What We Believe

We believe that . . .

The one true God has revealed Himself to us in three distinguishable persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally Divine persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This one God, all-knowing, all-powerful, and everywhere present has, in love and grace, purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to restore His fallen creation for His own glory.

Genesis 1:1-2; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 102:25, 139; Isaiah 6:1-3, 40:12-31, 44:6-8 and 24, 46:9-10; John 1:1-3 and 14, 17:3; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:18, 4:4-6 and 30; Philippians 2:5-11; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 7:26, 13:8; 1 Peter 1:14-15, 2:9; Revelation 4:2 and 8-9.

God has revealed Himself through nature and through the Bible.

We believe that God has spoken both through nature and the Scripture. The Bible—the Old and New Testaments—is God’s special revelation to us. These Scriptures are the verbally-inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of his will for salvation, and the ultimate authority over every realm of human knowledge and endeavor. Therefore the bible is to be believed in all that it affirms, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.

Isaiah 40:8; Psalm 19 and 119; John 17:17; Romans 1:19-20; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Peter 1:23-25; 2 Peter 1:19-21.

Human beings are made in the image of God and are therefore precious and unique among all other created things.

We believe that every human being derives his or her worth and preciousness from being created in the image of God. Though fallen and alienated from God, all human beings are nevertheless of inestimable worth. This worth is evidenced by two indisputable facts: God sacrificed His only Son, sending Him into the word to redeem us and He desires all human beings to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. While no human being deserves or merits salvation, human beings are worth saving. God’s love is extended toward us not because we are righteous, but because we are made in His image. The image of God in human beings means that human life is sacred and precious from the moment of conception onward.

Genesis 1:26-28, 5:1-2, and 9:6; Psalm 139:13-14; Matthew 6:26; John 3:16; Mark 10:45; Romans 5:8, 8:32, and 11:32; Ephesians 4:24; 1 Timothy 2:3-6; Titus 2:4-7 and 11-14; 2 Peter 3:9.

Jesus Christ, the Messiah and our High Priest, is both God and man.

We believe that Jesus Christ, Israel’s promised Messiah, is God incarnate, one Person in two natures, fully human and fully Divine, having been conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead, and ascended into heaven where, at the right hand of God the Father, He is now our High Priest and Advocate.

Isaiah 9:6-7; Micah 5:2-5; Matthew 1:20-23 and 27:11-28:20; Mark 14:61-;64; John 1:1-2 and 14, 4:6, 10:30, 13:19, and 14:9; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 2:8-10; 1 Timothy 2:5; 2 Timothy 2:8; Hebrews 4:15, 7:25, 10:11-13.

Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man.

We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, died on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins, and that He was raised from the dead for our justification. The gospel of Jesus Christ is our only hope for salvation, and it is through faith alone in Christ alone that anyone is justified before God.

Isaiah 52:13-13:12; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:23-26, 5:1-2 and 8; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Galatians 1:8-9; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 Peter 1:18-2:1; 1 John 2:23.

The Holy Spirit exalts Jesus Christ, bringing us into union with God, and enabling us to live lives that are pleasing to the Lord.

We believe that the Holy Spirit glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ by convicting the world, regenerating sinners; by bringing them into union with Christ; and by indwelling, instructing, guiding, gifting, and empowering believers for Christ-like living and service.

John 14:17 and 26, 16:13-14; Romans 8:9-17; 1 Corinthians 12; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:4-16.

The church is Christ’s body through which the gospel is proclaimed.

We believe that the true church is composed of all those who have been saved by God’s grace through faith and regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are thereby united together in the body of Christ of which He is the Head. This universal church is the pillar and ground of truth, manifest in the fellowship and ministry of local churches. The two biblically-mandated ordinances of the church—baptism and the Lord’s supper—visibly and tangibly express this gospel, strengthening our faith. They are to be celebrated by the church in obedience to Christ, but in themselves are not a means of salvation.

Matthew 16:16-18, and 28:19; Mark 14:22-26; Acts 2:41-47, and 8:32-39; 1 Corinthians 1:2 and 16-17, 10:16-17, 11:23-26, 12:13; Galatians 1:2; Ephesians 1:22-23, 3:1-12, 4:1-13, and 5:25-27; 1 Timothy 2:15.

Those who are born of God bear not only His name—Christian—but  His likeness.

We believe that God’s justifying grace in the gospel must be distinguished from but not separated from its sanctifying power and purpose. God’s will is that we would grow in our faith. He commands each one of us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbors as ourself. He calls us to serve one another in the body of Christ and to show compassion toward the poor and needy, seeking justice for the oppressed. We are to combat the spiritual forces of evil, especially with the Word of God and prayer. In all that we do, we are to bear witness to the gospel in word and deed, making disciples among all people.

Deuteronomy 6:5; Micah 6:8; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 12:30-31; Romans 5:1-5, 12:10 and 13, 13:8; Ephesians 5:8-10 and 6:10-18; Philippians 2:12; Colossians 1:9-12; 1 Thessalonians 4:1; Hebrews 13:15-16; James 1:27; 1 Peter 3:15 and 4:7-11; 2 Peter 1:2-8.

Jesus Christ is coming again, and all of God’s promises will be fulfilled.

We believe in the personal and glorious coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with His holy angels, when He will establish His kingdom fully and exercise His role as Judge of all. The Scriptures teach that Jesus Christ will come for His bride, the church, after which He will come to rule and reign from the throne of David in Jerusalem, thus literally fulfilling the promises given by the prophets to His ancient people. This coming of Christ at a time known only to God requires constant expectancy and should motivate the believer to godly living, sacrificial service, and mission.

Ezekiel 37:21-28, 39:22-29; Zechariah 14:1-8; Matthew 24:32-51 and 25:31; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:6-7 and 9-11, 3:17-21, and 15:14-17; 1 Corinthians 15:23-24; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 3:21.

Human history will conclude with a resurrection to everlasting judgment and a resurrection to everlasting blessing.

We believe that God commands everyone everywhere to believe the gospel, turning to God in repentance and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that in the bodily resurrection of the dead, the unbeliever will face eternal and irrevocable separation from God, while the believer will experience eternal blessedness and joy in the presence of the Lord.

Matthew 25:45-46; Acts 2:38-39 and 17:30-31; 1 Corinthians 15; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Peter 3:9; Revelation 20-22.