THESE ARE THE CENTRAL TENETS OF OUR FAITH.   THIS STATEMENT OF FAITH IS NOT EVERYTHING WE BELIEVE, BUT THESE ARE THE ESSENTIAL BIBLICAL TRUTHS THAT WE AFFIRM AS A CHURCH BODY.

THE BIBLE - THE BIBLE IS THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD.

We believe the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings. It is the complete revelation of God’s will for the salvation of men and women, and the final authority for all Christian faith and life. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:19-21, Matthew 5:17-18, John 10:34-36)

THE TRINITY - THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD AND THAT HE ETERNALLY EXISTS IN THREE PERSONS:  FATHER, SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.

We believe in one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14)

THE FATHER - GOD THE FATHER IS AN INFINITE AND PERSONAL SPIRIT.

We believe in God the Father, an infinite personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He actively and mercifully guides the affairs of humanity, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (Exodus 34:6-7, John 3:16, John 4:23-24, Ephesians 1:3)

THE SON - JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD WHO WAS SENT FROM THE FATHER TO BRING SALVATION TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE ON HIS NAME.

We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life. He died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. He physically rose from the dead. He ascended into heaven. He is now our High Priest and Advocate at the right hand of the Father. (John 1:1-18, Romans 4:25, Ephesians 1:15-23, Colossians 1:15-23, Hebrews 7:23-25)

THE HOLY SPIRIT - THE HOLY SPIRIT IS SENT FROM THE FATHER AND THE SON TO ENABLE US TO LIVE A HOLY LIFE AND EMPOWER THE CHURCH TO BEAR WITNESS TO CHRIST.

We believe the Holy Spirit is fully God, equal with the Father and the Son. The primary ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Jesus by convincing non-Christians of their need for Christ; giving new birth to those who put their faith in Jesus; and indwelling, sanctifying, leading, teaching, and empowering believers for godly living and service. We believe that all Christians are to be filled with the Holy Spirit subsequent to their conversion (Acts 2:1-4; 8:14-17; 19:1-7). We also believe that all of the spiritual gifts listed in the Bible (Romans 12:6-8, Ephesians 4:11, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-30) continue to be distributed by the Spirit today; that these gifts are divine provisions central to spiritual growth and effective ministry; and that these gifts are to be eagerly desired, faithfully developed, and lovingly exercised according to biblical guidelines. (John 3:3-8, John 14:15-27, John 16:5-15, Romans 8:9-17, 1 Corinthians 12-14, Galatians 5:16-26, Ephesians 5:18-21)

HUMANITY - ALL HUMANS HAVE SINNED, AND GOD CALLS US TO REPENT AND BELIEVE IN JESUS FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS.

We believe God created humanity in His image. But because of the disobedience of Adam, sin entered the human race. We further believe men and women are sinners by nature and action and are therefore spiritually dead. We also believe that those who repent of sin and place their trust in Jesus Christ are spiritually born again to new life by the Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:27, Acts 2:38-39, Ephesians 2:1-9, Romans 3:9-26, Romans 5:12-21)

SALVATION - SALVATION IS A GIFT OF GOD PROVIDED BY THE DEATH OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS.  IT IS RECEIVED BY FAITH NOT BY ANY HUMAN MERIT.

We believe that salvation is a free gift of God and is received by individuals through faith in Jesus Christ apart from any human merit, works, or ritual. We believe that the shed blood of Jesus and His resurrection provide the only grounds for the forgiveness of sins for all who believe and that only those who receive Jesus Christ are born of the Spirit, become children of God, and are given eternal life. (John 3:16-17, John 8:23-24, John 14:6, Acts 16:29-34, Romans 3:21-31, Romans 10:9-10, Ephesians 2:4-9, 1 Timothy 2:3-6, Titus 3:5-7)

THE CHURCH - THE CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST, CONSISTING OF ALL PEOPLE WHO HAVE TRUSTED JESUS FOR SALVATION.  THE SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH ARE WATER BAPTISM AND COMMUNION.

We believe that the Church is composed of all people who through saving faith in Jesus Christ are united together in the Body of Christ of which he is the head. (Ephesians 1:22, 2:14-22 and 4:1-5) We believe the sacraments of the church are believers’ baptism and holy communion. Believers’ baptism is a testimony of the death to sin and resurrection to a new life in Christ; and communion is the “Lord’s Supper,” a memorial service, setting forth in sacred and symbolic manner the death of Jesus and our salvation through faith in him. All believers and only believers should participate in these sacraments. (Matthew 26:26-29, Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 2:38-39, Romans 6:3-4, 1 Corinthians 11:17-32, Colossians 2:11-12)

KINGDOM OF GOD - THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS THE RULE OF GOD THAT HAS COME, IS COMING DAILY, AND WILL BE FULLY ACCOMPLISHED AT CHRIST’S RETURN.

We believe that the Kingdom of God is the rule and authority of God.  It has come in the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, that it continues to come in the ministry of the Holy Spirit through the Church, and that it will be consummated in the glorious, visible and triumphant appearing of Christ when he returns to the earth as king. We believe that after Christ returns He will bring about the ultimate defeat of Satan, the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment, and the eternal blessing of the righteous. At that time, the Kingdom of God will be completely fulfilled in the new heavens and the new earth. (Matthew 4:23, Matthew 12:28, Mark 13:26, Acts 1:1-8, Acts 2:14-39, Romans 14:17-18, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, Revelation 19:11-16, Revelation 20:10, Revelation 21:1-5)

CHRIST’S RETURN - AS PROMISED IN THE SCRIPTURE, JESUS WILL PERSONALLY RETURN TO THE EARTH.

We believe that the personal and imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ to the earth is our future hope and has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer. (Matthew 24, John 14:1-4, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, Titus 2:11-14, Revelation 19-20)

CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITY - CHRISTIANS HAVE BEEN CALLED TO FULFILL THE GREAT COMMANDMENTS AND THE GREAT COMMISSION.

We believe that the highest priorities for every believer are the Great Commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” These commands are fulfilled by glorifying God, enjoying him and fulfilling his Great Commission to “Go and make disciples of all nations.” These pursuits require personal commitments to live by the truth of God’s Word and to depend on the power of the his Spirit. Practically, both the Word and the Spirit call us to a life of Christ-like character, wholehearted worship, generous giving, unselfish service, and compassionate outreach to the lost. (Matthew 20:26-28, Matthew 22:37-40, Matthew 25:31-24, Matthew 28:19-20, Luke 6:38, John 4:23-24, Ephesians 4:12-13, Ephesians 5:18-21, 2 Timothy 3:16-17)