The Bible
The Bible consists of the Old and New Testaments, and is the very Word of God. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is thus inspired by God, truthful in all that it affirms, and without error as originally given by God. The Bible is the supreme source of truth and the final authority for all saving knowledge, faith and obedience. Psalm 12:6; Psalm 119:105,160; Proverbs 30:5; Matthew 5:18; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 1:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21
God the Father
There is only one God who is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. Having in and of Himself all perfections, and being infinite in them all. To Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence and obedience. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are equal in essence and are one God. Genesis 1:1, 26-27; Genesis 3:22; Exodus 20:2,3; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2
God the Son
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Being God, He became flesh being supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life fulfilling the laws of God, and died on the cross for the salvation of sinners as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. He was buried, rose again on the third day, ascended to His Father, where He intercedes for His people, until returning as righteous judge and King. Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:22-23; John 1:1-5; John 14:10-30; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 1:3-4; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Colossians 1:19-20; Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 4:14-15
God the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to convict men of sin, righteousness and judgment to come and our need for Christ’s forgiveness. He gives believer a new heart (new birth) and provides the Christian with power for holy living, understanding of spiritual truth, perseverance in the faith, encouragement and comfort in affliction. He gives every believer a spiritual gift(s) for use in ministry. John 14:16-17; John 16:7-13; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:14; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 4:30; 2 Thessalonians 2:13
The Human Race
We believe that as human beings, we are divinely created in the image of God, to be like Him in character. Human beings became guilty before God because of their disobedience and rebellion, called sin. This sinful nature is opposed to God and His righteous requirements and separates us from God. Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:24; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; Isaiah 59:1-2,6; Matthew 19:4-6; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12-19; Ephesians 2:1-3
Salvation
We believe salvation consists of the following components:
Faith
Saving faith is a conviction of the intellect, and the confident trust of the heart in Christ’s complete sufficiency to save and sustain us daily. We must accept and rest upon Him alone for justification and eternal life. Faith is the only necessity of salvation, for without it no one shall please God. John 1:12; John 14:6; Romans 4:16; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:8-9
Repentance
Repentance is the first fruit of saving faith. The Holy Spirit reveals and convicts a person of sin through truth and reason. Then being humbled by godly sorrow, a person turns away from his sins that he once loved. Now hating them, he decides to walk a life pleasing to God. Jeremiah 15:19; Matthew 4:17; Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; Acts 17:30; James 4:6
Regeneration
A change of heart brought by the Holy Spirit, who makes alive those who were dead in sins. He creates a new disposition of joyful obedience to Christ and power to live a holy life. Regeneration is a work of God and cannot be attained by any self-efforts or religious accomplishments. Ezekiel 36:26,27; Romans 6:18-23; Galatians 5:22; Titus 3:5; 1 John 3:6
Justification
It is God’s gracious and full acceptance of sinners who repent and believe in Christ. They are credited with the perfect righteousness of Christ on the condition of faith alone. Romans 3:22,24; Romans 4:3; Romans 5:1,2
Sanctification
It is the process, beginning at the new birth, by which the believer is set apart for God’s purposes. He is enabled to progress toward Christ-likeness. Assisted by the power of the Holy Spirit, and the continual use of prayer, self-examination, self-denial, and reading of the Word of God, those who have experienced regeneration or new birth will grow in holiness until it is fully realized in heaven. Romans 6:19; Romans 9:12-14; Philippians 1:6; 2 Peter 1:10; 1 John 5:4-5; Revelation 2:7,11,17,26; Revelation 3:5,12,21
Glorification
Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and eternal state of the redeemed. Romans 8:30; Romans 9:23
The Church
We believe that the local church is the congregation (gathering) of born again baptized believers who have voluntarily come together with a shared faith in Jesus Christ and for fellowship in the gospel. These believers meet for mutual edification in the faith, the propagation of the gospel, the worship of Christ and the participation in the ordinances. The local church is self-governing under the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Head of His Church. Acts 2:41,42,47; Romans 16:1; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:1; Philemon 2
Baptism
We believe in baptism by immersion of a believer in water in the Name of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. It is the believer’s obedience to Christ’s command and a sign of fellowship with Him in His death. By being baptized a believer publicly declares his death to the world and sin, the burial of the old life. This is followed by the resurrection to newness of life by the same Holy Spirit who raised Christ from the dead. Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-13; John 3:23; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:2-5; Galatians 5:24
The Lord’s Supper
We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a memorial commanded by Christ Himself in which the bread and cup represent His broken body and shed blood. It serves as a time of self-examination of our faith and conduct in the sight of Christ and the assembly of believers. The Christian is to observe it regularly, thoughtfully, thankfully and joyfully proclaiming His death until He comes. Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
Death, Judgment, and Eternity
The spirit of man was created to exist forever, our bodies return to dust and our spirit to God who gave them. Each one of us will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or with God through our union with Christ. We believe that God will judge in all righteousness and justice all who have ever lived. The wicked will be condemned to eternal punishment in hell, a place prepared for the Devil and his angels, while the righteous will be received into the glory of the Eternal and Everlasting God in Heaven. Matthew 25:41-46; John 3:16; John 14:21; John 2:25; John 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:6-8; 1 John 2:25; 1 John 5:11-13; Revelation 20:11-15
Satan
We believe that the scriptures teach that there is a personal devil who is “the god of this age; the prince of the power of the air” who is full of all subtlety and mischief; who seeks continually to frustrate the purposes of God and to ensnare the sons of man and who will ultimately be confined to the Lake of Fire. He is like a roaring lion seeking and preying on those who have not stood firm in their faith and have been careless about their spirit. Ephesians 2:2; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:9; Revelation 20:10
Free Will
We believe that God has endowed every individual with a free will: every person has freedom to choose to live in obedience to Christ or to choose to follow his/her own will, and in so doing, choosing his / her own eternal destiny. Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15; Psalm 119:128; Proverbs 22:6; Joel 3:14
The Lord’s Day
We believe that the first day of the week is ‘the Lord’s Day’ and that, in a special sense, it is the divinely appointed day for worship and spiritual exercises. The New Testament church gives the example of assembling on the Lord’s Day for the reading and teaching of the Word of God, worship prayer and mutual encouragement in love and good deeds. Mark 16:9; John 20:7; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Revelation 1:10
The Priesthood of Every Believer
The Bible teaches that every believer is called to “full time” Christian service, regardless of their vocation. We practice the truth that every believer is a minister by encouraging every member to find a place of service and ministry. Every believer has direct access to God through prayer and Bible reading. 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6
Christian Stewardship
God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual: all that we have and are we owe to Him. We are therefore under obligation to serve Him with our talents and material possessions: and should recognize all these things are entrusted to us for the Glory of God and for helping others. According to scripture, Christians should contribute cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionally to their income and liberally for the advancement of the Redeemer’s cause on earth. Leviticus 27:30; Malachi 3:8; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:6
Eternal Security
Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is forever secure in that salvation. If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot “lose” your salvation. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the believer. It is the grace and the keeping power of God that makes possible this assurance. John 10:28-29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 10:10,14; 1 Peter 1:3-5
The Perseverance of the Saints
It is every individual’s responsibility to make certain that he or she is a truly saved child of God. No one can nor should assure another person that they are saved. Only God, by the presence and witness of the Holy Spirit, is able to assure an individual of his or her salvation. Every true believer will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end. Even though they may fall into sin and therefore grieve the Spirit, bring reproach to Christ and His church and temporal judgment upon themselves, yet they shall be renewed again by the means of faith and repentance and sustained by the power of God until the end. Philippians 2:12; 2 Peter 1:10; Romans 8:16
Spirit-led Living
We believe the only way possible to live the Christian life is by God’s power within us. We seek to practice a daily dependence on God’s Spirit to enable us to do right. Ephesians 5:18; Philippians 2:13
Evangelism
It is the responsibility of every Christian to share the good news of the gospel with those whom God brings us into contact. We practice personal sharing about Christ and inviting friends to consider their spiritual state in light of Scripture. Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 1 Peter 3:15