What we believe

DOCTRINAL STATEMENT

The Godhead We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three Persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections (Deut. 6:4; 2 Cor. 13:14).

The Person and Work of Christ We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternally pre-existent Son became incarnate without a human father, and was conceived by the Holy Spirit through the virgin Mary. Therefore, in the Lord Jesus Christ divine and human natures were united in one Person, both natures being whole, perfect and distinct that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man (John 1:1, 2, 14; Luke 1:35). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and, that our justification is made sure by His literal physical resurrection from the dead (Rom. 3:24; 1 Pet. 2:24; Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:3-5). We believe the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He serves on our behalf as Intercessor and Advocate (Acts 1:9, 20; Heb. 9:24; 7:25; Rom. 8:34; 1 John 2:1, 2).

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit  We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and, that He is the supernatural agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the Body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption (John 16:8-11; 2 Cor. 3:6; 1 Cor. 12:12-14 Rom. 8:9; Eph. 1:13, 14). We believe that He is the divine Teacher who guides believers into all truth, and, that it is the privilege and duty of all those saved to be filled with the Spirit (John 16:13; 1 John 2:20 27; Eph. 5:18) 

The Holy Scriptures We believe the holy Scripture-consisting of 66 books from Genesis to Revelation, to be the verbally inspired Word of God, written by men under God’s control, God-breathed, inerrant and infallible in the original manuscripts and the final authority in faith and life (2 Tim. 3:15-17; 2 Pet. 1:20, 21; Matt. 5:18; John 16:12, 13; Ps. 19:7-9).

 Creation We believe that God alone is the sovereign creator. We believe that the Triune God, created all things from nothing (Gen. 1:1; Col 1:15-17; Heb. 11:3) and that all things belong to Him and depend on Him. God created each thing according to its own kind, perfect and good, creating humankind as the crown of His creation, male and female in His own image (Gen. 1:26-27) to worship Him and rule over all that He created (Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:9-10)

The Total Depravity of Man We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and, that man is totally depraved and, of himself utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Gen. 1:26, 27; Rom. 3:22, 23; 5:12; Eph. 2:13, 12).

Salvation We believe that we who are justified – God’s gracious and full acquittal of sin – are declared righteous before God from all sin, through the satisfaction that Christ made for us through His shed blood upon the cross (John 1:12; Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19) and His resurrection from the dead (Romans 4: 25). We have received this gift not for anything we have done or could do but by grace alone through faith alone in Christ (Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-10). The only way to be adopted into God’s family is through this union and communion with His Son, Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:5).

Perseverance of the Saints We believe that all those truly saved and redeemed are kept by God’s power and thus secure in Christ forever (John 6:3740; 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1, 38, 39; 1 Cor. 1:48; 1 Pet. 1:5). Those whom God has saved and sanctified by His Spirit, will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end; and though they may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, grieving the Holy Spirit and bringing reproach upon themselves and the Church, they shall still be renewed again unto repentance, and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. (Eph. 4:30; 1 Tim. 5:7; Rom. 13:13-14; Gal. 5:13; Tit. 2:11-15). 

The Church We believe the church is the communion of God’s people drawn from every tribe, language, people, and nation (Eph. 2:11-22; Rev. 5:9-10). This invisible body, of which Christ Jesus is the Head, exists locally, and imperfectly, as the visible church (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; 1 Tim. 3:1-13: Tit. 1:5-11). Jesus Christ has given His church two ordinances: Believer’s Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Matt. 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26). We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowal of spiritual gifts; that each believer is divinely bestowed with one or more gifts for the edification of the body of Christ (Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:14; 2 Cor. 3:12; Eph. 4:7-12). We believe that the mission of the Church is one of word and deed (1 Pet. 4:11). As salt and light (Matt. 5:13-16), we seek to save the lost (1 Cor. 9:19-23), make disciples (Matt. 28:19-20), work for righteousness and justice (Amos 5:24; Tit. 1:11-14), and care for the hurting and needy (1 John 3:16-19; James 1:27). 

Consummation of All Things We believe Jesus Christ will return to earth personally, visibly, and bodily as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Acts 1:11). At His appearing the dead shall be raised and the living and the dead will be judged (1 Cor. 15). The wicked and unbelieving will be consigned to Hell, a place of eternal conscious punishment (Rev. 20:10, 14,15). Those belonging to Jesus will have eternal life in the new heavens and new earth (2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21:1) and live in ever-increasing joy to the glory of God (Matt. 25:21; 1 Cor. 15; Rev. 21-22).

We believe God’s people are sanctified – declared holy and are in the process of becoming holy – and are growing in Christlikeness (Eph. 5:1-2; Rom. 12:12; John 14:15; Matt. 22:37-40). 

CHURCH GOAL

Trusting that we have been brought by divine grace to receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we covenant together with the help of the Holy Spirit to discover our spiritual gifts and use them to prepare God’s people for works of service. Our aim will be to build up the body of Christ until we all reach unity in the faith and knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.