What we believe

We believe that the Bible is the written revelation of God to man. The Bible is inspired, infallible, sufficient, and without error. The Bible is to be our only rule of faith and practice (2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Matthew 5:18; John 10:35; Hebrews 4:12; Psalm 19:7-11; Psalm 119).

We believe that there is only one living and true God, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth, worthy of all praise and glory; and that He is revealed to us in Scripture in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is three persons, one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19).

We believe that God created all things in six literal days, the earth is young, and all things were created for His glory (Genesis 1-3; Exodus 20:11, Colossians 1:15-18).

We believe that God created man in His image. Man was created free of sin but, by voluntary sin, fell from that holy and happy state into a depraved condition of spiritual death. In consequence of which, all mankind is now sinful by nature and by choice. Man, left to his own, is lost in sin, unable to save himself, and is under just condemnation to eternal ruin (Genesis 2:7, 15-25; Genesis 3:1-19; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3).

We believe that Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity. We believe that Jesus is the eternal Word through Whom and for Whom all things were made. He is the unique and solitary Savior in Who alone there is redemption and forgiveness of sin. The Bible proclaims salvation through Jesus Christ and no other. In His incarnation—an event in historical space and time—Jesus Christ was the perfect union of the human and divine. He was truly God and truly man. In His incarnation Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, without sin, and He remained sinless though out His earthly life. He was crucified, died, and was buried. On the third day, he rose from the dead. He ascended to the Father and now rules as King and Judge. He reigns as the Head of the church. He will consummate the age by His physical return to earth as Lord and King (John 1:1-18; Colossians 1:15-18; Hebrews 1:2; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; I Corinthians 15; Acts 1:9-11).

We believe that all people are sinners and, therefore, are in need of salvation. We believe that the salvation of sinners is all of grace through the person and work of Jesus Christ who took upon Himself our nature, yet was without sin. He honored the law by His personal obedience and made atonement for the sins of His people by His death on the cross. Salvation is accomplished through the life, death, and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus is now enthroned in heaven where He serves as our sympathetic High Priest, the all-sufficient Savior to those who believe (Ephesians 2:1-22; Isaiah 53:6; John 1:1,14; John 3:16; Matthew 28:19; Hebrews 4:14).

We believe that justification consists of the pardon of sin and the promise of eternal life to those who believe on Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We believe that justification is God declaring repentant sinners righteous based on the righteousness of Jesus Christ alone. It is not based on any works of righteousness that man has done. The Christian’s sin debt is paid by Christ, and the righteousness of Christ is imputed to the repentant believer by the grace of God (Romans 5:1; James 2:23; Romans 4:22-25; Ephesians 2:8-10).

We believe that salvation from sin and to eternal life is offered freely, and that it is the immediate duty of man to repent of his sin and place faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Acts 3:19).

We believe that in order to be saved we must be regenerated, or born again; regeneration consists of the awakening of the heart and mind of the spiritually dead sinner. The Holy Spirit affects this awakening by His grace and power so as to secure voluntary repentance of sin and faith in Christ Jesus. The evidence of regeneration is found in the changed life of the sinner who has been awakened to the grace of God and now walks in newness of life (John 3:3-7; Ephesians 2:10).

We believe that election is the act of God by which, before the foundation of the world, He chose in Christ those whom He would graciously regenerate, save, and sanctify. We believe that election does not contradict nor negate the responsibility of man to repent and to trust Christ as Savior and Lord. All whom the Father calls to Himself will come in faith, and all that come in faith the Father will receive. The doctrine of election encourages humility, prayer, praise, and confidence. As well, God’s election of undeserving sinners is compelling motivation to preach the gospel to all people (Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 1:4-11; I Thessalonians 2:13; Ezekiel 18:23, 32; John 3:18-19; 6:37-40, 44; Romans 10:9-15).

We believe that true believers are eternally preserved by the grace of God and kept from falling from a state of grace by God. Those undeserving sinners who God elected and Jesus died for are called by God, justified by God, and glorified by God to the praise of God. Not one of the true sheep of Christ will ever be lost from God. Salvation is secure because salvation is of the Lord (John 5:24. John 6:37-50; John 10:27-30; Romans 5:9-10; Romans 8:1, 28-29).

We believe that Christians should separate themselves from sin. Out of deep gratitude for the grace of God and because God is worthy of total consecration, all the saved should live in such a manner as to demonstrate adoring love to God and should fear bringing reproach on His name. Believers should be separated unto our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 12:1-2; I Corinthians 5:9-13; I Corinthians 6:14-7:1).

We believe that those who place faith in Jesus Christ are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into one spiritual body, the Church, of which Christ is the head (I Corinthians 12:12-13, Ephesians 1:22, 4:15, Colossians 1:18).

We believe that the establishment and continuity of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament, and that members of the one spiritual body are directed to associate themselves together in local assemblies (Acts 14:23, 27; Acts 20:17,28, Philippians 1:1; I Corinthians 11:18-20; Hebrews 10:25).

We believe that Christ is the supreme authority for the church. He is the head of the church, and church leadership, gifts, order, discipline, and worship are all appointed through Christ. Christ makes His will known through the Bible (Ephesians 1:22, Colossians 1:18).

We believe that the Biblically designated officers serving under Christ and over the assembly (in the case of elders) are elders (men who are also called bishops, overseers, and pastors), and deacons. Elders and deacons must meet the Biblical qualifications. The leaders are to lead as servants of Christ, and the entire congregation is to be submissive to Biblical leadership (I Timothy 3:1-13; Acts 20:28; Titus 1:5-9; I Peter 5:1-4; Hebrews 13:17).

We believe in discipleship and mutual accountability to one another as well as the need for discipline of sinning members (Matthew 28:19-20; Matthew 18:5-14; Matthew 18:15-22).

We believe that the purpose of the church is to glorify God (Ephesians 3:21).

We believe that two ordinances have been committed to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Christian baptism by immersion is the testimony of a believer showing forth his faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Lord, and it is symbolic of his union with Him in death to sin and resurrection to a new life. It is also a sign of fellowship and identification with the visible body of Christ (Acts 2:38-42; Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:1-11).

The Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of His death until He comes, and it should always be preceded by serious self-examination. We believe that, while the elements of communion are only representative of the flesh and blood of Christ, the Lord’s Supper is nevertheless an actual communion with the risen Savior (I Corinthians 11:28-32; I Corinthians 10:16).

We believe that members of a local assembly should faithfully attend the services of that assembly and are to be faithful in discipleship, worship, missions, financial stewardship, and evangelism. Each congregational gathering is an opportunity to encourage love and faithfulness among fellow members (Hebrews 10:25).

We believe in the doctrine of the Lord’s Day. The Lord’s Day is a day devoted to the Lord and provides opportunity for worship, study, deeds of mercy, and witness (Revelation 1:10; Acts 2).

We believe that Satan is a created angel and the author of sin. He incurred the judgment of God by rebelling against his Creator, by taking numerous angels with him in his fall, and by introducing sin into the human race by his temptation of Eve in the Garden of Eden. Satan is the open and declared enemy of God and man, the prince of this world, who has been defeated through the death and resurrection of Jesus, and he shall be eternally punished in the lake of fire (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 12:9-10; Genesis 3:1-15; Matthew 4:1-11; Romans 16:20; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10).

We believe that at death the soul of the redeemed passes immediately into the presence of Christ, that there is a separation of soul and body, and that, for the redeemed, such separation will continue until the first resurrection when soul and body will be reunited to be glorified forever with our Lord. Until that time, the souls of the redeemed in Christ remain in joyful fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:23; I Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:21-24; I Thessalonians 4:13-17; Revelation 20:4-6; Philippians 3:21; I Corinthians 15:35-44; 50-54; I Corinthians 5:8).

We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men; the saved to life eternal and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (John 6:39; Romans 8:10-11; 19-23; I Corinthians 4:14; Daniel 12:2; John 5:29; Revelation 20:13-15).

We believe that Jesus Christ will bodily and visibly return to the earth with His saints. He will be recognized as King of Kings and the Lord of Lords (Revelation 1:7. 19:11-16; Acts 1:9-11).

We believe that the saved will ultimately enter the eternal state of glory with God and will dwell forever in the heavenly city where they will enjoy fellowship with God and one another forever. Our Lord Jesus Christ, having fulfilled His redemptive mission, will then deliver the kingdom to God the Father, and that in all spheres the triune God will reign and be praised (Revelation 21:2; John 17:3; Revelation 21,22; I Corinthians 15:24-28).