Our beliefs represent the foundation of our faith and are our understanding of what the Bible proclaims as the essentials of Christianity. All of our values, behaviors, teachings and way of life flow out of these statements. Beyond this, we embrace St. Augustine’s philosophy, “In Essentials Unity, In Non-Essentials Liberty, In All Things Charity.”
WE BELIEVE the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible authoritative and comprehensive inerrant Word of God. Therefore, we believe the Bible is the only infallible rule of faith and practice. It is profitable for doctrine, teaching, correction and training in righteousness. 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Timothy 3:16
WE BELIEVE in One eternally existent God revealed in Scripture as Three Persons: God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are co-eternal, co-existent and co-equal; each possesses all the attributes of Deity. Matthew 28:19, 20; John 1:1,14; Ephesians 4:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2
WE BELIEVE in the deity of Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father and in His present priestly ministry, and in His headship over the Church. Galatians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:16; Ephesians 1:17-23; Hebrews 7:24
WE BELIEVE that for the salvation of sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential. Salvation is by God’s grace alone and is received through whole-hearted acceptance of Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior. This salvation is through the redeeming blood of Christ. Through being born again, a person becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus. John 3:16; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:12,13; Ephesians 11:1-10; Titus 3:4-7
WE BELIEVE in evangelistic and missionary fervor and endeavor. Jesus states this mission of the Church when He commissioned His church to make disciples among all nations. Matthew 18:18-20; Mark 16:15-18; John 15:16; Acts 1:8
WE BELIEVE that the ordinances of Baptism by immersion in water after salvation and observance of the Lord’s Supper should be regularly practiced in the local assembly. We believe that both are for born again believers. Further we believe Water Baptism witnesses to the Gospel of Christ’s death, resurrection and reality of new life in Christ; and Communion witnesses to the saving and healing power of the Gospel, to Christ’s presence in His Church, and looks forward to His victorious return. Matthew 26:26; 28:29; Mark 14:22; 16:16; Luke 22:19; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3; 1 Corinthians 11:12-13; Colossians 2:12
WE BELIEVE in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as on the day of Pentecost and in the continuing ministry of the Holy Spirit as evidenced in Charismatic gifts and gift ministries and in His fruit in the lives of believers. We believe the Holy Spirit is the Chief Administrator of the Church and according to His will distributes a variety of gifts for growth, maintenance and building up of the church. Further we believe the power of the Spirit is available to every believer to bear witness of Christ, reproduce the internal fruit of the Holy Spirit and manifest the external gifts of the Holy Spirit. These three aspects of life in the Spirit are equally essential in the life and ministry of the Church. John 14—16; Acts 2:4; 10:46; 19:6; Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:8-11; Galatians 5:11,12; Ephesians 4:11-16
WE BELIEVE that divine healing is obtained on the basis of the Atonement. 1 Peter 2:24; Matthew 8:17.
WE BELIEVE in Christ’s imminent, personal and visible return to earth in power and great glory and in His present and everlasting dominion. Daniel 7:14; Acts 1:11; 4:36; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation. 19:6; 21-22:65
WE BELIEVE in the resurrection of both the saved and lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of eternal life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of eternal punishment. We believe in the final judgment. John 5:28,29; 1 Corinthians 1:12-58; Revelation 20:15
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 believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and gathered in a particular place by the Holy Spirit for worship, instruction, work, and fellowship. We believe that God has put upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the Gospel of Jesus Christ by proclamation and lifestyle to a lost world. Matthew 16:16-18; 28:18-20; Galatians 1:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 5:23-27,32; Hebrews 10:15; 1 Pet. 2:9,10
WE BELIEVE in sanctification and holiness and an overcoming lifestyle as God’s design for the Church, which is the Bride of Christ. These processes are accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit and the believer’s cooperation with Him in the circumstances and various relationships of life as a normal development of Christian maturity. We further believe in the keeping power of God. Romans 3:13; Ephesians 4:17-32; 5:25-27; Colossians 3:1-25; 1 Peter 1:2; 13-16; 1 John 2:6; Jude 24
WE BELIEVE that sexual purity is a necessary expression for all of God’s children. Further we believe God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity is to be engaged in outside of the marriage of a man and a woman. Any form of child molestation, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, bisexuality, incest, pedophilia, or pornography is a sinful perversion of God’s gift of sex. We believe God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance. Genesis 2:22-24; 19:5,13; Leviticus 18:1-30; Matthew 19:4-6; Romans 1:26-29; 7:2; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:9, 18; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 5:22-23; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4
WE BELIEVE God ordained marriage and the family as the foundational institution of human society, and that the only legitimate marriage is a sacred and permanent covenant relationship between one man and one woman, symbolizing the union of Christ and his Church. Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:22-25
WE BELIEVE that since mankind is created in the image of God, human life is of inestimable worth and significance in all its dimensions, from conception to the grave. Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139:13-14
WE BELIEVE it is the responsibility of every believer, to the best of their ability, to support the local church in attendance, giving and participation in its ministries. Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; 2 Corinthians 8:9; 9:5-15; Hebrews 10:25
WE BELIEVE in the restorative and compassionate administrating of biblical church discipline for sinful conduct, doctrinal error and divisions. We believe that such an exercise must be administered with caution and Scriptural motivation. Matthew 18:15-18; Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 5:9-13; Galatians 1:6-9; 7:1; 1 Thessalonians 3:6-11, 14,15; 1 Timothy 5:10; 2 Timothy 3:16; 4:2; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 12:5-11
WE BELIEVE tithing and offerings are God’s prescribed methods for financing the church and her Gospel ministry. Matthew 10:10; Acts 10:35; 1 Corinthians 9:7-11; Galatians 6:6; Philippians 3:19; 1 Timothy 5:18; Hebrews 6:10; 1 John 3:17,18