Our Beliefs — In-Depth

Holy Bible 

The Holy Bible, and only the Bible, is the authoritative Word of God. It alone is the final authority in the lives of believers, the decisions of the Church, and in determining all doctrinal truths. In its original writing, it is inspired, infallible and inerrant.

2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20–21; Proverbs 30:5; Romans 16:25–26

One God 

We believe in one eternally existent, infinite God, Sovereign Creator, and Sustainer of the universe; that He only is God, holy in nature, attributes, and purpose. The God who is holy love and light is Triune in essential being, revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Genesis 1; Leviticus 19:2; Deuteronomy 6:4–5; Isaiah 5:16; 6:1–7; 40:18–31; Matthew 3:16–17; 28:19–20; John 14:6–27; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 4:4–6; Ephesians 2:13–18; 1 John 1:5; 4:8

God the Father 

God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history, according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men.

Genesis 1:1; 2:7; Exodus 3:14; 6:2–3; 15:11ff.; 20:1ff.; Leviticus 22:2; Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:6; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Psalm 19:1–3; Isaiah 43:3, 15; 64:8; Jeremiah 10:10; 17:13; Matthew 6:9ff.; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9–11; John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6–13; 17:1–8; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:14–15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:6; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 11:6; 12:9; 1 Peter 1:17; 1 John 5:7

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the true God and the true man (Philippians 2:6–11). He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary (Luke 1:34–38). He died upon the cross, the Just for the unjust (1 Peter 3:18), as a substitutionary sacrifice (Hebrews 2:9); and all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood (Romans 5:9). He arose from the dead according to the Scriptures (Acts 2:23–24). He is now at the right hand of Majesty, on high, as our great High Priest (Hebrews 8:1). He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission.

John 1:1, 14, 20:28; 1Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Philippians 2:5–6; 1Timothy 2:5; Matthew 25:31–46

The Holy Spirit 

The Holy Spirit is a divine person (John 14:15–18), sent to indwell, empower, guide, comfort, teach the believer (John 16:13; Acts 1:8), and convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:7–11). 

Original Sin and Salvation 

Man was originally created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27); he fell through disobedience, incurring, thereby, both physical and spiritual death. All men are born with a sinful nature (Romans 3:23), are separated from the life of God, and can be saved only through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:20–23). The portion of the unrepentant and unbelieving is existence, forever, in conscious torment (Revelation 21:8); and that of the believer, in everlasting joy and bliss (Revelation 21:1–4). 

Salvation has been provided through Jesus Christ to all who would come to Him; and those who repent and believe in Him are born again of the Holy Spirit, receive the gift of eternal life, and become the children of God (Titus 3:4–7). 

Baptism of the Holy Spirit 

It is the will of God that each believer should be filled with the Holy Spirit and be sanctified wholly (1 Thessalonians 5:23), being separated from sin and the world and fully dedicated to the will of God, thereby receiving power for holy living and bearing fruit in service to Christ (Acts 1:8). This is both a crisis and a progressive experience wrought in the life of the believer, subsequent to conversion (Romans 6:1–14). 

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit 

Spiritual gifts are not innate, natural talents, but rather, they are empowerments that the Holy Spirit gives to a believer, for the building up of the body and the furtherance of the Gospel in ways that were not possible by mere natural effort, apart from the Holy Spirit. 

The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts which are not innate, natural talents, but rather, they are empowerments that the Holy Spirit gives to build and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, and confirm the power of the Gospel. The Bible lists of these gifts are not necessarily exhaustive, and the gifts may occur in various combinations. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of Biblical parameters.

Hebrews 2:4; Romans 1:11, 12 :4–8; Ephesians 4:16; 2 Timothy 1:5–16, 4:14; 1 Corinthians 12:1–31, 14:1–40; 1 Peter 4:10

Healing 

Healing of the sick is illustrated in the life and ministry of Jesus, and included in the commission of Jesus to His disciples. It is given as a sign which is to follow believers. It is also a part of Jesus' work on the Cross and one of the gifts of the Spirit.

Psalm 103:2–3; Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 8:16–17; Mark 16:17–18; Acts 8:6–7; James 5:14–16; 1 Corinthians 12:9, 28; Romans 11:29

The Church Body 

The Church consists of all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed through His blood, and are born again of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church (Ephesians 1:22–23), which has been commissioned by Him, to go into all the world as a witness, preaching the Gospel to all nations (Matthew 28:19–20). The local church is a body of believers in Christ who are joined together for the worship of God, for edification through the Word of God, for prayer, fellowship, the proclamation of the Gospel, and observance of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper (Acts 2:41–47). 

Last Things 

God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.

Isaiah 2:4; 11:9; Matthew 16:27; 18:8–9; 19:28; 24:27, 30, 36, 44; 25:31–46; 26:64; Mark 8:38; 9:43–48; Luke 12:40,48; 16:19–26; 17:22–37; 21:27–28; John 14:1–3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15:24–28, 35–58; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20–21; Colossians 1:5; 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14–18; 5:1ff.; 2 Thessalonians 1:7ff.; 2; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1, 8; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:27–28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7ff.; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Revelation 1:18; 3:11; 20:1–22:13

Resurrection 

Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead, in a glorified body, three days after His death on the cross. In addition, both the saved and the lost will be resurrected—they that are saved to the resurrection of life and they that are lost to the resurrection of eternal damnation.

Luke 24:16, 36, 39; John 2:19–21, 20:26–28, 21:4; Acts 24:15; 1 Corinthians 15:42, 44; Philippians 1:21–23, 3:21

Heaven 

Heaven is the eternal dwelling place for all believers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 5:3, 12, 20, 6:20, 19:21, 25:34; John 17:24; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Hebrews 11:16; 1 Peter 1:4

Hell 

After living one life on earth, the unbelievers will be judged by God and sent to Hell where they will be eternally tormented with the Devil and the Fallen Angels.

Matthew 25:41; Mark 9:43–48; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 14:9–11, 20:12–15, 21:8

Ordinances 

Baptism in Water 

The ordinance of Baptism by burial with Christ should be observed (as commanded in the Scriptures) by all that have repented of their sins and in their hearts, have believed on Christ as their Savior and Lord. In doing so, they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they have also been released to walk with Him in newness of life.

Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4

The Lord's Supper (Communion) 

The Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements, bread, and fruit of the vine, is the symbol expressing our sharing in a memorial to His suffering and death, and a prophecy of His second coming, and is enjoined to all believers "until He comes."

John 6:48, 51, 53–57; Luke 22:19, 20; 2 Peter 1:4; 1 Corinthians 11:25