Description
God
We believe there is one and only one true and living God existing in three Persons–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit–each a distinct Person, but all of one essence and all having the same nature, perfections, and attributes, and each is worthy of precisely the same worship, confidence, and obedience (Gen 1.26; Jer 10:10; Matt 3.16-17; 28:19).
The Scriptures
We believe that both the Old and New Testaments are verbally inspired by God and are inerrant in the original writings. Through the providence of God, the Scriptures have been preserved and are the supreme and final and adequate authority in faith and life (Ps 19.7; 2 Tim 3:16,17; 2 Pet 1:19-21).
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, shed His blood on Calvary as a vicarious substitute, was buried, rose again bodily, and ascended to the Father according to the Scriptures (Isa 7.14; Matt 1.18-25; 1 Cor 15.3; Heb 4.15).
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity, very God coexistent with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is the chief agent in regeneration, the chief convictor of sin, and the chief comforter of the believer. Simultaneous with regeneration, the Holy Spirit baptizes the believer into the body of Christ (Matt 28.19; John 16.7-11; Acts 5.3-4; Rom 8.9; 1 Cor 12.12-14).
Man
We believe that man is the direct creation of God–body, soul, and spirit–and is not in any sense the result of evolution but is made in the image of God. Adam, the first man, sinned by disobedience. This act resulted in the fall of mankind and incurred both physical and spiritual death for all (Gen 1.26; Rom 3.10,23; 5.12).
Salvation
We believe that all who, in faith, receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior are born again by the Holy Spirit and thus become the children of God. Salvation involves redemption, regeneration, sanctification, and glorification (John 1.12; 3.3; 17.17; Rom 8.29-30; Eph 2.8-9; 4.30; Tit 3.5).
The Priesthood of the Believer
We believe in the priesthood of all believers so that every Christian has direct access to God in prayer through Jesus Christ, our great High Priest, and that there is no mediator between God and man other than Jesus Christ (Heb 4.16; 1 Tim 2.5; Rev. 1.6).
The Lord’s Day
We believe that Sunday is the Lord’s Day and is a Christian institution for regular observance of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private (1 Cor 16.2; Rev 1.10).
Security of the Believer
We believe that salvation is not only a gift from God but also is sustained by the Lord. The Holy Spirit permanently indwells the believer and seals him in salvation for all eternity. Therefore, since salvation is wholly of the Lord, apart from the works of man, we hold that the believer shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal salvation (John 10.28; 14.16-17,26; 1 Cor 2.9-14; Eph 1.13; 2.8-9; 1 Pet 1.5; Jude 24-25).
Satan
We believe that Satan was originally created a perfect being. He rebelled against God. As a result, he became depraved, the Devil and adversary of God and His people, and leader of a host of angels who fell with him. Satan has been judged and defeated at the cross and awaits his ultimate doom at the Second Advent of Jesus Christ (Isa 14.13-14; Ezek 28.13-17; John 16.11; 1 Tim 3.7; Rev 20.10).
Creation
We believe the triune God created the universe apart from pre-existing materials and without any evolutionary process. We believe in the historicity of the first eleven chapters of Genesis (Gen 1.1; Matt 19.4; John 1.1-3; Rom 1.20; Col 1.16-17; Heb 11.3).
The Local Church
We believe that the New Testament church is a local body of baptized believers with Christ as its head and the Holy Spirit as its guide. New Testament churches promote God’s work by cooperating together for missions and many other joint efforts. The local church is to be governed independent of outside persons, bodies, groups, or authorities (Matt 28:16-20; Acts 1.6-8; 6.3; 1 Cor 12.12-14; Eph 1.3-6,22-23; 1 Thes 4.16-18).
Ordinances
We believe that the local church observes two ordinances–baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that all who have received Christ as Savior and Lord should be baptized in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; that baptism is by immersion in the likeness of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ; and that the Lord’s Supper should be observed in remembrance of Him to show forth His death for our sins until He comes again (Matt 26.26-30; 28.19-20; Rom 6.3-6; 1 Cor 11.23-26).
