Scripture

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The sole basis of our beliefs is the Bible, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments.  It is uniquely and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and was written without error in the original manuscripts.  

(Ps. 119:160; Prov. 30:5; Matt. 5:18; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 1 Pet. 1:25; 2 Pet. 1:20-21)
 

God

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There is only one God: holy and perfect in every way; infinite in power, wisdom, justice, goodness, and love; the Creator of the universe; eternally existing in three Persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - each of whom possesses all the attributes of Deity.  

(Gen. 1:1; Deut. 6:4; Ps. 90:2; Isa. 45:18; Matt. 28:19; John 1:1-4, 4:24; 1 Cor. 8:6; 2 Cor. 13:14; Col. 1:16-18; 1 Pet. 1:2-3; 1 John 3:20)

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The Human Condition

 

Every man and woman is created in God’s own image. The first Man and Woman were originally innocent and in fellowship with God. They disobeyed God’s command and therefore were alienated from their holy Creator by their sin.  Consequently, all human beings are born with a corrupted nature and are also sinners by choice.  Everyone is without spiritual life and is totally incapable of reconciling themselves to God.  

(Gen. 1:27, 3:1-6; Isa. 53:6, 59:2-3, 64:6-7; Jer. 17:9; John 1:3; Rom. 3:10-12, 3:23, 5:12, 5:19, 8:7-8; Eph. 2:1-3; Col. 2:13; Heb. 9:27)

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Jesus

 

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, having eternally existed with the Father, was sent to earth by the Father to be the atonement for man’s sin and to reconcile sinners to God.  He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin.  He is God in the flesh, both true God and true man.  Jesus Christ lived a sinless life and willingly suffered and died to pay the penalty for the sin of all mankind, thereby satisfying God’s justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone.  Three days after His crucifixion, He rose from the dead in the same body in which He lived and died.  For forty days, He presented Himself and spoke to His apostles and followers. He then ascended bodily into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father where He, the only mediator between God and man, intercedes for those who put their faith in Him for their salvation.  He will physically return to judge the living and the dead and establish His kingdom.  

(Isa. 7:14, 9:6; Matt. 1:22–23, 25:31; Mark 14:62, 16:19; John 1:1-5, 1:14, 1:18, 5:18, 5:22, 10:27-30, 14:10-29; Acts 1:3, 1:9-11, 2:32-33, 4:10-12, 10:39-42; Rom. 1:3-4, 8:34, 9:5; 1 Cor. 15:1-8; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1:15-20; 1 Tim. 1:15, 2:5, 6:14-16; Titus 2:13-14; Heb. 1:2-3, 1:6, 1:8, 4:14-15, 7:24-25, 9:25, 9:28; 1 John 2:2; Rev. 19:11-21, 20:6)

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Holy Spirit

 

The Holy Spirit reveals and glorifies Christ, convicts men and women of their sins, and imparts new life to all who place their faith in Christ.  He permanently indwells believers from the moment of spiritual birth, guides them into truth, empowers them to live lives pleasing to God, and intercedes for them.

(Matt. 28:19; John 3:5-7, 14:16-17, 14:26; 16:7-14; Rom. 8:9-16, 8:26; 1 Cor. 2:12, 6:19, 12:3, 12:13; 2 Cor. 1:22; Gal. 4:6-7; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30; Titus 3:5-6)

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Salvation

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An individual’s reconciliation with God occurs when one is cleansed from their sins by personally repenting from sin and receiving Jesus’ free gift of salvation.  Reconciliation is not a result, in whole or in part, of works, goodness, or religious observances but is only a result of the undeserved favor of God.   Now cleansed from sin, a believer is a new creation, a child of God, and, through the sure promises of God, can be fully assured that God will complete the work He has begun in them.  

(Isa. 53:4-12; John 1:12-13, 1:29, 3:3-7, 3:14-18, 6:44, 10:27-30, 14:6; Acts 2:38, 4:10-12, 13:38-39, 16:31; Rom. 3:21-28, 5:1-2, 6:4, 6:23; 10:9-10; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; 2 Cor. 5:17, 5:21, 6:2; Gal. 2:16, 3:25-26; Eph. 2:8-9; Phil. 1:6; Titus 3:4-7; 2 Pet. 3:9; 1 John 1:9, 2:2)

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Life as Believers

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All who place their faith in Christ alone make up the church worldwide, and God instructs them to assemble together in a local church body for worship, prayer, fellowship, and teaching.  Jesus Christ has instructed those who believe in Him to be baptized in water as a symbol of their new birth in Him and to remember regularly His suffering, death, and resurrection through taking the bread and cup in the manner He taught at the Last Supper.  Every believer should seek to continually grow in their relationship with Christ personally through practices including praying, studying His Word, and obeying His commands.  Believers are expected and empowered to employ their possessions, talents, and spiritual gifts to glorify God, build up fellow believers, and embody and proclaim His love to the world.  They should be known by their love for one another and are to stand firm in their faith when experiencing trials. 

(Matt. 26:26-29, 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 22:14-20; John 13:35, 17:17-19; Acts 1:8, 2:41-47, 8:36-38, 20:32; Rom. 6:12-15, 6:22-23, 12:1-8; 1 Cor. 6:11, 11:23-26, 12:4-11, 12:27-31, 13:13; 2 Cor. 3:18; Gal. 4:1-3, 4:17–24, 5:1-2, 5:16-25; Phil. 3:12-14; Col. 3:1-17; 2 Thess. 2:13-15; Heb. 3:13; 10:24-25; 1 Pet. 1:14-16, 4:8-11; 1 John 3:5-10)

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Life after Death

 

After death, every individual who remains unreconciled with God will be raised, judged for their sins, and face eternal separation from God.  In contrast, every believer will be raised, be judged solely on the merit of Christ’s redemptive work, and with other believers enjoy eternal fellowship with God.

(Matt. 25:31-34, 25:41, 25:46; Luke 16:22-26; John 5:28-29, 14:1-3; Rom. 2:6-11; 1 Thess. 4:14-18; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; 1 Pet. 1:3-5; Rev. 20:12-15, 21:1-4)