Doctrine


The Word of God

We believe that every word of the Bible is inspired by God; that it is inerrant, infallible and without contradiction in the original manuscripts. The 66 books that comprise the Old and New Testaments have been faithfully preserved throughout history as God’s complete revelation to mankind, and are our final authority in faith and life.

2 Timothy 3:162 Peter 1:20Mark 13:31John 8:31,32John 20:31Acts 20:322 John 1:9

The Trinity

We believe that there only ever has been, and ever will be, one true and living God who eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are equal in every divine perfection, infinite, without beginning, unchanging, and possessing all power, knowledge, and glory. They execute distinct but harmonious roles in the work of creation, providence and redemption.

Genesis 1:1,26John 1:1,3Matthew 28:19John 4:24Romans 1:19-20Ephesians 4:5-6

God the Father

We believe in God the Father; an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He infallibly foreknows all that shall come to pass, that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. As Creator of life, He is Father to all men; but He is spiritual Father only to believers.

Luke 10:21-22Matthew 23:9John 3:166:27Romans 1:78:14-161 Timothy 1:1,21 Peter 1:3Revelation 1:6

Jesus Christ

We believe in Jesus Christ; God’s only Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We affirm the full divinity and the full humanity of Jesus. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, and ascension into heaven. He is the one and only mediator between God and man, perpetually interceding for His people, and will personally and visibly return to earth.

Matthew 1:18-25Luke 1:26-38John 1:120:28Romans 9:58:322 Corinthians 5:211 Peter 2:21-23John 20:30-31Matthew 20:28Ephesians 1:4Acts 1:11Romans 5:6-86:9-10Hebrews 1:17:259:281 Timothy 3:16Jude 1:5

The Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit who has been sent from the Father and Son to convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. He regenerates, sanctifies and empowers the elect. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, that He imparts spiritual understanding, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide.

John 14:16-17,2615:26-27John 16:9-14Romans 8:91 Corinthians 2:6-163:166:19Galatians 5:22-26Ephesians 1:13-14

Salvation

We believe that man was created by God in His own image; that he sinned and thereby incurred physical, spiritual and eternal death, which is separation from God; that as a consequence all human beings are born with a sinful nature, are sinners by choice, and are therefore under condemnation. We believe that those who repent and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and become new creatures, delivered from condemnation and receive eternal life. We deny that justification can ever be the reward or result of human works or merit.

Genesis 1:26John 3:165:246:28-292 Thessalonians 1:9Jeremiah 17:9James 1:14Romans 3:10-1219-264:4-5165:1-106:238Ephesians 2:8-9Titus 3:52 Corinthians 5:171 John 1:9

The Church

We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of baptized believers in Jesus Christ, associated for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that God has provided for the local church qualified elders to shepherd her members in doctrine and life, and equip every saint for the work of ministry. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the “great commission” of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world.

Ephesians 2:19-224:11-125:19-21Acts 1:8Acts 2:42Hebrews 10:23-251 Timothy 3:1-13Titus 1:5-9Matthew 28:18-20

Christian Conduct

We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and the well-being of others; that his conduct should be blameless before the world; and that he should be a faithful steward of his possessions. We believe it is the duty of every Christian to pursue a life of maximal holiness, purity, and conformity to the Word of God in thought and deed. We affirm the Biblical view of marriage as a lifelong and exclusive relationship between one man and one woman, and reject any view that condones sexual conduct outside the covenant of Biblical marriage.

1 Corinthians 10:31Romans 12:1-3Hebrews 12:1-2John 14:15,23-241 John 2:3-62 Corinthians 9:6-91 Corinthians 4:2Colossians 1:9-10Genesis 2:22-24Ephesians 5:1-33Matthew 19:4-61 Peter 2:9-12

The Ordinances

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that Jesus commands all new believers to be baptized into the name of the Triune God. We believe that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed by all Christians and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 28:18-20Romans 6:3-51 Corinthians 11:23-26

The Last Things

We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth, and that He will build His church despite opposition until His return. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal joy of the redeemed in the presence of God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), and the endless suffering of the wicked.

Matthew 13:24-4316:18-1927Mark 14:62Luke 16:26John 14:3Acts 1:11Philippians 3:201 Thessalonians 4:152 Timothy 4:1Titus 2:131 Corinthians 4:51 Corinthians 15:1-582 Thessalonians 1:7-10Revelation 20:4-611-15