What We Believe
1. The Word of God—Bible—is without error in the original writings, literally “God- breathed” (2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16). Coming from a holy and perfect God, it is inerrant in both the Old and New Testaments (2 Timothy 3:16). It contains God’s plan for man’s salvation (1 Peter 1:22-25) and provides a rule of life for all Christians (Psalm 119:9, 119). It is the final authority for all church decisions. Therefore, its content is to be the object of study, and its promises and precepts are to be proclaimed and taught to all men everywhere (Matthew 28:19-20).
2. There is one true and living eternal God (Isaiah 46:9), Creator of heaven and earth (Deuteronomy 6:4). He is the Sovereign of the Universe (Daniel 4:35). He manifests Himself in three distinct persons: the Father (Romans 8:28), Son (John 1:29), and Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:12; Matthew 3:16-17; Genesis 1:26), all equal and all God (Ephesians 4:4-6). His Godhead remains in perfect harmony in the great work of redemption.
3. Jesus Christ is God Himself (John 10:30), who took upon His deity full humanity, to be the perfect and sinless God man (Philippians 2:4-10). He was born of a virgin woman of the line of David (Isaiah 7:14) and conceived of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35-37). He died on the cross, sacrificing Himself for our sins (John 1:29) according to the Word of God (Isaiah 53:1-10). He arose physically on the third day, ascended into heaven (Matthew 28:1-9), and now sits at the right hand of God the Father (Hebrews 1:3). He is now our Great High Priest (Hebrews 2:17) and Advocate (1 John 2:1).
4. The Holy Spirit’s ministry in the present Church Age is to glorify Jesus Christ (John 16:14); to convict (John 16:8), indwell (1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 5:18), guide, or lead us to all truth (John 16:13); and to empower believers to live godly and holy lives (Galatians 5:16-26). It is the Holy Spirit who regenerates the unbeliever (Titus 3:5) and gives spiritual sight to the spiritually blind (1 Corinthians 2:9-12). The Holy Spirit is not merely an influence but rather is God Himself (Acts 5:3-4), residing in believers who are thus the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16).
5. All people are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). Mankind fell when Adam, the federal head of the human race (1 Corinthians 15:22), rebelled and sinned against God (Romans 5:12; Genesis 5:1-3). Thus all men are born lost, separated from God. Man can only be restored to fellowship with God by the regeneration of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5) and thus have salvation and fellowship with God by that new birth (John 3:3-8). Therefore, we conclude that all men are in need of becoming new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17) in Christ Jesus, for all sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
6. Salvation is totally a work of God in grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). The shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only grounds for justification (Romans 4:25) and salvation (Romans 5:9) for all who believe. Only those who receive Jesus Christ are born of the Holy Spirit (John 3:5-6) and thus become children of God (1 John 3:1). One’s salvation is eternal (John 10:29). Salvation commences sanctification in every believer; ultimate sanctification comes when the believer is glorified in heaven (Romans 8:29).
7. Water baptism (Acts 2:41) and the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-26) are ordinances to be observed by the church during the present age. However, they are not to be regarded as a means for salvation.
8. The New Testament Church is the universal, worldwide body of born again (John 3:3-8), Spirit-indwelt believers (1 Corinthians 6:19) in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is their Head (Colossians 1:18). The Church, the bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:25-27), began at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) and will be completed and removed from the earth at the Rapture, when Jesus Christ comes for her (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).
9. Only those who are regenerated through the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:3-5), through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9), and are thus members of the universal church shall be eligible for membership in the local church (1 Corinthians 12:13).
10. With Jesus Christ as the Lord and True Head (Ephesians 1:22-23) of the local church, the local church then has the right, under Christ, to decide its own affairs (1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 4:12-16).
11. We believe in the personal (Zechariah 14:1-4), bodily and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:3; Matthew 24:27-31). The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope (Titus 2:13), motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission (1 John 3:2-3).
12. The dead will be bodily resurrected: the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord; the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting conscious punishment (1 Corinthians 15:35-55; Revelation 20:11-15).
13. God created man (Genesis 1:26-28) and woman after His own image (Genesis 2:18-24), and that God has ordained marriage (Malachi 2:15-16), consisting of one man and one woman (Mark 10:5-9), to be the foundation of the family (Ephesians 5:21-33) and to be the only legitimate and Godly expression of sexuality (I Corinthians 7:2-5, Hebrews 13:4).
2. There is one true and living eternal God (Isaiah 46:9), Creator of heaven and earth (Deuteronomy 6:4). He is the Sovereign of the Universe (Daniel 4:35). He manifests Himself in three distinct persons: the Father (Romans 8:28), Son (John 1:29), and Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:12; Matthew 3:16-17; Genesis 1:26), all equal and all God (Ephesians 4:4-6). His Godhead remains in perfect harmony in the great work of redemption.
3. Jesus Christ is God Himself (John 10:30), who took upon His deity full humanity, to be the perfect and sinless God man (Philippians 2:4-10). He was born of a virgin woman of the line of David (Isaiah 7:14) and conceived of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35-37). He died on the cross, sacrificing Himself for our sins (John 1:29) according to the Word of God (Isaiah 53:1-10). He arose physically on the third day, ascended into heaven (Matthew 28:1-9), and now sits at the right hand of God the Father (Hebrews 1:3). He is now our Great High Priest (Hebrews 2:17) and Advocate (1 John 2:1).
4. The Holy Spirit’s ministry in the present Church Age is to glorify Jesus Christ (John 16:14); to convict (John 16:8), indwell (1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 5:18), guide, or lead us to all truth (John 16:13); and to empower believers to live godly and holy lives (Galatians 5:16-26). It is the Holy Spirit who regenerates the unbeliever (Titus 3:5) and gives spiritual sight to the spiritually blind (1 Corinthians 2:9-12). The Holy Spirit is not merely an influence but rather is God Himself (Acts 5:3-4), residing in believers who are thus the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16).
5. All people are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). Mankind fell when Adam, the federal head of the human race (1 Corinthians 15:22), rebelled and sinned against God (Romans 5:12; Genesis 5:1-3). Thus all men are born lost, separated from God. Man can only be restored to fellowship with God by the regeneration of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5) and thus have salvation and fellowship with God by that new birth (John 3:3-8). Therefore, we conclude that all men are in need of becoming new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17) in Christ Jesus, for all sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
6. Salvation is totally a work of God in grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). The shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only grounds for justification (Romans 4:25) and salvation (Romans 5:9) for all who believe. Only those who receive Jesus Christ are born of the Holy Spirit (John 3:5-6) and thus become children of God (1 John 3:1). One’s salvation is eternal (John 10:29). Salvation commences sanctification in every believer; ultimate sanctification comes when the believer is glorified in heaven (Romans 8:29).
7. Water baptism (Acts 2:41) and the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-26) are ordinances to be observed by the church during the present age. However, they are not to be regarded as a means for salvation.
8. The New Testament Church is the universal, worldwide body of born again (John 3:3-8), Spirit-indwelt believers (1 Corinthians 6:19) in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is their Head (Colossians 1:18). The Church, the bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:25-27), began at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) and will be completed and removed from the earth at the Rapture, when Jesus Christ comes for her (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).
9. Only those who are regenerated through the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:3-5), through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9), and are thus members of the universal church shall be eligible for membership in the local church (1 Corinthians 12:13).
10. With Jesus Christ as the Lord and True Head (Ephesians 1:22-23) of the local church, the local church then has the right, under Christ, to decide its own affairs (1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 4:12-16).
11. We believe in the personal (Zechariah 14:1-4), bodily and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:3; Matthew 24:27-31). The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope (Titus 2:13), motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission (1 John 3:2-3).
12. The dead will be bodily resurrected: the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord; the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting conscious punishment (1 Corinthians 15:35-55; Revelation 20:11-15).
13. God created man (Genesis 1:26-28) and woman after His own image (Genesis 2:18-24), and that God has ordained marriage (Malachi 2:15-16), consisting of one man and one woman (Mark 10:5-9), to be the foundation of the family (Ephesians 5:21-33) and to be the only legitimate and Godly expression of sexuality (I Corinthians 7:2-5, Hebrews 13:4).