WE BELIEVE...
The Scriptures
WE BELIEVE THE HOLY BIBLE IS THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD, THE PRODUCT OF HOLY MEN OF OLD WHO SPOKE AND WROTE AS THEY WERE MOVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. WE ACCEPT THE NEW COVENANT, AS RECORDED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, AS OUR INFALLIBLE GUIDE IN CONDUCT AND DOCTRINE (ROMANS 16:25-26; II TIMOTHY 3:16; I THESSALONIANS 2:13; I PETER 1:23-25; II PETER 1:20-21; PROVERBS 30:5).
THE GODHEAD
WE BELIEVE IN ONE TRUE GOD, BUT MANIFESTED IN THREE PERSONS – THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. THESE THREE ARE CO-EQUAL AND CO-ETERNAL. WE BELIEVE GOD IS THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS AND HE IS TOTALLY LOVING AND PERFECTLY HOLY (JOHN 1:1, 14, 18, 10:30, 12:44-45, 15:26, 16:7-16, 27-28; MATTHEW 3:16-17, 28:19; I JOHN 5:5-7).
JESUS CHRIST
WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD, CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, BORN OF A VIRGIN, MARY, AND WAS SENT TO EARTH TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL, AND GAVE HIS LIFE AND SHED HIS BLOOD TO REDEEM AND RESTORE MAN BACK INTO FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD. HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD ON THE THIRD DAY ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES, ASCENDED TO THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER, AND WILL RETURN AGAIN IN POWER AND GLORY. (GENESIS 3:15; MATTHEW 1:18-23; LUKE 1:30-35, 2:21; JOHN 1:1,14, 20:28; EPHESIANS 1:7; HEBREWS 9:23; I TIMOTHY 3:16; ISAIAH 7:14, 9:6; PHILIPPIANS 2:5-6; I TIMOTHY 2:5).
MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION
WE BELIEVE MAN IS A CREATED BEING, MADE IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD. BUT THROUGH ADAM’S TRANSGRESSION AND FALL, SIN CAME INTO THE WORLD AND DEATH FOLLOWED. JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, WAS MANIFESTED TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL, AND GAVE HIS LIFE AND SHED HIS BLOOD TO REDEEM AND RESTORE MAN BACK INTO FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD. (ROMANS 3:10, 23-26, 5:12-21; I JOHN 3:8).
JESUS' BLOOD
WE BELIEVE THAT THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST SHED ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY PROVIDED A PERFECT and complete REDEMPTION FOR ALL MANKIND. THE BLOOD ALONE IS SUFFICIENT TO CLEANSE ALL WHO BELIEVE ON HIM FROM ALL SIN and its effects. (EPHESIANS 2:13; HEBREWS 9:14; I PETER 1:18-19; I JOHN 1:7).
THE NEW BIRTH AND ETERNAL LIFE
WE BELIEVE THAT A PERSON’S FIRST STEP TOWARD SALVATION AND RECEIVING ETERNAL LIFE IS GODLY SORROW THAT WORKS REPENTANCE AND THAT OUR ETERNAL DESTINATION OF EITHER HEAVEN OR HELL IS DETERMINED BY OUR RESPONSE TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IN THIS LIFE. (JOHN 3:3-5; II CORINTHIANS 7:10; I JOHN 5:11-13; HEBREWS 9:27; REVELATION 20:10-15, 21:1-8).
WATER BAPTISM
WE BELIEVE WATER BAPTISM IS BY IMMERSION, IS A SYMBOL OF THE CHRISTIAN’S IDENTIFICATION WITH CHRIST IN HIS DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION, AND IS CONDUCTED IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY GHOST WITH THE AUTHORITY IN THE NAME OF JESUS. (MATTHEW 28:18-20; ROMANS 6:3-5; COLOSSIANS. 2:12; ACTS 8:36-39).
COMMUNION
WE BELIEVE IN THE REGULAR TAKING OF COMMUNION, RECEIVED IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN REMEMBRANCE OF JESUS' SACRIFICE AND OUR IDENTIFICATION WITH HIM ON THE CROSS (MATTHEW 26:26-29; MARK 14:22-24; I CORINTHIANS 10:16, 11:23-31).
MARRIAGE
WE BELIEVE IN THE BIBLICAL VIEW OF MARRIAGE AS BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN. WE EMBRACE AND CELEBRATE MARRIAGE AS A GIFT FROM GOD AND HIS DESIGN FOR THE FOUNDATION OF HUMAN SOCIETY AND THE CONTINUED EXISTENCE OF MANKIND (GENESIS 2:21-24, 25; MATTHEW 19:4-6, 9; ROMANS 1:18-31; 1 CORINTHIANS 6:9-10,15-20; I TIMOTHY 1:8-11; JUDE 7).
BAPTISM of THE HOLY SPIRIT
WE BELIEVE IN THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ACCOMPANIED BY THE INITIAL EVIDENCE OF SPEAKING IN OTHER TONGUES AND THAT IT IS A GIFT FROM GOD PROMISED BY JESUS TO ALL BELIEVERS FOR SPIRITUAL POWER IN PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND SERVICE. THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO LIVE THE HOLY AND FRUITFUL LIVES THAT GOD INTENDS FOR US. (MARK 16:17; ACTS 2:1-4, 10:44-47, 19:6; I CORINTHIANS 14:1-4, 14-15, 18, 39-40).
GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
WE BELIEVE THAT THE OPERATION OF THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ARE FOR US TODAY, AND ARE MANIFESTED THROUGH BELIEVERS TO EDIFY THE CHURCH AND CONFIRM THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL. ALL BELIEVERS ARE COMMANDED TO EARNESTLY DESIRE THE MANIFESTATION OF THE GIFTS IN THEIR LIVES. (HEBREWS 2:4; ROMANS 1:11; ROMANS 12:4-8; EPHESIANS 4:16; I TIMOTHY 4:14; II TIMOTHY 1:6-7; I CORINTHIANS 12 & 14; I PETER 4:10).
SANCTIFICATION
WE BELIEVE THAT THE SCRIPTURES TEACH A LIFE OF SANCTIFICATION AND HOLINESS WITHOUT WHICH NO PERSON SHALL SEE THE LORD. SANCTIFICATION IS YIELDING TO GOD’S WORD AND HIS SPIRIT, WHICH DEVELOPS CHRIST'S CHARACTER IN US. IT IS THROUGH THE PRESENT MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE WORD OF GOD THAT A BELIEVER IS ENABLED TO LIVE A GODLY LIFE. THE DOCTRINE OF SANCTIFICATION IS A DEFINITE, YET PROGRESSIVE WORK OF GRACE. (HEBREWS 12:14; I PETER 1:14-19; I THESSALONIANS 5:23-24; I JOHN 2:3-6, 3:1-3).
DIVINE HEALING
WE BELIEVE THAT HEALING FOR THE PHYSICAL BODY IS PROVIDED FOR THROUGH THE REDEMPTIVE WORK OF JESUS CHRIST AND IS THE PRIVILEGE OF EVERY MEMBER OF THE BODY OF CHRIST TODAY. HEALING IS RECEIVED BY THE POWER OF GOD THROUGH THE PRAYER OF FAITH AND BY THE LAYING ON OF HANDS. (MARK 16:18; JAMES 5:14,15; 1 PETER 2:24; MATTHEW 8:17; ISAIAH 53:4,5).
DIVINE PROVISION
WE BELIEVE THAT GOD WANTS US TO PROSPER IN EVERY AREA OF OUR LIVES AND THAT OUR TITHE, THE FIRST 10% OF OUR INCOME, BELONGS TO HIM. OUR GIVING ESTABLISHES AN AVENUE THROUGH WHICH HE CAN ABUNDANTLY BLESS OUR LIVES (MALACHI 3:8-12; 3 JOHN 2; JOSHUA 1:8; LUKE 6:38; II CORINTHIANS 9:6-10; DEUTERONOMY 28:1-14; PSALM 34:10; PSALM 84:11; PHILIPPIANS 4:19).
THE CHURCH
WE BELIEVE CHRISTIANS SHOULD REGULARLY COME TOGETHER TO WORSHIP AND SERVE THE LORD, AND FOR FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER BELIEVERS OF LIKE precious FAITH. WHILE FAITHFUL ATTENDANCE TO THE LOCAL CHURCH DOES NOT EARN SALVATION, IT DOES REFLECT OUR COMMITMENT TO THE GOSPEL, OUR LOVE FOR CHRIST AND ONE ANOTHER, AND IS NECESSARY FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND STRENGTHENING WHICH COMES FROM THE TEACHING OF GOD'S WORD AND THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AMONG US. WE BELIEVE THAT FAMILIES WHO FAITHFULLY ATTEND CHURCH FOR THESE PURPOSES, RAISE CHILDREN THAT STAY IN CHURCH AND WILL CONTINUE TO LOVE AND SERVE THE LORD THROUGHOUT THEIR ADULT LIVES. (EPHESIANS 1:22; EPHESIANS 2:19-22; HEBREWS 12:23; JOHN 17:11; JOHN 20-23).
WE BELIEVE THE HOLY BIBLE IS THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD, THE PRODUCT OF HOLY MEN OF OLD WHO SPOKE AND WROTE AS THEY WERE MOVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. WE ACCEPT THE NEW COVENANT, AS RECORDED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, AS OUR INFALLIBLE GUIDE IN CONDUCT AND DOCTRINE (ROMANS 16:25-26; II TIMOTHY 3:16; I THESSALONIANS 2:13; I PETER 1:23-25; II PETER 1:20-21; PROVERBS 30:5).
THE GODHEAD
WE BELIEVE IN ONE TRUE GOD, BUT MANIFESTED IN THREE PERSONS – THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. THESE THREE ARE CO-EQUAL AND CO-ETERNAL. WE BELIEVE GOD IS THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS AND HE IS TOTALLY LOVING AND PERFECTLY HOLY (JOHN 1:1, 14, 18, 10:30, 12:44-45, 15:26, 16:7-16, 27-28; MATTHEW 3:16-17, 28:19; I JOHN 5:5-7).
JESUS CHRIST
WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD, CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, BORN OF A VIRGIN, MARY, AND WAS SENT TO EARTH TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL, AND GAVE HIS LIFE AND SHED HIS BLOOD TO REDEEM AND RESTORE MAN BACK INTO FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD. HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD ON THE THIRD DAY ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES, ASCENDED TO THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER, AND WILL RETURN AGAIN IN POWER AND GLORY. (GENESIS 3:15; MATTHEW 1:18-23; LUKE 1:30-35, 2:21; JOHN 1:1,14, 20:28; EPHESIANS 1:7; HEBREWS 9:23; I TIMOTHY 3:16; ISAIAH 7:14, 9:6; PHILIPPIANS 2:5-6; I TIMOTHY 2:5).
MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION
WE BELIEVE MAN IS A CREATED BEING, MADE IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD. BUT THROUGH ADAM’S TRANSGRESSION AND FALL, SIN CAME INTO THE WORLD AND DEATH FOLLOWED. JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, WAS MANIFESTED TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL, AND GAVE HIS LIFE AND SHED HIS BLOOD TO REDEEM AND RESTORE MAN BACK INTO FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD. (ROMANS 3:10, 23-26, 5:12-21; I JOHN 3:8).
JESUS' BLOOD
WE BELIEVE THAT THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST SHED ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY PROVIDED A PERFECT and complete REDEMPTION FOR ALL MANKIND. THE BLOOD ALONE IS SUFFICIENT TO CLEANSE ALL WHO BELIEVE ON HIM FROM ALL SIN and its effects. (EPHESIANS 2:13; HEBREWS 9:14; I PETER 1:18-19; I JOHN 1:7).
THE NEW BIRTH AND ETERNAL LIFE
WE BELIEVE THAT A PERSON’S FIRST STEP TOWARD SALVATION AND RECEIVING ETERNAL LIFE IS GODLY SORROW THAT WORKS REPENTANCE AND THAT OUR ETERNAL DESTINATION OF EITHER HEAVEN OR HELL IS DETERMINED BY OUR RESPONSE TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IN THIS LIFE. (JOHN 3:3-5; II CORINTHIANS 7:10; I JOHN 5:11-13; HEBREWS 9:27; REVELATION 20:10-15, 21:1-8).
WATER BAPTISM
WE BELIEVE WATER BAPTISM IS BY IMMERSION, IS A SYMBOL OF THE CHRISTIAN’S IDENTIFICATION WITH CHRIST IN HIS DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION, AND IS CONDUCTED IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY GHOST WITH THE AUTHORITY IN THE NAME OF JESUS. (MATTHEW 28:18-20; ROMANS 6:3-5; COLOSSIANS. 2:12; ACTS 8:36-39).
COMMUNION
WE BELIEVE IN THE REGULAR TAKING OF COMMUNION, RECEIVED IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN REMEMBRANCE OF JESUS' SACRIFICE AND OUR IDENTIFICATION WITH HIM ON THE CROSS (MATTHEW 26:26-29; MARK 14:22-24; I CORINTHIANS 10:16, 11:23-31).
MARRIAGE
WE BELIEVE IN THE BIBLICAL VIEW OF MARRIAGE AS BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN. WE EMBRACE AND CELEBRATE MARRIAGE AS A GIFT FROM GOD AND HIS DESIGN FOR THE FOUNDATION OF HUMAN SOCIETY AND THE CONTINUED EXISTENCE OF MANKIND (GENESIS 2:21-24, 25; MATTHEW 19:4-6, 9; ROMANS 1:18-31; 1 CORINTHIANS 6:9-10,15-20; I TIMOTHY 1:8-11; JUDE 7).
BAPTISM of THE HOLY SPIRIT
WE BELIEVE IN THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ACCOMPANIED BY THE INITIAL EVIDENCE OF SPEAKING IN OTHER TONGUES AND THAT IT IS A GIFT FROM GOD PROMISED BY JESUS TO ALL BELIEVERS FOR SPIRITUAL POWER IN PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND SERVICE. THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO LIVE THE HOLY AND FRUITFUL LIVES THAT GOD INTENDS FOR US. (MARK 16:17; ACTS 2:1-4, 10:44-47, 19:6; I CORINTHIANS 14:1-4, 14-15, 18, 39-40).
GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
WE BELIEVE THAT THE OPERATION OF THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ARE FOR US TODAY, AND ARE MANIFESTED THROUGH BELIEVERS TO EDIFY THE CHURCH AND CONFIRM THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL. ALL BELIEVERS ARE COMMANDED TO EARNESTLY DESIRE THE MANIFESTATION OF THE GIFTS IN THEIR LIVES. (HEBREWS 2:4; ROMANS 1:11; ROMANS 12:4-8; EPHESIANS 4:16; I TIMOTHY 4:14; II TIMOTHY 1:6-7; I CORINTHIANS 12 & 14; I PETER 4:10).
SANCTIFICATION
WE BELIEVE THAT THE SCRIPTURES TEACH A LIFE OF SANCTIFICATION AND HOLINESS WITHOUT WHICH NO PERSON SHALL SEE THE LORD. SANCTIFICATION IS YIELDING TO GOD’S WORD AND HIS SPIRIT, WHICH DEVELOPS CHRIST'S CHARACTER IN US. IT IS THROUGH THE PRESENT MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE WORD OF GOD THAT A BELIEVER IS ENABLED TO LIVE A GODLY LIFE. THE DOCTRINE OF SANCTIFICATION IS A DEFINITE, YET PROGRESSIVE WORK OF GRACE. (HEBREWS 12:14; I PETER 1:14-19; I THESSALONIANS 5:23-24; I JOHN 2:3-6, 3:1-3).
DIVINE HEALING
WE BELIEVE THAT HEALING FOR THE PHYSICAL BODY IS PROVIDED FOR THROUGH THE REDEMPTIVE WORK OF JESUS CHRIST AND IS THE PRIVILEGE OF EVERY MEMBER OF THE BODY OF CHRIST TODAY. HEALING IS RECEIVED BY THE POWER OF GOD THROUGH THE PRAYER OF FAITH AND BY THE LAYING ON OF HANDS. (MARK 16:18; JAMES 5:14,15; 1 PETER 2:24; MATTHEW 8:17; ISAIAH 53:4,5).
DIVINE PROVISION
WE BELIEVE THAT GOD WANTS US TO PROSPER IN EVERY AREA OF OUR LIVES AND THAT OUR TITHE, THE FIRST 10% OF OUR INCOME, BELONGS TO HIM. OUR GIVING ESTABLISHES AN AVENUE THROUGH WHICH HE CAN ABUNDANTLY BLESS OUR LIVES (MALACHI 3:8-12; 3 JOHN 2; JOSHUA 1:8; LUKE 6:38; II CORINTHIANS 9:6-10; DEUTERONOMY 28:1-14; PSALM 34:10; PSALM 84:11; PHILIPPIANS 4:19).
THE CHURCH
WE BELIEVE CHRISTIANS SHOULD REGULARLY COME TOGETHER TO WORSHIP AND SERVE THE LORD, AND FOR FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER BELIEVERS OF LIKE precious FAITH. WHILE FAITHFUL ATTENDANCE TO THE LOCAL CHURCH DOES NOT EARN SALVATION, IT DOES REFLECT OUR COMMITMENT TO THE GOSPEL, OUR LOVE FOR CHRIST AND ONE ANOTHER, AND IS NECESSARY FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND STRENGTHENING WHICH COMES FROM THE TEACHING OF GOD'S WORD AND THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AMONG US. WE BELIEVE THAT FAMILIES WHO FAITHFULLY ATTEND CHURCH FOR THESE PURPOSES, RAISE CHILDREN THAT STAY IN CHURCH AND WILL CONTINUE TO LOVE AND SERVE THE LORD THROUGHOUT THEIR ADULT LIVES. (EPHESIANS 1:22; EPHESIANS 2:19-22; HEBREWS 12:23; JOHN 17:11; JOHN 20-23).