Beliefs

God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He is one in essence while eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are the one and only living and true God. (Gen 1:1, 26,27; Psa 90:2; Matt 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14; 1 Pet 1:2)

God as Father reigns with providential care over his universe, his creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purpose of his grace. He is all powerful, all loving and all wise. God is the Father of truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in his attitude toward all people. (Gen 1:1; Ex 3:14; Deut 6:4; Isa 42:5-8; 64:8; Jer 10:10; Matt 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:10-11; John 4:24; 14:6-13; Rom 8:14-15; 1 Cor 8:6; Eph 4:6; 1 Tim 1:17)

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Though he preexisted eternally as God, Jesus Christ was conceived of the virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit, lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect penal substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He physically arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate his power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever present Lord. (Matt 1:22, 23; Isa 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Heb 4:14, 15; 1 Cor 15:3-4; Rom 1:3, 4; Acts 1:9-11; Phil 2:5-11; Col 1:13-22; 1 Tim 6:14, 15; Tit 2:13)

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows spiritual gifts by which they serve God through his church. He seals the believer eternally for God. As Christians we seek to live under his control daily. (John 16:7-13; 14:16, 17; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor 2:12; 3:16; 2 Cor 1:22; 3:17; Gal 5:25; Eph 1:13; 4:30; 5:18)

The Bible, comprised of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, is God’s very Word to us. It was written by human authors under the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth and authority for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is inerrant in the original writings and is the infallible truth in all matters it touches. The criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ. (Psalm 12:6; 119:105, 160; Prov 30:5; 2 Tim 1:13; 3:16; 1 Pet 1:25; 2 Pet 1:20, 21)

People were created innocent and in the image and likeness of God, for fellowship with God, but our first parents sinned bringing forth death (which means separation from God) to their posterity and themselves. As a consequence all people are now sinners both by nature and by choice, are alienated from God, and apart from salvation through Jesus Christ are eternally separated from God. (Gen 1:26, 27; 2:17; 3:6, 19; Rom 3:10-18; 5:12-21; Eph 2:1-3)

Salvation is a gift of God and is received by individuals only through repentance and personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. People are justified by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, apart from human merit, works, or ceremonies. All true believers, “born again” by the Spirit through faith in Christ, are kept secure in Christ forever and will exhibit the present evidence of a transformed life. (John 3:16; 10:27-30, 14:6; Rom 3:23; 8:33-39; 2 Cor 5:17 Eph 2:8-10)

People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are literal realities of eternal existence.(Matthew 1:8; 2:44,46; John 2:25; 3:16; 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15)

The local church is the tangible manifestation of the universal church, the body of Christ. Its two ordinances are Baptism (of believers only, by immersion) and the Lord’s Supper. (Matt 3:13-17; 26:26-30; Rom 6:3-5; 1 Cor 11:23-29; 12:13; Col 2:12)

The Holy Spirit gives every believer spiritual gifts to be exercised for the building up the body of Christ. There is not a second blessing commonly called “the baptism of the Holy Spirit” nor is the gift of tongues evidence of it. While there is dispute concerning the contemporary presence of the sign gifts (miracles, healings, tongues, and interpretation of tongues) they are not normative or necessary for the work of the church today. Because tongues-speaking has little value in the worship service, hinders our ministry to seekers, violates our understanding of order, and inhibits the edification of many in our body, it is not encouraged in any church gatherings. (John 10:41, 42; Rom 14:19-21; 1 Cor 12:4,13; 1 Cor 14:19, 23, 40; Eph 4:11,12)