Belief Statement
About the Scriptures:
 
We believe the entire Bible is the inspired Word of God and that men were moved by the Holy Spirit to write the very words of Scripture. Furthermore, Jesus revealed to His disciples how all Scriptures pertain to Him, making all Scripture from Genesis to Revelation valuable (Luke 24:44-49). Thus, we hold all Scripture as holy. It is the complete revelation of God to man. It has also been preserved through the ages and therefore, the Bible in the original autographs is without error (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
 
About God:
 
We believe that there is one God who exists, in a loving bond, as three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) (Genesis 1:1-3). We believe that Jesus Christ is the second member of the Trinity, (the Son of God) who became flesh to reveal God to man and to become the Savior of the lost world (John 1:1-18). Finally, the Holy Spirit, who is the third, but not at all ranking least, person of the Trinity (John 16:4-15). 
 
About Christ:
 
We believe as the Council of Chalcedon in 451 believes, the person of Christ is fully divine and fully human, having two natures, but being one person. He was born of the Virgin Mary, conceived through the Holy Spirit (Luke 2:30-38). We believe the fulfillment of the Law and the Old Testament is found in Christ (Matthew 5:17-20). He came to die on the cross, resurrect from the dead, free people from the bondage of sin and reconcile them to the Father. We believe the Gospel of Christ is the utmost important for all today.
 
About the Holy Spirit:
 
We believe the Holy Spirit indwells a believer upon salvation, regenerating their heart, making them to be a new creation (Ezekiel 36:26, Jeremiah 31:31-34, 2 Corinthians 5:17). We believe it is by the Spirit’s guidance, conviction, and illumination of the Word of God which causes one to be obedient and produces the fruit of the Spirit (John 16:4-15, Galatians 5:22-24). Furthermore, the Spirit equips believers with gifts to edify the church body (Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12-14, Ephesians 4:11-12). We believe the role of the apostle and prophet as seen throughout Scripture has ceased. Thus, the Holy Spirit’s role in a believer is vital.
 
About Mankind:
 
We believe that Man was created in the image of God and had perfect fellowship with Him but became alienated from that relationship through sinful disobedience (Genesis 3). As a result, Man is totally incapable of coming back into a right relationship with God by his own effort or merit (Ephesians 2:1-10).
 
About Salvation:
 
We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross provides the sole basis for the forgiveness of sins. Therefore, salvation only occurs when a person places their faith in the death and resurrection of Christ as the sufficient payment for their sins (John 14, the Pauline writings). Furthermore, we believe that the Trinity is foundational in salvation (John 6:44, Romans 5:1-5, 2 Corinthians 5:17).
 
About the Christian Life:
 
We believe that every Christian should live as a living sacrifice for Christ, denying themself, and carrying their cross daily (Luke 9:23, Romans 12:1-2). By obedience to the Word and daily yielding to the Spirit, every believer should mature and become conformed to the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18, Galatians 2:20).
 
About the Church:
 
We believe that the church is the body of Christ of which Jesus Christ is the Head (1 Corinthians 12:12-31). The members are those who have trusted by faith the finished work of Christ and been renewed by the Spirit of God (2 Corinthians 3:15). The purpose of the church is to glorify God by making him known to the lost world and edifying one another with their different spiritual gifts (Matthew 18:16-20, 1 Corinthians 12).
 
About Baptism:
 
We practice baptism by immersion under water—the way Jesus was baptized, and the way the Bible commands.
“For when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ . . . ” (Colossians 2:12).