Doctrine

THE BIBLE

            We believe that the scriptures comprise the full, word for word, inerrant Word of God which is the supreme and final authority in doctrine and practice. (Isaiah 40:8; II Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; I Peter 1:20-21).

THE TRINITY

            We believe in one God eternally existing in three equal persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who are equal in essences, attributes, and power, but who are distinct in office and activity. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 48:16; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30; Acts 5:3-4; II Corinthians 13:14; Hebrew 1:8)

THE FATHER

            We believe that as our eternal Father, He is the Father of all men in the non-salvation, Creator-creature sense, the Father of the nation Israel, the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the spiritual Father of all who believe in Christ. He is the author of salvation, the One who sent the Son, and the disciplinarian of His children. ( exodus 4:22; Psalms 2:7-9; John 5:3-7; Acts 17:29; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 1:3-6; Hebrews 12:9; I Peter 1:3)

THE PERSON AND WORK OF JESUS CHRIST

            We believe Jesus Christ is God incarnate, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, completely God and completely man. We believe in His pre-existence, His sinless life, His substitutionary atonement, His bodily resurrection from the grave, His ascension into heaven, and His bodily return from heaven. (John 1:14, 18; Luke 1:35; Romans 3:24-26; 4:25; I Peter 1:3-5; Ephesians 4:11-16; I Thess. 4:13-18; Hebrews 1:3, 7:23-25; I John 2:1-2)

THE HOLY SPIRIT

            We believe that the Holy Spirit regenerates, indwells, baptizes, seals, and bestows spiritual gifts upon all believers at the time of their conversion. Experientially, He fills, teaches, leads, assures and prays for believers. (John 14:26; 16:6-15; Acts 1:5; 2:1-4; 11-1:18; Romans 8:14-16; 26-27; I Corinthians 6:19; 12:7-11, 13; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18; II Thess. 2:1-12; Titus 3:5)

MAN AND SIN

            We believe man was created in the image of God; that he sinned in Adam and thereby incurred both physical and spiritual death (separation from God); is now a sinner, by nature and by choice; and is in need of salvation. (Genesis 1:1, 27; 2:17, 3:1-19; Isaiah 12:12-14; Luke 20:36; Hebrews 1:13-14; 2:5-8; I Peter 2:4; Jude 6; John 12:31; Hebrews 2:14; Rev. 20:10; John 1:1-3; 8:44, Col. 1:16-17; Romans 5:12-21; Ephesians 2:1-3)

SALVATION

            We believe in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ's substitutionary payment for our sins, not based upon human merit, works or religious ceremony. We believe that anyone who has placed their faith in Christ is and will always be eternally secure, has eternal life, will not come into condemnation, and shall never perish. We believe that assurance comes to the believer from three primary sources: trusting the Word of God's promises, the witness of the Holy Spirit and a preservering walk with the Lord. (John 1:12; 2:3, 16; II Cor. 5:17-21; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7; Daniel 12:1-2; Matthew 25:31-46; John 3;16; 36; 5:24; 10:28-29; 11:25-26;Romans 8:28-39: I John 4:11-13; Jude 1; Rev. 20-12:15)

THE CHURCH

            We believe in the church, both universal and locally, as the spiritual body which Christ is Head, and in the practices of water baptisms of believers and the Lord's Supper as the ordinances of the local church. (Matthew 16:18; Acts 1:5; 11:15; I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:11-16; 5:22-33; Col. 1:18)

THE GREAT COMMISSION

            We believe that those whom God has saved are sent into the world by Christ as He was by the Father. Those so sent are ambassadors, commissioned to go make disciples and make Christ known to the whole world. We also believe that everyone should have an opportunity to carefully examine the facts about Christ and have a chance to male an intelligent personal decision about Him. (Matthew 28:18-20; John 15:17-18, 20-21; Acts 1; Romans 10:14-15; II Corinthians 5:18-20; Col. 4:2-6; II Timothy 2:14-26)

ETERNITY

            We believe in the physical resurrection of the human body (at the second coming of Christ): in the eternal conscious existence of all individuals in either heaven or hell; and in the rewards of the saved and the punishment of the lost for eternity. (I Cor. 15; Luke 16:19-31; II Cor. 5:8-10; I Cor. 3:11-15)