Our Beliefs

THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT LAY OUT DISTINCTIVE BELIEFS, BUT RATHER ESSENTIALS.

THESE ARE HISTORIC CHRISTIAN BELIEFS COMMON TO ALL TRUE BELIEVERS AND CHURCHES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

1. GOD:

There is one God, Creator and Lord of the universe, who exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three persons are equal in power, glory and divine perfection, and are worthy of worship and obedience.

2. THE BIBLE:

The Bible, consisting of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments alone, is self-attesting and, being Truth, requires our unreserved submission in all areas of life. Uniquely and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, the Bible is the supreme and final authority on all matters on which it speaks. It is the inspired, revealed, inerrant word of God, and is our full and final authority, sufficient in all matters of faith and practice.

3. THE HUMAN RACE:

All men and women are created in the image of God with equal and inherent value and dignity, yet through Adam’s disobedience and our own personal choice, are sinners, alienated from God, under his condemnation and wrath, and thus in need of redemption. Men and women are also created in complementary distinctiveness, which ought to be reflected and observed in the family and the church.

4. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST:

Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life and died in the place of sinners on the cross, thereby accomplishing redemption by bearing the punishment and wrath for all who believe in him. He rose bodily from the dead and ascended to heaven where, as the only mediator between God and man, He intercedes for his people, and from where he will return in power and glory.

5. THE GOSPEL:

The gospel is the articulable message of the historical facts of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension. This message is the power of God unto salvation. While the effects and implications of the gospel, when believed by a person, will work themselves out in that believer’s life, these effects are not themselves the gospel. The gospel must be verbally expressed (“preached,” in Rom. 10:14) in order for sinners to “hear” and be saved; all other expressions of the gospel—visual, theatrical, etc.—are secondary to this primary means.

6. SALVATION:

Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone. It has been accomplished by Jesus Christ, and is offered to all in the proclamation of the gospel. All who repent and believe are forgiven, justified, and made new creatures in Christ. They are born of the Holy Spirit, sealed by the Holy Spirit, and receive the gift of eternal life and adoption into God’s family.

7. THE HOLY SPIRIT:

The Holy Spirit has been sent from heaven to glorify Christ and to apply his work of salvation.  He convicts sinners, imparts spiritual life and gives a true understanding of the Scriptures. He indwells all believers, distributes spiritual gifts, brings assurance of salvation and produces increasing likeness to Christ.  He builds up the church and empowers its members for worship, service and mission.

8. THE CHURCH:

The Church is the one holy and universal body and bride of Christ. Composed of all who are redeemed through the work of Christ, she is called to worship God and to witness concerning her head, Jesus Christ.  The local church, which is the visible yet imperfect expression of the church universal, proclaims, values, and submits to the whole counsel of the Word of God, administers baptism and the Lord’s Supper as signs of the gospel, and exercises spiritual authority to care for her members and fulfill her mission of making disciples of all nations.  Unity is expressed within and between churches by mutual love, care and encouragement. True fellowship between churches exists only where they are faithful to preach the gospel and live out its effects.

9. BAPTISM + THE LORD'S SUPPER:

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper have been given to the church by Christ as visible signs of the gospel. Baptism is a symbol of cleansing from sin, union with Christ, and entry into his Church but does not impart spiritual life. The Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of Christ’s sacrifice offered once for all. All its blessings are received by faith.

10. THE RETURN OF CHRIST + THE FUTURE:

Jesus Christ will return personally, visibly and bodily in glory to raise the dead and bring salvation and judgment to completion. Those joined to Christ by faith will be brought into fullness of eternal life and joy in Christ, but those alienated from Christ will experience eternal, conscious torment in hell.  God will establish his kingdom fully with a new heaven and new earth, in which he will be glorified forever, having triumphed over all evil, suffering, and death.