WHAT WE BELIEVE
Although our methods of communicating the truths of God’s Word may change, our message remains unchanged. As you read these statements of faith, realize that these statements do not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible is the sole and final source of all that we believe and teach.
GOD We believe in One eternally existing God who created all things and by whom all things exist. God has revealed Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being.(Deuteronomy 6:4; John 1:1-14; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6; John 10:30)
THE BIBLE We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God. The Holy Bible, and only the Bible, is the authoritative Word of God. It alone is the Final authority in determining all doctrinal truths. We accept the Scriptures as the Final authority in all matters of faith and conduct.(2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Proverbs 30:5; Romans 16:25-26)
JESUS CHRIST We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, was crucified on Calvary for our sins, and bodily rose from the dead; and the he has been exalted to the throne of God where he is the only mediator between God and man. He alone is Lord and Savior. We believe that through his death, burial and resurrection we have personal salvation and power for victorious living.(Colossians 1:15-18; 1 Timothy 3:16; John 1:1,14, 14:6; 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Philippians 2:5-6; 1 Timothy 2:5; Acts 4:12; Revelation 1:8)
SALVATION We believe that all have sinned and stand in need of redemption, which is received by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection. Those repenting of sin and being born again become children of God. Salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our good works or of any human efforts.(Ephesians 2:8-9; John 1:11-13; 3:1-9,15-18; Galatians 2:16, 3:8; Titus 3:5; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 16:31; Hebrews 9:22, Romans 3:21-24)
REPENTANCE We believe that all people are called to repent. Repentance is a commitment to turn away from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Jesus fully.(Acts 2:38, 17:30; Matthew 3:1-2; Isaiah 55:7-7)
WATER BAPTISM We believe that following faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, new believers are commanded by the Word of God to be baptized in water in the Name of the Lord. Water baptism is an act of obedience identifying with Jesus in death to sin, burial of the old nature, and resurrection to new life.(Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38, 8:12, 16, 36-38, 10:48, 16:33, 19:5, 22:16; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12)
HOLY SPIRIT We believe that the Holy Spirit is active in the world today and that the baptism of the Holy Spirit and His accompanying gifts and the life characteristics produced by His indwelling, are the privileges of all New Testament believers. Jesus spoke of two types of baptism-water baptism and Spirit baptism. Jesus Himself was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. After His water baptism, the Spirit descended upon Jesus. We should follow the example of Jesus and be baptized in water and in the Holy Spirit. (Mark 1:7-11; John 14:16-18; Acts 1:5, 8, 2:1-4, 38-39, 4:31, 8:17, 10:44-45, 19:6; Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 61:1, Matthew 28:19, Luke 1:35, John 5:21-23, John 14:10, John 14:16, Romans 8:9-11, 1 Corinthians 8:6, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Hebrews 1:8-10, James 2:19)
HOLY LIVING Holiness is God’s standard of living for His people. We may stumble along our path, but as born-again believers, we should always pursue a life of purity and righteousness. This is an ongoing process and it is through the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.(1 Thessalonians 4:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, Romans 8:29, Romans 12:1-2, Hebrews 2:11)
THE CHURCH We believe the church has been called out of the world to be a group of people who follow Jesus Christ fully and love one another sacrificially. We believe the church, through the power of the Holy Spirit, is called to affect genuine spiritual change in the community. We believe the local church is the hope of the world! The church is called to be one group of people made up of many members, all using their talents and abilities for the cause of Christ.(Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 5:20; Hebrews 10:23-25; Acts 2:42-47, 17:6, 1 Peter 2:5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-26)
THE SECOND COMING We believe in the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgement and the ultimate victory of the eternal Kingdom of God. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the scriptures. We await his return.(Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelation 1:7)