This doctrinal statement is intended to specify essential Bible truths which we unequivocally believe and teach; it is not intended to summarize all the truth of Scripture or every point of theology we adhere to.

ESSENTIAL DOCTRINES:

The Bible

We believe the Bible, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments in their entirety, to be the authoritative, infallible, and verbally inspired Word of God. In the original autographs they were inerrant in every detail, including history, science, and grammar, and have been preserved by the supernatural providence of God through the centuries. We believe the Bible is absolutely sufficient for all matters and practices related to the church, doctrine and Christian living.

(Deuteronomy 8:3; Proverbs 30:5; Psalm 18:30; 119:160; Matthew 5:18; 22:29; John 10:35; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Peter 1:23; 2 Peter 1:3; Revelation 22:18-19)

The Trinity

We believe that there is only one true and living God Who eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit without division.  All three persons of the Trinity have the same essential nature, attributes, and perfections, being co-equal in power, majesty and glory. Each person was active in the creation of the universe and has distinct roles in the salvation of believers. The Trinity is an eternal, holy, intelligent, self-existent being who reigns sovereignly over His creation. The Trinity is all-powerful, all-knowing and everywhere present. The Trinity is both transcendent over the universe and immanent within the creation. The Trinity is infinitely good and loving in all His actions and can do anything that is consistent with His nature and His eternal purpose. Consequentially, the Trinity is worthy of our highest love, worship, honor, reverence and obedience.

(Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; Luke 10:21; John 14:16-17; 15:26; Romans 15:30; 2 Corinthians 12:4-6; 13:14; Ephesians 2:18; 4:4-6; 1 John 2:22-23; Jude 20-21; Revelation 1:4-5)

God the Father

We believe the Father, the first person of the divine Trinity, is a spirit who is infinite in being and perfection. He is immutable and eternal, without beginning or end. He cannot deny Himself, nor can He lie. He is a God of love, who is compassionate and forgiving. He is infinitely wise, holy, merciful and just. He is the providential Ruler, Sustainer and Preserver of the universe and beyond. His Fatherhood involves both His designation within the Trinity and His relationship with believers. He is the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ in an eternal relationship that has to do with His position within the Trinity, which in no way implies that He is superior or different in nature or essence from Jesus or the Holy Spirit. In regards to His relationship to humanity, although He created all people, He is only the spiritual Father of those who have been born again by the Holy Spirit and adopted into His household.

(Genesis 17:1; 1 Kings 8:27; Psalm 90:2; 135:6; 147:5; Isaiah 40:28-31; 57:7; Jeremiah 23:24; 32:17; Malachi 3:6; John 17:3; Acts 15:18; Romans 1:16; 11:33; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 1:3; Galatians 4:4-6)

God the Son, Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ, the second person of the divine Trinity, is the eternal Son of God Who was miraculously conceived of the Holy Spirit, took on human nature and was virgin born. He is fully and truly God and fully and truly man united together in one person at the incarnation. As the God-man, He lived a perfect sinless life, performed miracles and fulfilled all the prophecies in the Old Testament concerning the Messiah’s first coming. He died sacrificially on the cross as a substitute for sin, was buried in a tomb, rose physically from dead in the same body He possessed on earth, but glorified, and ascended in marvelous splendor to the right hand of the Father. Jesus is now exalted in heaven as the great High Priest for believers and intercedes on their behalf. He is the one and only Mediator between God and men. One day He will return to earth in power and glory to set up His Kingdom, bring eternal judgment, consummate God’s plan for the ages and thus fulfill all the prophecies in the Bible concerning the Messiah’s Second Coming.

(Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:23; 5:17-18; Luke 1:35; John 1:1; 14; 18; 8:24; 20:28; Acts 1:6-7; 11; 2:22; Romans 8:33-34; 9:5; Ephesians 1:19-22; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:3; 8-9; 7:25; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5; 4:2-3; Revelation 11:15)

God the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit, the third person of the divine Trinity, is fully God possessing all the attributes of personality, including intellect, emotions and will. The broad extent of His divine activity includes convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He inspired holy men of God to write the Scriptures and illuminates believers to understand It’s truth. He regenerates, indwells, baptizes and seals all believers who have put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and progressively conforms them into His image. He fosters holy character, godly attitudes and biblical virtues in the lives of believers. The Holy Spirit will always glorify Jesus Christ and will never make someone act in such a way that brings reproach to His name.

(Psalm 139:7-12; Isaiah 63:10; Haggai 2:5; John 14:26; 16:13-14; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 8:4-5; 9; 26; 1 Corinthians 2:10-11; 3:16; 6:19; 12:3; 13; Galatians 5:16-18; Ephesians 1:13; 4:20; 2 Timothy 3:16; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 1:22)

Humanity and Sin

We believe that Adam was directly, immediately and specially created by God out of the dust of the ground. God created Adam in His image and likeness at which time he was innocent. However, Adam as the representative of the human race gave in to the temptation of Satan and transgressed against God, whereby he fell from his sinless state and incurred physical and spiritual death. Adam’s sin affected the entire human race so that all humans are at enmity with God. Human beings are now completely depraved, corrupted by sin from birth, and lost eternally. All humans inherit a sin nature and as soon as they are able, will choose to disobey, rebel against God and go their own way. Therefore, they are children of wrath and under just condemnation from God.

(Genesis 2:7; 3:6-7; 1 Kings 8:46; 2 Chronicles 6:36; Psalm 130:3; Proverbs 20:9; Ecclesiastes 7:20; John 3:19; Romans 3:9-18; 23; 5:18-19; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-5; 4:17-19; 1 John 1:8-10)

The Atonement of Christ

We believe in the substitutionary, propitiatory, redemptive and representative sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. In His work on the cross, Christ atoned for the sins of the world and accomplished reconciliation between God and man. Christ died a vicarious death in dying in man’s place and taking the punishment for man’s sins. In His work of atonement, He satisfied the wrath and righteous demands of the Father against sin. He shed His blood for sinful humanity so that all those who repent and believe in Him will receive the complete forgiveness of sins, past, present and future. Christ paid the full penalty for sins, died once and for all, the just for the unjust that He might bring believers to God. His finished work on the cross, in conjunction with His resurrection, is to be cherished and remembered as the only basis for salvation.

(Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Matthew 26:28; Mark 10:45; Acts 5:30-31; Romans 3:25-31; 5:12-19; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 2:21-24; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:2; 4:10; Revelation 5:9)

Salvation

We believe that salvation comes by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone, according to Scripture alone, to the glory of God alone. Salvation is the free gift of God’s grace given to all those who repent of their sins and trust Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Salvation is based on the finished work of Christ’s atonement on the cross and subsequent resurrection. Human good deeds cannot in any way earn salvation. Those who believe the Gospel are declared righteous before God because of the imputed righteousness of Christ to their account, are regenerated by the Holy Spirit, become partakers of the divine nature, are completely forgiven of their sins and receive eternal life.

(Matthew 11:27; Luke 13:3-5; John 3:36; 5:24; 14:6; Acts 4:12; 17:30-31; 20:21; Romans 3:24-28; 4:4-5; 4:25; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 1:6; 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; 2 Peter 1:4)

The Resurrection of Christ

We believe in the literal bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave. Jesus rose in the same physical body He had on earth, bearing the marks of the cross, yet in a glorified state. He appeared alive to His disciples and other followers over a forty-day period of time. In the resurrection, God the Father confirmed the deity and ministry of His Son, demonstrating that He accepted His atoning work on the cross. Jesus’ resurrection is also the guarantee of a future glorious resurrection for all believers.

(Matthew 28:1-10; John 20:1-18; 20:24-29; Luke 24:36-43; Acts 1:3; 13:29-30; Galatians 1:1; Romans 4:25; 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 13-17; 20-23; 2 Timothy 2:8)

The Second Coming of Christ

We believe in the imminent, literal, visible, and personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ to this earth. Jesus Christ will come again at an undisclosed time, in the same glorified, resurrected body in which He appeared to His disciples to gather believers unto Himself. At Christ’s Second Coming He will come in brilliant, magnificent, glory for every eye to see and usher in divine retribution and judgment. He will utterly destroy His enemies, imprison Satan, and establish His righteous kingdom on earth in which He will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.

(Isaiah 2:2-4; Daniel 7:13; Zechariah 14:4; Matthew 24:27-30; Mark 13:32-27; Luke 17:24; John 14:1-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8; 2 Timothy 4:1; James 5:8; Revelation 1:7; 19:11-16; 20:1-10)

The Afterlife

We believe, when a believer dies they are immediately ushered into the presence of God in heaven to experience eternal bliss. Conversely, we believe, when an unbeliever dies they are immediately cast into hell to suffer eternal torment. We also believe in a future physical resurrection of all peoples. Believers will be resurrected and reunited, body and spirit, to the fullness of joy in a literal glorious heaven, where they will see the majesty and splendor of Almighty God and worship Him forever. Unbelievers will be resurrected and reunited, body and spirit, to be judged at the Great White Throne judgment and then thrown into the Lake of Fire, where they will be punished away from the presence of God forever. Hell is a permanent place of residence with no possibility of second chances.

(Psalm 9:17; Daniel 12:1-2; Matthew 10:28; 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-31; John 5:28-29; 12:25-26; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44; 2 Corinthians 5:8; 12:2-4; Philippians 1:21-24; Revelation 14:9-11; 20:11-15; 21:1-8)

ORDINANCES:

We believe the Bible teaches that the Lord Jesus Christ gave the church only two ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These ceremonies symbolize a believer’s faith and obedience and are opportunities for them to express their allegiance to Christ. When genuinely practiced through faith they aid in the believers spiritual growth.

Baptism

Jesus gave the command to the apostles and to the church, to evangelize, make disciples, and baptize believers (Matthew 28:19). The church is commissioned to do the work of baptizing of those who have repented and believed in Christ (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:15). Water baptism then is the one-time act of obedience in which the person who has put their trust in the death and resurrection of Christ on their behalf is publicly immersed into water (Acts 2:41). Once understood, a new believer should desire baptism as they begin their new life in Christ (Acts 9:18). It is not for infants who cannot understand their salvation nor have faith, it for believers alone (Acts 16:31-33; 18:8).

The very moment a person trusts in Jesus Christ as their Lord Savior, they are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and placed into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). Water baptism is symbolic of this salvation experience. It is an outward sign of what has taken place inwardly (Galatians 3:27). It is a physical analogy of the Gospel message that they believe. As a believer goes under the water, they acknowledge that their old sinful ways have been buried with Christ and as they come up out of the water, they show that they have risen into a new life with Him (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12).

Baptism does not save nor does it mysteriously bestow grace to a person (1 Corinthians 1:17). Salvation comes by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). A person’s confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and the only Savior for their sins is a prerequisite for baptism (Acts 8:36-38). The Scriptural mode is by immersion, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).

The Lord’s Supper

We believe the Lord’s Supper, also known as Communion, is a memorial of Jesus Christ’s atonement on the cross. The bread is representative of the broken body of Christ in His death for sin. His physical body was broken for us (1 Corinthians 11:24; 1 Peter 2:24). Likewise, when we drink the cup, we recall that His blood was shed to pay the penalty for sin. Thus the juice is representative of His shed blood to redeem us from our sins (Matthew 26:28; Ephesians 1:7). Both of these are symbols of the body and blood of Christ and are to be taken in a thoughtful and worthy manner by believers who are in a right relationship with God (1 Corinthians 11:27, 29).

We believe the Lord’s Supper must be preceded by a time of self-examination, personal introspection and repentance (1 Corinthians 11:28). During the Lord’s Supper it is a time of solemn remembrance, commemoration, and also a time to celebrate what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for His people on the cross (Luke 22:19). The Lord’s Supper affords a time for special communion with the Lord, expressing thanks for His sacrifice to secure our salvation and receiving blessing which helps us grow in the grace of Christ (Mark 14:22-23). When we partake of the elements we commune with the risen Christ who we cherish above all (1 Corinthians 10:16).

While Baptism is a one-time act of obedience, Communion is an ongoing act of obedience, to be partaken regularly by the person who has trusted in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 11:25). This includes being at peace with our brothers and sisters in Christ and being unified with the local church (1 Corinthians  11:18-22, 33).

Like baptism, in Communion we publicly proclaim our identification with the person and work of Jesus Christ in the New Covenant. We also proclaim to ourselves the work of Christ on the cross until He returns one day (1 Corinthians 11:26). And we will continue to celebrate this ceremony until we partake with Christ in the Kingdom of God (Matthew 26:28-29). Thus, the church experiences the promise of eternal life in the Gospel and the promise of His return at the Second Coming.