The Scriptures

We believe in the verbal and plenary inspiration of the Scriptures, consisting of 66 books which constitute the Old and New Testaments, the explicit and complete Word of God, inerrant in the original writings, and our final authority for faith and practice.  We believe the biblical text should be interpreted according to the “plain meaning” conveyed by its grammatical construction and historical context (Matthew 5:18; John 16:12-13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

The Godhead 

We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – yet who are one in essence and equal in every divine perfection. God as Father reigns with providential care over His creation, His creatures, and the course of human history according to His sovereign purposes, plans, and stewardships given to mankind (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 3:13-17; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14, Ps. 47:8; Matt. 5:45; Eph. 4:6).

Jesus Christ 

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ became fully man without ceasing to be fully God, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order to reveal God, redeem humanity, and restore all of creation. We believe that Jesus Christ accomplished this redemption through His perfect obedience in dying on the Cross as the perfect sacrifice for sin; that this redemption is guaranteed by His physical resurrection from the dead and by His subsequent ascension into Heaven, where He is now seated at the right hand of the Father reigning with all authority and making intercession for His people (Matt. 1:18-20; John 1:1-2, 14; 1 Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 3:21-26; Matt. 28-1-10; Acts 1:9; Heb. 7:25-28).

The Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit, Who is one of the three Persons of the Trinity. We believe that among His ministries are: the restraining of evil in the world to the measure of the divine will; the conviction of the world regarding sin, righteousness, and judgement; the regeneration of all believers; the indwelling of those who are saved; and the continued filling for power, teaching, and service of all among the saved who are truly yielded to Him (2 Thess. 2:7; John 3:6; 16:7-11; Rom. 8:9; Eph. 4:30; 5:18).

We believe that some miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit ceased during and after the apostolic era. We believe that speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the filling or baptism of the Spirit.  We believe that God, in accord with His own will, does hear and answer the prayer for the sick and afflicted (1 Cor. 12:11, 30; 13:8: James 5:14-16).

Salvation

We believe that man was created in the image of God; that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God; and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature and in practice become sinners in nature, thought, word, and deed (Gen. 1:26-27; 3:1-24; Rom. 5:12-21; Eph. 2:1-6).

We believe that salvation is the gift of God, brought to men by grace and received by repentance toward God and through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of sins.  All those who believe are regenerated sons of God and are privileged to be eternally secure in their salvation, being kept by the power of God until final glorification. (Eph. 2:8-9; John 1:12; 3:5-7; John 10:27-30; Rom. 8:31-39).

Church

We believe in the Church is the center of God’s program for this age, distinct in purposes, plans, and promises from the nation of Israel, a living, spiritual body of all regenerated believers of which Christ is the Head, and associated together in autonomous congregations for learning, training, worship, fellowship, accountability, and outreach (Matt. 16:16-18; 1 Cor. 12:12-17; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Tim. 3:15-16).

The Ordinances

We believe the Scriptures teach that the two ordinances to be observed by the Church are believer’s baptism by immersion and the Lord’s supper (Matt. 28:19; Acts 8:36-39; Rom 6:3-5; 1 Cor. 11:23-32).

Last Things 

We believe in the blessed hope, the imminent personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ for His Church, that God will fulfill His promises of a millennial kingdom over which Jesus Christ will reign as King of kings, that the wicked dead will be judged at the Great White Throne and be condemned to everlasting punishment, and that the righteous will live eternally in the presence of the Lord (1 Thess. 4:14-17; 5:9; 1 Cor. 15:51-53; Rom. 5:9; John 14:3; Matt. 24:21; Rev. 19:11-16; 21:1-15; Ezek. 39:25-29; 1 Thess. 4:17).