GOD

We believe there is one true and holy God. He has forever existed in three persons… the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit… each of whom is coequal, all of whom together are one God. God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. In the beginning God created out of nothing the world and all things in it, manifesting the glory of His power, wisdom and goodness, by speaking all things into existence. By His sovereign power He continues to sustain creation. By His providence He is operating through history to fulfill His redemptive purposes. God is good. He is for us and not against us. He does not use tragedy, sickness, or acts of nature to teach, tempt or test us.

Genesis 1:1, 26-27, 3:22 • Psalm 90:2 • Matthew 28:19
1 Peter 1:2 • James 1:13


JESUS CHRIST

Jesus Christ is the Son of God and is co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He united Himself forever with true human nature through a miraculous conception and virgin birth. He lived a perfect, sinless life of obedience to the Father. He voluntarily atoned for the sins of all people by dying on the cross as our substitute. After three days, He arose from the dead demonstrating His power over sin and death. Through His sacrifice and resurrection, He satisfied divine justice and accomplished salvation for all who trust in Him alone. After His resurrection, He ascended into Heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father as the only mediator between God and man, and He continually makes intercession for His own. He will come to earth again, personally and visibly, to consummate history and the eternal plan of God.

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


THE CHURCH

The result of a union with Jesus Christ is that all believers become members of His body – the church. There is one true, universal church comprised of all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The Scripture commands believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, observance of baptism and communion as the sacramental ordinances established by Jesus Christ, fellowship, service to the body through the development and use of talents and gifts, and outreach to the world. Wherever God’s people meet regularly in obedience to this command, there is a local expression of the church. Under the watch-care of elders and other supportive leadership, its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the one ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ.

Matthew 16:18 • Acts 2:42-47, Acts 20:28 • Romans 12:4-5
1Corinthians 6:15, 17 • Ephesians 5:23, 30 • Colossians 1:24


ETERNITY

People were created to exist forever. Our physical body will expire but our soul or spirit will live forever. Death seals the eternal destiny of each person. For all mankind, there will be a resurrection of the body into the spiritual world and a judgment that will determine the fate of each individual. We 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 God is Heaven. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.


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


SALVATION

Originally created to have fellowship with God, man defied Him, choosing to go his own independent way. Man was thus alienated from God and suffered the corruption of his nature, rendering him unable to please God. The fall took place at the beginning of human history and all individuals since have suffered these consequences and are in need of the saving grace of God. The salvation of mankind is, then, wholly a work of God’s free grace, not the result – in whole or in part – of human works of goodness. Salvation must be personally appropriated by repentance and faith. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. We are saved and eternal life begins the moment we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior by faith.

John 3:16 • John 1:12, 14:6 • Romans 5:1 • Romans 6:23 • Galatians 3:26 Ephesians 2:8-9 • Titus 3:5


ETERNAL SECURITY

Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior you can not lose your salvation. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by any self-effort (works) of the individual. It is by your confession and your belief in Jesus Christ that you are saved. Since your works (good or bad) had no place in getting you saved, your works (good or bad) can not get you unsaved.

John 10:27-30 • Romans 10:9-10 • Ephesians 2:8-9


BAPTISM

Baptism is an outward expression of an inward change that has occurred in the life of the believer. It is identification with Christ by bearing witness of His death, burial, and resurrection. It is the first command a new Christian is given from Jesus.

Matthew 28:19 • Romans 6:1-8


COMMUNION (THE LORD’S SUPPER)

The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience for the believer that memorializes the death and anticipated return of Jesus through the partaking of the bread (His body) and the wine (his blood).

Matthew 26:26-29 • Mark 14:22-25 • Luke 22:14-20


THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe the gifts of the Holy Spirit are made available to those who desire to receive them. We believe that not all will be baptized by the Holy Spirit (through the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues), but all those who desire the baptism shall receive. We believe that the believer is indwelled with the Holy Spirit at the time of salvation. We believe the baptism of the Holy Spirit as described in the Book of Acts endues the individual believer with power and boldness. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a gift, not a measure of one’s salvation, just as water baptism is an expression of our salvation not a condition to seal our salvation.