What We Believe

There is one eternally existing God who has three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He is the creator of all that exists, both visible and invisible, and is therefore worthy of all glory and praise.  God is perfect in love, power, holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom,  justice, and mercy. He is unchangeable and therefore is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

(Genesis 1:1, 26-27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Jesus is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ and His virgin birth. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on the cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven's glory and will return to restore all things.

(Matthew 1:22, 23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14, 15; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; Romans 1:3, 4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14, 15; Titus 2:13)

The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make everyone aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily.

(John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13, 5:1; Galatians 5:25)

The Bible is God’s Word. Through the Bible, God reveals Himself – His character and His will – to human beings. Penned by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Bible is truth and without error in what it intends to say.  As such, the Bible is the supreme source of truth for what Christians believe and how we live. When properly understood and practiced, the Bible defines love and leads us to love God and people.

(Psalm 12:6, 105, 119, 160; Proverbs 30:52; Ma hew 22:37-40; Timothy 1:13, 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

Human beings are made in the image of God (e.g. spiritually, visually, and emotionally). As image-bearers of God, every person matters to God. We are God’s supreme purpose for creation. Yet, because of Adam’s sin, we are a fallen people. Human beings will always be bent toward fighting God.

Sin separates mankind from God. Therefore, everyone needs a supernatural Savior.

(Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; Isaiah 59:1-2; John 3:16; Romans 3:23)

People will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.

(John 3:16; John 14:17; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:17-18; Revelation 20:15; 1 Corinthians 2:7-9)

Salvation—the forgiveness of sins and a restored relationship with God—is only possible by the grace of God through the blood of Jesus Christ. Salvation is a gift from God. That the Bible commands those seeking salvation to turn from sin, put their faith in Jesus, confess Christ as Lord, and be baptized into Christ's death and resurrection.

(Acts 15:11; John 14:6, 1:12; Romans 5:1, 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:26).

Jesus Christ is returning one day to judge both the living and the dead and to usher in the fullness of God's kingdom on earth.

(1 Corinthians 15:42; 1 Thessalonians 4:16;
Revelation 20:1-15)

Baptism by immersion symbolizes and identifies us with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Baptism was commanded by Jesus and practiced by the New Testament church. Biblically, whenever someone believed and repented, they were baptized.

(Matthew 3:16, 28:19-20; Mark 16:16; John 3:23; Colossians 2:12; Acts 8:36, 9:18, 16:13-15; Ephesians 4:4-6)

Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, is an ordinance given to all believers by Jesus Christ who regularly remember His sacrifice for us and to symbolize the new covenant. The elements of bread and juice are symbols of Christ’s body and shed blood. We celebrate communion weekly.

(Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19-20;
1 Corinthians 11:23-29)

The sovereignty of God as it applies to Him being omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient, but also believing in man’s God-given free will.  Our free choice cannot violate God’s sovereignty, and God’s sovereignty will not violate our free choice.

(Hebrews 10:26; 1 Corinthians 9:17; 1 Corinthians 15:10;
Proverbs 16:9)

(Acts 15:11; John 14:6, 1:12; Romans 5:1, 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:26).

God, the Creator, designed marriage for our good. As Creator, He, alone, is qualified to define marriage. Biblical marriage is defined as uniting one man and one woman in a covenant relationship for life. Marriage between a man and a woman provides the biblical framework for unique companionship, sexual intimacy, and the means for procreation. All other sexual activities (e.g., premarital sex, adultery, homosexual practices, and polygamy) are outside God’s will and, therefore, destructive.
God considers all destructive behavior sin.

(Genesis 2.24; Malachi 2:16; Matthew 19:4-6)