What We Believe

We believe that the Godhead eternally exists in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and these three are one God, having precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections, and worthy of the same confidence and obedience (Matthew 28:18, 19; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

We believe that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He came to reveal God to mankind and to redeem our sinful race by giving Himself as a sinless substitutionary sacrifice on the cross of Calvary, satisfying God’s righteous judgments against sin. He then arose bodily from the dead and ascended to the Father’s right hand, where He intercedes on the believer’s behalf (John 1:1-12, 14, 18; Luke 1:34, 35; Romans 3:24-26; 8:34).

We believe man’s purpose is to glorify God. Man was originally created in the image and after the likeness of God, but fell because of sin, and as a consequence was separated from God. Therefore, man in his natural state is condemned to an eternal death (Genesis 1:26; 3:1-24; Romans 6:23).

We believe that man may have salvation from the guilt and penalty of sin through personal trust in the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for man’s sin. Through faith alone in Jesus Christ, man is born again, receives a new nature, and has the promise of eternal life. Salvation cannot come through works, but only through the grace of God. We believe that at death the souls of believers pass immediately into the presence of Christ; the souls of unbelievers pass immediately into torment to be separated from God forever (I Peter 2:24; John 3:3, 26; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Luke 16:19-26; 2 Corinthians 5:18; Philippians 1:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 20:11-15).

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Divine Person of the Trinity who convicts the world of sin, gives eternal life to those who place their trust in Christ, unites all believers in one body, indwells them permanently, seals them unto the day of redemption, fills (controls) those who are yielding to Him, and empowers and gifts them for service. He seeks to direct their attention not to themselves nor to their experience, but to Christ (John 3:5-8; 14:16, 17; 16:7-14; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18; Acts 1:8).

We believe that those who have put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation have the promise of eternal life as a permanent possession. It is the privilege of the believer to have a present and continuing assurance that he possesses salvation, and this salvation can never be lost or forfeited (John 5:24; 10:28-30; Ephesians 4:30; 1 John 5:11-13).

We believe that Satan is a created being and that he fell to his present state because of sin. He has been judged and defeated through the death and resurrection of Christ and will be eternally punished in the lake of fire. He is the author of sin. Sin is anything contrary to or falling short of the glory of God. We recognize that Christians are in spiritual warfare against Satan and his forces. Though he is a defeated foe, the Christian can have victory in his daily battle only by the enabling of the Holy Spirit. Satan’s desire is to oppress believers and prevent the salvation of unbelievers (Isaiah 14:12-17; Genesis 3:1-19; John 8:44; 12:31; Revelation 20:10; 1 John 5:17; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; 1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:11-22).

We believe that all who have placed their faith in Christ are united by the Holy Spirit into one spiritual body, the Church, of which Christ is the Head. This body was formed on the day of Pentecost and will be completed at the coming of Christ for His own. The members of this one spiritual body are directed to associate themselves together in local assemblies for instruction, worship, prayer, fellowship, service, and the administration of the ordinances-baptism and the Lord’s supper. They are likewise to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (1 Corinthians 12:1-3; Ephesians 1:22-23; Acts 2:42-47; Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Ephesians 4:3).

We believe in the imminent, personal return of Jesus Christ. He will descend from heaven to receive to Himself both His own who are alive and remain until His coming, and all who have died in Jesus. This event is the blessed hope set before us in Scripture; for this we should be constantly looking because no man knows the time of His coming (John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

We believe that the Christian is commanded in the Word of God to live a godly life; in the world, but not of the world. This can only be accomplished by living in dependence upon the Holy Spirit to reveal the fruit of the Spirit. The life of the believer should be fruitful in spiritual service and lived for the glory of God (Romans 6:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:18-19; 2 Corinthians 6:17-18; Galatians 5:16-24; John 15: 1-8; Romans 12:1-2).

We believe spiritual gifts are God-given abilities for service; every believer is equipped with spiritual gifts to be exercised for the edification of others and for the glory of the Lord. We recognize differences of opinion regarding the present-day validity of the sign gifts, and that the public exercise of them can be divisive and polarize the members of the body of Christ. We will, therefore, refrain from the public exercise or promotion of these sign gifts (1 Peter 4:10-11; Romans 12:8-12; 1 Corinthians 12-14; Ephesians 4:11-16).

This Church will practice believer’s baptism by immersion, but recognizes other forms of believer’s baptism for membership (Acts 2:38-41; Matthew 28:18-20).