|
THE BIBLE
We believe that the Bible is God's Word; that it was inspired by God as holy men of God were moved by the Holy Spirit.
We believe that the Bible is infallible and without error in the original manuscripts, and that it is sufficient for it alone
has authority over all issues of faith and practice.
(2 Tim. 3:16-17, 2 Pet. 1:20-21, Mark 13:31, John 8:31-32, John 17:17, John 20:31, Acts 20:32)
THE TRINITY
We believe that there is one living and true God, who reveals Himself in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe that all three members of the Godhead have existed together from all eternity and are equal in holiness, power,
wisdom, and authority. However, we believe that each Member has distinct roles in which they function in creation, providence,
and salvation.
(Gen.1:1, 26, John1:1, Isa.6:8, Matt.28:19, John 4:24, Acts 5:3-4, Romans 1:19-20, Eph. 4:4-6)
GOD, THE FATHER
We believe that God the Father is the Sovereign Creator of the universe, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe that
He is perfectly holy, righteous, merciful, and loving. We believe that he is the One to whom all men must give account for
their lives and that He hears the prayers of His children and saves all who would come to Him through faith in Jesus Christ.
(Matt.6:9, Matt. 23:9, Isaiah 6:3, Romans 1:7, 1 Pet.1:3, Heb. 4:13, Eph. 2:4-5, Rev. 1:6)
GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is fully God and that He was sent forth from the Father and Jesus Christ when Jesus ascended
to heaven. We believe that he convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. We believe that He regenerates men
so that they will believe the Gospel and repent unto God. We believe that He indwells, seals, guides, counsels, and empowers
every believer in Jesus Christ. We believe that He gives all believers the power to be witnesses, both in word and deed,
to the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Acts 5:3-4, John 14:16-17, 26, John 16:7-14, John 3:3-5, Romans 8:2,9, 1 Cor. 3:16, 1 Cor. 6:19, Eph. 1:13-14, Gal. 5:22-26,
Acts 1:8)
GOD, THE SON, JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ was, is, and always will be fully God and that according to the will of the Godhead, He took
on the human form, thus being fully God and fully man at the same time. We believe that He was conceived of the Holy Spirit
in the womb of a virgin and thus was born without a sinful nature. We believe He lived a life of perfect obedience to His
Father's will, though He was tempted as all humans are. We believe that, on the cross of Calvary, he died as a substitution
for God's elect throughout the world, making the once for all, full payment for all of their sins. We believe that He was
buried and resurrected three days later, thereby defeating sin and death. We believe that He ascended into heaven where He
rules at the right hand of God the Father and is continually interceding for His people, and that He will visibly and bodily
return to earth.
(Matt. 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-38, John 1:1, John 20:28, Romans 9:5, 2 Cor. 5:21, 1 Pet. 2:21-23, John 20:30-31, Matt. 20:28,
Acts 1:11, Col. 1:15-20, Romans 5:6-8, Romans 6:9-10, 1 Tim. 3:16)
MAN
We believe that man is created in the image of God and therefore has a unique relationship with God above all the rest
of creation. We believe that the first man, Adam, sinned against God by disobeying His command; as a result of this disobedience,
death entered into the world and all men were brought under the just condemnation of God. We believe that all humans are
conceived in sin and are born spiritually dead. Left to themselves, they do not and cannot desire God, nor the things of
God. We believe that all men choose to sin against God because they are sinful by nature.
(Gen.1:26, Gen. 5:2, Gen. 2:17, Gen. 3:6-7, Romans 5:12, Romans 5:18a, Psalm 51:5, Eph. 2:1-2, James 1:14-16, Jerem. 17:9,
1 Cor. 2:14)
SALVATION
We believe that salvation is of the Lord, beginning to end. We believe that, according to the determined will of God,
individuals from every tribe, language, people and nation (ethnic group) will be saved (rescued from God’s wrath,
the punishment for their sins). We believe that Jesus Christ paid the full payment for their sins on the cross and rose to
life again for their justification. We believe that the Holy Spirit regenerates them and gives them the gifts of faith and
repentance so that they can be saved. We also believe that God will keep all those who truly come to Christ for salvation
until the end and will by no means cast them away from Himself for all eternity. Salvation and eternal life are free gifts
of God to His people. We believe that a person can be justified freely through faith alone in the saving work of Jesus Christ
on their behalf.
(Jonah 2:9, 2 Thes. 2:13, Rev. 5:9, Heb. 10:12-14, Romans 4:25, 1Thes. 1:4-6, John 3:3-5, 2 Tim. 2:25-26, John 5:24, John
10:26, John 6:37, John 6:44, Romans 8:1, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:1-2, John 3:16, John 3:19, John 5:19, Proverbs 28:13, John
1:12-13, 2 Cor. 5:17)
NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
We believe that justification is just the starting point of salvation in a person's life and that the normal Christian
life consists of the believer growing more and more in the character of Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit. We believe
that true faith is accompanied by works of service; the new life of God producing the fruit of the Spirit in a person's life.
We believe that all believers are to be laying aside sinful tendencies, that they are to be faithful stewards of the resources
that God has entrusted to them, and that they are to be growing in love for the people of God and for the Word of God. We
believe that God has given every born-again Christian spiritual gifts, which are to be used in order to build up the body
of Christ.
(1 Cor. 10:31, Romans 12:1-3, Heb. 12:1-2, John 14:15, John 14:23-24, 1 John 2:3-6, James 2:17-18, 2 Cor. 9:6-9, Matt.
25:14-30, 1 Cor. 4:2, 1 John 3:14, John 8:31-32, Col. 1:9-10, 1John 1:9, 1Cor. 12:7, Eph. 4:12-13)
THE CHURCH
We believe that the universal Church is a living, spiritual body of which Jesus Christ is the head, and of which every
regenerated believer throughout the world is a member. We believe that the local church is a community of believers that
gather together for worship, mutual edification, and ministry. We believe that God has laid upon the local church the responsibility
of making disciples of all nations, whether local or abroad.
(1 Cor. 12:12-13, Acts 2:42, Eph. 2:19-22, Acts 1:8, Eph. 4:11-13, Eph. 5:19-21, Heb.10:23-25, Matt. 28:19-20)
BAPTISM & THE LORD'S TABLE (COMMUNION)
We believe that Jesus established two ordinances for the church to observe: baptism and the Lord's Table. Baptism is
to be administered to those who wish to be identified with and are trusting in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. They
are to be baptized in water depicting the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We believe that the Lord's Table
is to commemorate the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. We believe that both of these ordinances are symbols of spiritual
realities, but do not, in themselves, contain saving power. We believe that both ordinances are to be observed until Christ
returns.
(Matt. 28:18-20, Acts 8:35-39, Romans 6:3-5, 1Cor. 11:23-26)
LAST THINGS
We believe that Jesus Christ will return again to earth, both bodily and visibly. We believe that He will judge the living
and the dead, and that He will fully establish His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment,
the eternal felicity of the righteous an the eternal punishment of the ungodly.
(Matt. 16:27, Mark 14:62, John 14:3, Acts 1:11, Phil. 3:20, 1Thes. 4:15, 2Tim. 4:1, Titus 2:13, 1Cor. 4:5, 1Cor. 15:50-57,
2Thes. 1:7-10, Romans 9:22, Rev. 19:3, 20, Rev. 20:4-6, Rev. 20:11-15, Matt. 25:31-46)
|
