WHAT WE BELIEVE
THE WORD OF GOD
We believe that the Bible, comprised of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, is God’s Word to
all people. It was written by human authors under the supernatural control of the Holy Spirit and is the
supreme and final authority for all belief and living. Because it is inspired by God (God-breathed), it is, in the
original manuscripts, truth with no error.
Psalm 19:7; Psalm 119:105-160; Proverbs 30:5; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 5:18 John 17:17; Romans 15:4;
2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Hebrews 1:1
THE TRINITY
We believe in the one God who exists eternally as three divine persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each
having the same nature, attributes, and divine perfections that are worthy of the same worship, obedience,
and confidence.
Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-2, 14; John 10:30; John 14:15-17;
Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 5:7
GOD, THE FATHER
We believe in God, the Father, an infinite personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We
believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of people, that He hears and answers prayer, that
He first draws and then saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ, the Son.
Exodus 20:5; Exodus 34:6-7; Numbers 14:18; Matthew 23:9; Luke 10:21-22; John 3:16; John 6:37; John 6:44;
John 17:5; Romans 1:7; Ephesian 4:6; 1 Timothy 1:1-2; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 1 Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:6
GOD, THE SON
We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He was conceived by
the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, and is the only man who was born sinless and lived a sinless human life. As
fully God and fully man, He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of humankind by dying on a
cross. His physical resurrection from the dead on the third day after His crucifixion demonstrated His power
over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and intercedes on behalf of His own. He is seated on the
right hand of the Father to show a finished and complete work of salvation. He will return again to earth to
reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:22-23; Luke 1:30-35; John 1:1-5; John 1:10-14; John 14:6-30; Acts 1:9-11;
Romans 1:3-4; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 2:9; Colossians 3:1; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 1
Timothy 6:14-15; Hebrews 1:1-3; Hebrews 4:14–15; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1; 1 John 1:7
GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Holy Spirit, equal with the Father and the Son. He is present in the world to make people
aware of their need for, and to point to, Jesus Christ. He lives within every Christian from the moment of
salvation. He provides the Christian with power for righteous living, understanding of spiritual truth, and
guidance in doing what is right. He grants spiritual gifts to believers for the purpose of building up the
church. The Christian seeks to daily live under His control.
John 3:5; John 14:16-17; John 16:7-13; Acts 1:8; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 8:14-17; Romans 8:26; Romans 12:5-8; 1
Corinthians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Corinthians 12:1-7; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 2
Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 4:30; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Peter 4:10-11
HUMANKIND
We believe humans were created in the image of God, to be like Him in character, yet sinned and
consequently are sinful in nature. Thus, all people are alienated from God and in need of salvation to
reconcile them to Him.
Humankind was created to exist forever. People will exist eternally, either separated from God by sin or in
union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is to experience
eternal conscious torment in Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is to experience eternal life in Heaven.
Heaven and Hell are literal places of eternal existence.
Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 51:5; Isaiah 53:6a; Isaiah 59:1-2; John 3:16; Romans 3:9-18, 23; Romans 6:23; 1
Corinthians 15:21-22; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 John 2:25; 1 John 5:11-13; Revelation 20:15
We believe that God created humans as male and female by nature and therefore any contrary expression of
sexuality and gender is outside of His good design.
We believe that He has ordained marriage as the joining of one biological man to one biological woman
for life. He created intimate sexual activity for mutual satisfaction and procreation within the security and
commitment of this exclusive one-flesh bond.
Genesis 1:27-28; Genesis 2:24; Genesis 19:5-7,13; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-29; Romans 7:2; 1
Corinthians 5:1; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Corinthians 7:10; Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4
SALVATION
We believe that all people are sinners by nature and by choice, and are therefore, under condemnation but
that salvation is God’s free gift to all persons who repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ’s death and
resurrection. The believer is thus forgiven of their sin, declared righteous, justified before God, and granted
eternal life. No act of Christian obedience, performed prior to or following one’s trusting in Christ, may be
considered as a condition of eternal salvation. Salvation cannot be lost or taken away from a Christian.
Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ by faith.
John 3:16-18; John 4:10; John 6:47; John 10:28-29; Acts 4:12; Acts 16:31; Romans 4:5; Romans 8:31-39;
Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Revelation 22:17
THE CHURCH
We believe in the universal Church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all saved persons
are members.
We believe in the local church, consisting of a community of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible
profession of faith, and associated for worship, prayer, works of service, and fellowship. The local church
is the primary instrument for the shepherding, caring, equipping, and sending of believers to bring Jesus
to our world. God has placed the task of building disciples, the followers of Jesus Christ, is laid upon the
members of the local church.
Matthew 16:16-18; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38-41; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 2:19-22; Ephesians 5:19-21;
Ephesians 5:25-27; Hebrews 10:23-25
THE ORDINANCES
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has instituted two ordinances in the local church, Baptism by
immersion and the Lord’s Supper, to be observed commemorating Christ’s works for the Church. Baptism
is practiced by individual believers as a symbolic and public expression of their personal identification with
Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. The Lord’s Supper, practiced corporately through partaking
of the bread and the fruit of the vine, is a symbolic reminder of Christ’s provision for salvation. These acts,
however, are not to be regarded as a means of salvation.
Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 8:12; Acts 8:35-38; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29; Ephesians 2:8-9
CHRISTIAN CONDUCT
We believe that Christians should live for the glory of God and the well-being of others; that they should
strive to be blameless; that they should be faithful stewards of their time, talents, and treasures; and that
they should seek to be conformed to the image of Christ.
Matthew 25:14-30; 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8; Ephesians 4:11-16; Philippians 2:14-16;
Colossians 3:17-23
THE END TIMES
We believe that the return of Christ for the Church could occur at any moment. This “blessed hope” has a
vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the
personal, physical, and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth for the establishment of His Kingdom,
and the judgment of the living and the dead – the wicked to eternal torment and the righteous to eternity
with Him. He will create a new heaven and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Isaiah 65:17; Isaiah 66:22; Zechariah 14:2-4; John 5:28-29; John 14:1-3; Acts 24:15; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52;
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:11-14; 2 Peter 3:13; 1 John 3:2-3; Revelation 19:11-16;
Revelation 20:11-15
