Eph. 1:13-14; Rom. 8:29-30; Jms. 2:18-26; Eph. 2:10; Tit. 2:11-14; 1 Jn. 2:5; 3:24)

 

Holy Spirit

We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Christ through regenerating, indwelling, instructing and empowering believers. (Tit. 3:5; Rom. 8:9-11; Eph. 1:13-14; Jn. 16:13-14; Acts 1:8)

 

The Church

We believe that the universal Church is made up of all those who have exercised saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. As the Head of the body, Christ rules supremely as the authority and glory of His Church. (Mt. 16:18, 1 Cor. 12:13; Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22-23; 5:25-27) We believe that the local church is an organized assembly of immersed believers, existing for the purpose of bringing glory to God by means of careful attention to Scripture, loving fellowship, and faithful prayer. We believe that believers in a local church observe the two ordinances of water baptism and communion, actively seeking to make Christ known in the world by both word and deed. We believe that under the headship of Christ, the local church has the right and responsibility to decide and govern its own affairs. (1 Cor. 1:2; Acts 2:41-47; 4:32-35; Heb. 10:25; Eph. 4:11-16; 2 Tim. 4:2; Mt. 28:16-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-29; Acts 1:8; Jn. 13:35; 1 Cor. 6:1-5; Acts 6:1-6)

 

End Times

We believe that the day is coming when the Lord will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ. We believe in the personal and imminent coming of the Lord Jesus for His redeemed ones. We believe that every person from every age will be bodily raised from the dead: the believer to everlasting joy in the presence of the Lord, the unbeliever to everlasting damnation, separated from the Lord. (2 Tim. 4:1;Heb. 9:27; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Tit. 2:11-13; 1 Pet. 1:3-7; Rom. 13:11-12; Dan. 12:1-3; Mt. 25:46; Jn. 5:28-29; Rev. 20:5-6, 12-13)