What We Believe

The sole basis for our belief is the sixty-six books of the Bible, which is uniquely God-inspired, without error in the original manuscripts, and the final authority on all matters of faith and practice (II Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12; II Peter 1:20, 21). We believe the Bible is the only divine rule of faith and practice given to the followers of Christ.

We teach that there is but one true and living God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-7; I Corinthians 8:4), perfect in all His attributes, one in essence, eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13-14) - each possessing the attributes of deity and deserving of our worship and obedience. In the beginning God created out of nothing the universe and… all things therein, thus manifesting all the glory of His power, wisdom and goodness. By His sovereign power, He continues to sustain His creation. By His providence, He is operating throughout history to fulfill His plan of redemption.

God has revealed himself to us through his son, Jesus Christ, who is the visible image of the invisible God, the holy scriptures, and through all of creation itself.

We teach that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, coequal with the Father and the Son in all the divine attributes (Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; II Corinthians 13:14). He enlightens the minds of sinners, awakens in them a recognition of their need of a Savior and regenerates them. At the point of salvation, He permanently indwells every believer and equips them for personal growth and service to the church (John 16-7-9; Acts 2:38; I Corinthians 12:13, II Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 2:22). The indwelling of Spirit is a divine guarantee which seals the believer unto the day of redemption (Romans 8: 9; Ephesians 1:13-14). Christians are endowed with spiritual gifts through the sovereign act of the Holy Spirit. These gifts are intended to strengthen the Church and glorify Christ (John 16:13-14; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 12:4-11, II Corinthians 3:18).

The central purpose of God's revelation in Scripture is to call all people into fellowship with Himself. God originally created humans to have fellowship with Him and to glorify Him (Isaiah 43:7; Colossians 1:16), but they defied God by sinfully choosing to go their own way. As a result, man suffered alienation from God and the corruption of his nature (Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:1-4). The salvation of mankind, therefore, is wholly a work of God's free grace, not the result in whole or in part of human works or goodness. This salvation is a gift, made available through faith in Jesus Christ and Him only (John, 1:12; John 10:18-27; Acts 4: 12; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 2:8-9; I Peter 1: 1 8-19). We insist upon only those matters which the New Testament sets forth as requirements for the forgiveness of sins and membership in Christ's Church; faith in God and the divine Son Jesus (Matthew 16:6, Hebrew 11:6); repentance of sin (Luke 13:3, Acts 13:9); a public confession of Christ (Romans 1:9; Acts 8:37); baptism by immersion in the name of Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; Gal. 3:27); and a Christian life of steadfastness (I Cor. 15:58).Every Lord's Day we observe Communion Service (Acts 20:7), believing this to be the will of Christ and a means of spiritual nourishment and growth (John 6:53). We do not practice "closed communion." Every obedient believer in Christ is free to participate if he or she wishes to do so.

We teach that all who place their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual body, the church (I Corinthians 12:12-13), the bride of Christ (II Corinthians 11:2), of which Christ is the head (Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18). The Scripture commands believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, observance of the ordinances, fellowship, service to the body and outreach to the world (Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38-42; Ephesians 4:12). Wherever God's people meet regularly in obedience to this command, there is the local expression of the church (Acts 20:17; Galatians 1:2; Hebrews 10:25). Under the protection and oversight of elders (Acts 20:28), its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ and making disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 5:21).