The sole basis of our beliefs is the Bible, God’s infallible written Word, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. We believe that it was uniquely, verbally and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and that it was written without error. It is the supreme and final authority in all matters on which it speaks.
We believe:
About God
There is one true God who exists as three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He created the universe in six twenty-four-hour days and is the ruler of the universe.
About Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father and has existed since the beginning with the Father. Jesus left heaven to come to Earth where He lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven where He is currently seated at the right hand of God the Father.
About Man
We believe that God created mankind—male and female—in His own image and likeness, free of sin, to glorify Himself and enjoy His fellowship. Tempted by Satan, but in the sovereign plan of God, man freely chose to disobey God, bringing sin, death and condemnation to all mankind. All human beings, therefore, are totally depraved by nature and by choice. Alienated from God without defense or excuse, and subject to God’s righteous wrath, all of mankind is in desperate need of the Savior.
About Human Life
We believe the Bible is clear in its teaching on the sanctity of human life. Human life begins at conception. Therefore, we do not support the destruction of innocent human life through abortion, embryo research, cloning, physician-assisted suicide, and any other procedure that would harm or destroy innocent human life after conception.
About Eternity
We believe that heaven and hell are places of eternal existence. All those who believe and obey Jesus will live forever with Him in heaven. All those who do not believe in Jesus will be separated from God for eternity as a consequence of their sin and rejection of God.
About Salvation
We believe that we cannot earn our salvation through good works, self-improvement, or religious ceremony. Those that turn from sin in repentance and place their faith in Christ will be saved. At salvation each person is made a new creation by the Holy Spirit, declared righteous before God, and secured as an adopted child of God forever. Genuine faith continues in obedience and love for Jesus Christ with a life eager to glorify God and persevere to the end.
About the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement. He draws the unredeemed to repentance and faith, and at salvation imparts new spiritual life to the believer, bringing that person into union with Christ and the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit sanctifies, seals, fills, guides, instructs, comforts, equips, empowers and permanently indwells at salvation. The Spirit also bestows different spiritual gifts to the believer for Christ-like living and service. We believe in the exercise of all Biblical gifts of the Spirit; however, we believe not all believers are given the same gifts. As a result, we do not believe that the manifestation of one specific gift (e.g. speaking in tongues or prophesying) is required as evidence of salvation or the indwelling of the Spirit.
About Baptism and Communion
We believe that baptism is a public declaration of the believer’s salvation in Christ, identifying with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection symbolized by immersion in water. Baptism is not required for salvation, however it is a Biblical command that demonstrates love and obedience to Christ. The Lord’s Supper is the united commemoration by believers of Christ’s death until He comes and should be preceded by a careful self-examination.
About Marriage and Family
We believe that God has established marriage as a lifelong, exclusive, monogamous relationship between one man and one woman as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society. He created them different so as to complement and complete each other. Any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, pre-marital sex, homosexuality, lesbianism, bi-sexual conduct, incest, polygamy, pornography, bestiality, or any attempt to change one’s biological sex by surgery or appearance, is sin.
The Christian Life
We believe that the only way to live the Christian life effectively is by the grace of God. The Believer is to allow Christ to be the Lord of his life and to live a holy life to the glory of God. The Believer is called to a life of separation from those things which are detrimental to his personal life and to the witness of the Church. The Believer is commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Believer, when filled with the Holy Spirit, will live a life of praise, thanksgiving and obedience. The Believer should be committed to a regular devotional life and a life of prayer. The Believer needs to be committed to a life of fellowship with other Believers for the purpose of edification, encouragement and service.