What We Believe

Scripture: The Scriptures are God’s special revelation of Himself to humanity. The Scriptures alone are the single authority that binds the human conscience and are sufficient all together for bringing about salvation in the life of an unbeliever (Romans 10). The Scriptures are inspired by God, every word, and without error (2 Timothy 3; Psalm 19). Inspired in that the Holy Spirit superintendent over human authors to write God’s word while preserving their unique personalities and style. Inerrant in that they contain no errors and are perfect, sure, right, pure, clean, and true. (Psalm 19). It is in the Scriptures alone that man discovers God’s character and nature, and that man cannot have fellowship with God because of sin (Isaiah 6

Romans 3). It is in Scripture that man discovers reconciliation to God through the finished work of Jesus Christ (John 3). It is only when the Holy Spirit illuminates the heart and mind of the unbeliever, revealing the truth of Scripture, that man can respond in repentance and faith unto salvation (Romans 10; 1 Corinthians 2; John 16).

God: We believe in one God the Father, and in one Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit who are worshiped together and glorified together. There is only one God (Deuteronomy 4). He has revealed himself to his special creation, man, in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God is united in his substance and distinct in his personalities. He is not three Gods, but one God. We worship one God. The Father is fully God (1 Corinthians 8), the Son is fully God (John 1), the Holy Spirit is fully God (Acts 5). United in the Godhead, as one. God is not divided or composite in his substance. There is only one God. The mystery of the Trinity is beyond human comprehension. We only see dimly, and understand in part, what it is to be God (1 Corinthians 13).

Christ: The person of Jesus Christ is truly God and truly man, in two natures to form one person without confusion, change, division, or separation. He is eternal and has always been. He was not created, and He is not lesser in anyway than the Father or the Holy Spirit.

Jesus physically appeared in the world; He was born of a virgin (Luke 1); He lived a perfect sinless life (Hebrews 4); He died on the Cross as a substitute who paid the penalty for our sin (1 John 2); He was physically resurrected from the dead on the third day (1 Corinthians 15); He ascended into Heaven and will return visibly and physically some day in the same manner in which He ascended (Acts 1). The character and nature of Christ is similar in mystery to that of the Trinity and is beyond human comprehension. 

Everything that God requires for the redemption of mankind to Himself is found exclusively and fully in the person of Jesus Christ; His life and His work.

Salvation: The forgiveness of sins and reconciliation of humanity to God is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (Ephesians 2).The glory to which belongs to God alone. The salvation of humanity, from beginning to end is wholly a work of God. He calls the sinner to Himself through the convicting work of the Holy Spirit and the proclamation of the Gospel (Romans 10). Every person who is called by God is responsible to respond to the Gospel concerning Christ. When a person repents of their sin before God, and believes upon the Lord Jesus Christ, they are saved (Acts 16). By faith, God removes our sin, accepts Christ’s death as the punishment for our sin, and credits to every believer the perfect righteousness of Christ (Philippians 3). At the moment of faith, every believer is made wholly acceptable to God on the basis of Christ’s life and work. Because salvation is wholly a work of God, every believer is held in His hand and will never fall away (John 10). God alone will perfect the work of salvation in each person until the end (Philippians 1).

The Church: The Church is comprised of two bodies. First, the universal church, or collective body of all believers from Pentecost to the Rapture (Matthew 16; 1 Corinthians 12; Galatians3). This church is the corporate body of Christ that will not be fully consummated until the marriage of the Lamb (Revelation 19). Second, is the local church. The local church is the body of believers in a given area that gathers together regularly for worship, instruction, giving, mutual support, and fellowship (Acts 2, 4, 5, 11, 15). Requirements for church membership are regenerate believers who have received a water baptism, by immersion, following a credible profession of faith (Acts 2). The church, at a minimum, meets on the first day of the week. Local churches are led by Christ, governed by the congregation, and guided by the Pastor (Colossians 1; Acts 15; 1 Peter 5; Acts 20). Decisions concerning church operations, activities, budget, calling leadership, and other various actions are at the discretion of the congregation. Authority belongs to Christ, responsibility belongs to the pastor, decision making belongs to the body. The leaders in the church are the Pastor/elder and the deacons (Acts 6; Acts 14). There are two ordinances in the local church. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is with water and by immersion and always follows conversion (Matthew 28, Acts 2). Baptism is an act of obedience symbolizing our union with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection. It is an outward demonstration of an inward belief. The Lord’s Supper is a memorial event and serves as an act of remembrance concerning Christ’s body broken and blood shed on the Cross (Matthew 26). The church can, with good conscience, offer an open Lord’s Supper that would include member participation and participation of non-members who follow a similar faith tradition.