The sole basis of our belief is the Bible, composed of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. We believe that Scripture in its entirety originated with God and that it was given through the instrumentality of chosen men and women. Scripture thus at one and the same time speaks with the authority of God and reflects the backgrounds, styles, and vocabularies of the human authors. We hold that the Scriptures are infallible in the original manuscripts, being the final authority in all matters of faith and practice.
We believe in one true and living God, eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – each of whom equally possesses all the attributes of deity and personhood. God is the creator and supreme ruler of the universe, the heavens, the earth and all things therein. By his power, he continues to sustain his creation, and by his providence, he is operating history to fulfill his redemptive purposes.
Original created to have fellowship with God, man defiled God, choosing to go his own independent way. As a result, man was alienated from God and suffered the corruption of his nature, rendering him unable to please God. This fall of the human race took place at the beginning of human history, and all individuals since have suffered these consequences and are thus in need of the saving grace of God.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. He offered himself as a substitute in our place voluntarily as a sinless sacrifice on the cross, thereby satisfying God’s righteous judgment against sin. After substantiating the accomplishment of that redemption by his bodily resurrection from the grace, he ascended to the right hand of his Father where he intercedes on behalf of those who trust Him.
We believe that God the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He was sent into the world by the Father and the Son to apply the saving work of Christ. He enlightens the minds of sinners, awakens in them the recognition of their need for a Savior, and spiritually regenerates them. At the moment of salvation, he permanently indwells every believer, baptizing (or placing) them into the one true church, which is the body of Christ. He seals them for the day of redemption, bestows spiritual gifts upon them, and fills (or controls) those who are yielded to Him.
Salvation is the gift of God’s grace, and is not the result, in whole or in part, of human works of goodness. All who personally appropriate salvation through repentance and faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross are forgiven their sins and born into the family of God by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.
There is one true universal church which consists of all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The Scripture commands believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, the teaching of the Bible, the observance of baptism and the Lord’s supper, service to the body of believers through the development and use of talents and spiritual gifts, and outreach to the world.
Wherever God’s people meet regularly in obedience to this command, there is the local expression of the universal church. Under the care of its pastors and leaders, its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the one ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ.
We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ instituted two ordinances to be observed by believers until His return, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, also known as Communion.
We believe that the life of the believer is to be separated from worldliness by consistent conduct before God and man and is at the same time to be in the world as life-giving light, bearing fruit to the glory of God the Father. It is possible for the believer to lead such as life of Christ-like character when he appropriates the power and control of the indwelling Holy Spirit by faith.
We believe in the imminent, personal, and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth, to consummate history and the eternal plan of God.
Death seals the eternal destiny of each person. For all mankind, there will be a resurrection of the body into the spiritual world and a judgment that will determine the fate of each individual. Unbelievers will be separated from God into eternal condemnation. God’s judgment will reveal his justice in consigning them to the eternal perpetuation of their own choice to reject him. Believers will be received into eternal communion with God and will be rewarded for works done in this life.