What We Believe

We believe in one God, Creator and Sustainer of all things, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are equal and perfect in every divine attribute, and they execute distinct and harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption. (Gen 1:1; Matt 28:19; John 1:1-3,14; 4:24; 10:30; Acts 5:3-4; Rom 9:5; 2 Cor 13:14)

We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, and love. He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men and women, hears and answers prayer, and saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (Ex 3:14; Is 57:15; Jer 32:17; Matt 5:45; John 4:24; 5:26; 6:37-40; Acts 14:16-17; Rom 11:23; 1 John 4:8; 5:14-15)

We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s eternal Son, who fully possesses the same nature and attributes as God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. He is not only true God but true Man, sent by the Father, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. We believe in His sinless life, His substitutionary atonement, His bodily resurrection from the dead, His ascension into heaven, His priestly intercession on behalf of His people, and His personal, visible return from heaven. (Mark 1:1; Luke 1:30-35; John 1:1-3,14,18; 10:25-38; Acts 1:11; Rom 5:8; 1 Cor 15:3-4; Col 1:15-20; 1 Thes 1:10; 4:16-17; 1 Tim 2:5; Heb 1:3; 4:15; 7:24-25; 1 John 2:2; 4:10)

We believe in the Holy Spirit, co-equal with the Father and the Son. We believe in His personality and His work in regeneration, sanctification and preservation. His ministry is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and implement Christ’s work of redeeming the lost. He also intercedes for believers according to the will of God and empowers them for service through the giving of spiritual gifts and for godly living. (John 14:16-17; 15:26; 16:8-11; Acts 1:8; Rom 12:3-8; 1 Cor 2:13; 12:4-13; Eph 1:13; 2 Thes 2:13-14; Titus 3:5; 1 John 2:20)

We believe all human life is sacred and is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. (Gen 9:6; Psa 139)

We believe in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. This salvation is based upon the sovereign grace of God, was purchased by Christ on the cross, and is received through faith apart from any human merit, works, or ritual. (Rom 3:20-26; Eph 1:2-14; 2:8-9; Titus 3:5)

We believe each congregation operates under the Lordship of Christ, is self-governing in function, and is interdependent in relationship with other true churches. In such a congregation each member is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord, yet each must submit mutually to the others in love. (Matt 16:18-19; 18:15-20; 1 Cor 5:4-5; Eph 5:21)

We believe the church’s scriptural officers are elders and deacons. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of elder is limited to men as qualified by Scripture. (Phil 1:1; 1 Tim 2:12; 3:1-13; 5:17; Titus 1:5-9)

We believe saving faith inevitably produces good works. The supreme task of every believer is to glorify God in thought, speech, conduct, and lifestyle. Each Christian should seek to be a growing disciple of Jesus Christ in every area of life, a faithful steward of all resources, and an ambassador for Christ before the world. (Matt 5:14-16; 25:14-30; 28:19; John 13:35; 17:20-21; Rom 8:29; 1 Cor 10:31; Phil 2:14-16; Jas 2:14-26)

We believe the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting by God of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union. This covenant union between husband and wife portrays the spiritual union between Christ and His bride, the Church. Any attempted redefinition or alteration of marriage, therefore, does violence to the sacred, spiritual realities it was created by God to represent. (Gen 2:18-25; Mal 2:14; Eph 5:31-32)

We believe God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. Any form of sexual immorality (including but not limited to premarital sexual activity, adultery, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God. Yet God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. (Matt 5:27-28; 15:18-20; Rom 1:18-32; 10:9-10; 1 Cor 6:9-11, 18; 7:2-5; 1 Tim 1:15-16; Heb 13:4)

We believe every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Behavior or attitudes which the Scriptures would categorize as hateful or corrupting are to be repudiated. (Matt 22:37-40; Luke 6:31, 35-36; Eph 4:29)

We believe in the personal return of Jesus Christ in power and glory to receive His church to Himself and to bring the world to its appointed end. The dead will be raised, and Jesus Christ will judge both the living and the dead. The unrighteous will be punished in hell, and the righteous will dwell with Christ forever in the new heaven and the new earth. (Acts 1:11; 1 Thes 4:13-17; Rev 20-22)