What we Believe

The Inspiration of Scripture

We believe in the supernatural, full and unqualified inspiration of the Scripture, that it is inerrant and that its teaching and authority are absolute, supreme, and final. II Peter 1:20,21; II Timothy 3:16,17

The Trinity

We believe that the Godhead eternally exists in three persons- the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, and that these three are one God; having precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections, and worthy of precisely the same homage, confidence, and obedience. Matthew 28:19,20; Mark 12:29; John 1:14; Acts 5:3,4; II Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 1:4,6

The Eternal Purpose of God in Christ

We believe that, as provided and purposed by God and as pre-announced in the prophecies of the Scriptures, the Eternal Son of God came into this world that He might manifest God to men, fulfill prophecy, and become the Redeemer of a lost world. To this end He was born of the Virgin, and received a human body and a sinless human nature. John 1:18; Luke 1:30-35; Hebrews 4:15

We believe that Jesus Christ came first to Israel as her Messiah-King, and that, being rejected of that Nation, He, according to the eternal counsels of God, gave His life a ransom for all. John 1:11; Acts 2:22-24; I Timothy 2:6

The Person of Christ

We believe that on the human side, the Lord Jesus Christ became and remained a perfect man, but sinless throughout His life; yet He retained His absolute deity, being at the same time very God and very man, and that His earth-life was functional within the sphere of that which was human and sometimes, within the sphere of that which was divine. Luke 2:40; John 1:1,2; Philippians 2:5-8

Christ's Death Atoned for Sin

We believe that, in infinite love for the lost, the Lord Jesus Christ voluntarily accepted His Father’s will and became the divinely provided sacrificial Lamb and took away the sin of the world; bearing the holy judgments against sin which the righteousness of God must impose. His death was, therefore, substitutionary in the most absolute sense – the just for the unjust – and by His death He became the Savior of the lost. Hebrews 10:5-14; John 1:29; Romans 3:25, 26; 11 Corinthians 5:14; 1 Peter 3:18

The Resurrection of Christ

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ arose from the dead, according to the Scriptures. That same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died is the resurrection body and is the pattern of the body which, at the return of Christ, will be given to all resurrected believers. John 20:20; Philippians 3:20,21

The Present Ministry of Christ

We believe that, on departing from the earth, the Lord Jesus Christ became Head over all things to the Church which is His body, and in this ministry He intercedes and advocates for the saved. Eph. 1:22,23; Heb. 7:25; I John 2:1

The Regeneration and Redemption of Sinners

We believe that, because of universal death through sin, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless born again; that no degree of reformation however great, no attainments in morality however high, no culture however attractive, no baptism or other ordinance however administrated, can help the sinner to take even one step toward heaven; but a new nature imparted from above, a new life implanted by the Holy Spirit through the Word, is absolutely essential to salvation, and only those thus saved are children of God. We believe, also, that our redemption has been accomplished solely by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who was made to be sin and was made a curse for us, dying in our place and that no repentance, no feeling, no faith, no good resolutions, no sincere efforts, no submission to the rules and regulations of any Church, not all the Churches that have existed since the days of the Apostles, can add in the finished work wrought for us by Him, Who united in His person true and proper deity with perfect and sinless humanity. (Lev. 17:11; Isa. 64:6; Matt. 26:28; John 3:5,18; Rom. 5:6-9; II Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13; 6:15; Eph. 1:7; Phil. 3:4-9; James 1:18; I Pet.1:18,19,23.)

Salvation through Faith Alone

We believe that the new birth of the believer comes only through faith in Christ and that repentance is a vital part of believing, and is in no way, in itself, a separate and independent condition of salvation; nor are any other acts, such as confession, baptism, prayer, or faithful service, to be added to believing as a condition of salvation. John 1:12; 3:16,18,36; 5:24; 6:29; Acts 13:39; 16:31; Rom.1:16; 3:22,26; 4:5; Gal.3:22

The Bodily Resurrection of All Mankind

We believe in the literal resurrection of the body, both just and unjust. Phil.3:20,21; John 5:29

Final Judgment and Eternal Punishment

We believe in the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting punishment of the lost. Matthew 25:46; II Thess.1:8,9

The Great Commission

We believe in the evangelization of the world; the supreme mission of the Church in this age is to preach the gospel to every creature. Matthew 28:19,20

The Baptism of the Spirit

We believe the baptism of the Holy Spirit takes place at the time a person takes Jesus Christ as their Savior (1 Cor.12:13), and the obedience of the believer will result in the following of the Lord in water baptism as an outward sign to others of the inward working of Christ.

The Return of Christ

We believe in the literal, personal, imminent, return of Christ for His own. When He comes in the clouds of glory, those who have died in Him will be raised first and then those believers who are still living “... will be caught up together with them in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” This is the great encouragement and hope of each Christian. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

The Financial Support of the Church

We believe that all members should support the work of the Church as the Lord prospers them. 2 Corinthians 9:7