What We Believe
GOD
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He eternally exists as one essence in three co-equal distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
[Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Ephesians 4:6; John 14:16-17; John 1:1-18]
CREATION AND CARE
God created the universe and guides history for His purposes. [Genesis 1:1; Romans 8:28]
CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to Earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. [John 1:1, 14; 20:30-31]
THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. He is the one who inspired men to write the Scriptures. He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts of sin. He calls men to the Savior, and effects regeneration. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the assurance of God to bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service. [Genesis 1:2; Psalm 139:7; Matthew 28:19; Luke 11:13; John 4:24; 2 Timothy 1:14; Revelation 22:17]
HUMANITY
People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called sin. [Genesis 1:26-30; John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; Colossians 1:21-22]
SALVATION
Salvation is God’s free gift to us, but we must accept it. 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. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith, we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. [Ephesians 2:8-9]
BIBLE
The Bible is God’s Word to us, written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. [ 2 Timothy 3:16-17]
CHURCH
The Church is Christ’s body through which He accomplishes His purposes on Earth. [Ephesians 4:12-16]
BAPTISM
A person demonstrates his acceptance of Christ and joins the local church via believer’s baptism. [Acts 2:38, 41-42; 1 Corinthians 12:13]
LORD’S SUPPER
A believer remembers Christ’s death and encourages Christian unity through partaking of the Lord’s Supper. [1 Corinthians 11:23-26, 33]
ETERNITY
People were created to exist forever, either eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is death. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence. [Matthew 25:31-41, 45-46]
THE CHRISTIAN AND THE SOCIAL ORDER
All Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in our own lives and in human society. In the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed, selfishness, and vice, and all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography. We should work to provide for the the orphaned, the needy, the abused, the aged, the helpless, and the sick. We should speak on behalf of the unborn and contend for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death. [Exodus 20:3-17; Leviticus 6:2-5; Deuteronomy 10:12; Romans 12-14; 1Corinthians 5:9-10; Colossians 3:12-17; James 1:27]