OUR PURPOSE
OUR HISTORY
OUR STATEMENT OF FAITH
What We Believe About the Bible
We believe the Holy Bible was written by men, divinely inspired. It is God’s revelation of Himself to man and a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction. [1] It consists of sixty-six books, Old and New Testament, and is without error in the original writings. [2] The Holy Bible has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth for its matter. [3] It is the true center of Christian unity and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be evaluated. [4] All Scripture is true, trustworthy, and a testimony to Jesus Christ. [5] It is the final authority for all Christian faith and life. [6]
[1] Exodus 24:4; Psalm 19:7-11; 2 Peter 1:19-21; 2 Timothy 3:14-17
[2] Romans 3:2; Galatians 1:8-9; Revelation 22:18-19
[3] 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Romans 16:25-27; John 16:13-14; 17:17
[4] Ephesians 2:20-22; 4:3-6; Matthew 22:29; Acts 17:11; 28:23
[5] 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; John 5:39
What We Believe About God
We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. [7] We believe that each Person of the Godhead is equal in essence and perfection, [8] and each executes distinct and harmonious roles in the great work of redemption. [9]
[7] Jeremiah 10:10; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 83:18; 147:5; John 4:24; 15:26; Matthew 28:19
[8] John 10:17,30; 14:23; 17:5,10; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 2:10-11; Philippians 2:5-6
God the Father
We believe in God the Father, Creator of Heaven and Earth, [10] omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, immutable, perfect in holiness, [11] and rightfully deserving of all worship. [12] He concerns Himself mercifully with the affairs of men, [13] He hears and answers prayer, [14] and He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. [15]
[10] Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 3:4; Romans 1:20; Hebrews 11:3
[11] Psalm 139; Exodus 15:11; Isaiah 6:3; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:8
[12] Mark 12:30; Revelation 4:11
[13] Psalm 8:3-5
[14] Psalm 4:3; 1 John 5:14-15
God the Son
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, [16] through whom all things came into being, and in whom all things are held together. [17] He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, [18] and is fully God and fully man. [19] Through His sinless life, He fulfilled the divine law, and in His substitutionary death on the cross, fully paid for the sins of every single person who would ever believe on Him. [20] We believe in His bodily resurrection, [21] His ascension into heaven, [22] His high priestly intercession for His people, and His literal return. [23]
[16] John 1:14; 3:16a
[17] John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17
[18] Matthew 1:18,23-25
[19] John 1:1-2,14,18; Philippians 2:6-7
[20] Hebrews 4:15; 7:25-27; 2 Corinthians 5:21
[21] Romans 6:9; 1 Corinthians 15:4
[22] Acts 1:9; Colossians 3:1
God the Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who inspired men of old to write the Scriptures, enables people to understand the truth, and who exalts Christ. [24] He convicts people of sin, righteousness, and judgment, [25] adopts, seals, sanctifies, comforts, regenerates, [26] and gifts each believer to build up the Church, the Body of Christ. [27]
[24] 2 Peter 1:20-21; John 14:26; 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:13; John 16:14
[25] John 16:8-11
[26] Romans 8:15-16; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Acts 9:31; Titus 3:5
What We Believe About People
We believe that man was created in the image of God. [28] He sinned by disobeying God’s law and incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. [29] Therefore, all people are sinners by nature and by choice, totally void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil, and under the just condemnation of God without defense or excuse. [30]
[28] Genesis 1:26-27
[29] Genesis 2:15-17; 3:6; Romans 5:12
[30] Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:10-12,18,23; Ephesians 2:1-3
What We Believe About Salvation
We believe the way of salvation is only through the grace of Jesus Christ. [31] He took upon Himself our nature, yet was without sin, fulfilled God’s law by His perfect obedience, and through His death on the cross made full atonement for our sins. [32]
We believe the great blessing of salvation is justification, which pardons all sin and declares a person righteous in the sight of God. [33]
We believe salvation is a gift from God that cannot be earned, only received, by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. [34]
We believe salvation is made free to all by the gospel, [35] and it is the immediate duty of all to accept it through repentance and faith. [36] Nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth except his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel. [37]
We believe that to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, be born again. This is the work of the Holy Spirit who through the Word of God imparts spiritual life to the sinner. [38] This secures our voluntary obedience to the gospel which is evidenced by the fruits of repentance, faith, newness of life, and growth in Christlikeness. [39]
We believe that salvation includes our adoption by the Holy Spirit into the family of God making us children of God, [40] as well as, our guarantee to persevere until the end. [41]
[31] John 14:6
[32] Philippians 2:6-8; Hebrews 9:15; Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21
[33] Acts 13:39; Romans 5:1,9; 8:1
[34] Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 6:23
[35] John 3:16; Romans 1:16; 10:12-17
[36] Acts 2:37-38; 16:30-31; 2 Peter 3:9
[37] Matthew 11:20; John 3:19; Romans 1:18
[38] Ezekiel 36:26; John 3:3-8; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 1:23
[39] John 6:37; Ephesians 2:4-5; Galatians 5:16-24; Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18
[40] John 1:12; Romans 8:14-17
What We Believe About the Church
We believe the Church is the Body of Christ consisting of all redeemed believers from all ages, from every tribe, language, people, and nation. [42]
We believe every Christian should covenant with a local church to gather regularly, [43] observe the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, [44] and help one another conform to the image of Christ through worship, prayer, instruction, fellowship, and ministry. [45]
We believe the Church is responsible for sharing the gospel with the whole world, and the natural effect of the Church is human betterment and social improvement. [46]
[42] Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12:13, 24b-27; Revelation 7:9-10
[43] Ephesians 2:19-21; John 13:34-35; Hebrews 10:24-25; Acts 2:42
[44] Matthew 28:18-19; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17
[45] Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; James 5:16; Galatians 6:2; 1 Corinthians 12:7; Ephesians 4:11-16
[46] Acts 1:8; 2:44-47; Mark 16:15; 1 Peter 4:9-11
What We Believe About Baptism
We believe Christian baptism symbolizes salvation and is a necessary act of obedience that testifies to the regenerative work of the Holy Spirit. [47] It represents justification by faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior. It illustrates purification from all sin, death to sin, and resurrection to a new life in Christ. It signifies spiritual immersion in Christ, uniting with Him to participate in all His sufferings and blessings. [48] Baptism should immediately follow repentance, [49] and be administered by immersion in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. [50] It is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and the Lord’s Supper. [51]
[47] Ephesians 4:4-5; Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21; 1 Corinthians 1:17; Titus 3:5
[48] Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:11-13; Galatians 3:27; Mark 10:39; Luke 12:50; 2 Corinthians 1:5; Ephesians 1:3
[49] Acts 2:37-39; 8:35-36; 10:46-48; 16:33
[50] Mark 1:9-11; Matthew 28:19; Acts 19:4-5
[51] Acts 2:41-42; 1 Corinthians 11:27
What We Believe About the Lord’s Supper
We believe the Lord’s Supper is communion with Christ, the bread and cup spiritually signifying the body and blood of Christ. [52] We regularly partake in this ordinance to memorialize the sacrificial love of Christ and to commune with covenant members of our church. [53] We prepare with solemn self-examination, confession of sin, and restoration of relationships. [54]
[52] Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:20-25; John 6:30-35; 48-58; 15:5
[53] 1 Corinthians 11:26; 10:16-17
What We Believe About Church Government
We believe Christ is the head of the Church, its supreme authority. [55] Every church is independent, autonomous, and free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority. [56] We are humbly led and served by a plurality of the only two scriptural offices: elders/overseers/pastors and deacons. [57]
[55] Matthew 23:8-12; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:15-16
[56] Titus 1:5; Acts 14:23; Acts 15:2,6,12,19,22
[57] 1 Timothy 3; Titus 1; 1 Peter 5:1-5; Hebrews 13:17
What We Believe About Civil Government
We believe that civil government is divinely appointed for the benefit and order of human society. [58] We live in submission to our government unless Scripture is violated. [59] We pray continuously for those in authority over us. [60]
[58] Romans 13:1-7
[59] Titus 3:1-2; 1 Peter 2:13-17; Exodus 1:20-21; Acts 5:27-29
[60] 1 Kings 3:9-10; 1 Timothy 2:1-4
What We Believe About Life After Death
We believe death returns our body to dust and delivers our soul to God. [61] The souls of the righteous are made perfect in holiness and enter God’s presence. [62] The souls of the wicked are imprisoned, tormented, and separated from God. [63] Until Judgment Day, all souls remain absent from the body, fully awake, and fixed in one of these two places. [64]
[61] Genesis 3:19; Acts 13:36; Ecclesiastes 12:7
[62] Hebrews 12:23; Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:17
[63] 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Jude 1:6-7; 1 Peter 3:19-20a; Luke 16:22-24
[64] Revelation 6:9-10; John 11:11; Luke 16:25-26
What We Believe About Judgment Day
We believe God has appointed a day for Jesus Christ to judge the living and the dead. [65] The righteous souls will receive resurrected, glorified, Christlike bodies and spend eternity with God. [66] The wicked souls will receive just condemnation for their evil deeds and spend eternity without God. [67]
We believe in the imminent, personal, visible return of Jesus Christ which exhorts Christians to be ready. [68] We will be held accountable for every thought, word, and deed. [69]
[65] Acts 10:42; 17:31; Matthew 25:31-32; John 5:27-29
[66] 1 Corinthians 5:1-2; 15:40,49; Philippians 3:20-21
[67] Matthew 16:27; 25:41-46; Revelation 20:11-15
[68] Matthew 24:44; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 5:2-4; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Luke 12:35-37; Revelation 22:20
[69] Ecclesiastes 12:14; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10-12; Matthew 25:37-40; 1 Corinthians 3:13-15; 2 Timothy 4:7-8