What We Believe

GOD

We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—one in being, essence, and nature. The three persons of this Trinity are equal in power and glory, having the same attributes and perfections. God is the Creator of the universe. He has always existed, unchanging and without beginning or end. He is holy, loving, merciful, forgiving, compassionate, just, and will judge the world in righteousness.

THE BIBLE

We believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God. It was written by men under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and is without error or fault in its original form. We believe that the Bible is the final authority on everything.

MANKIND

We believe that humanity was created in the image and likeness of God, but that through Adam’s willful disobedience (sin) the race fell, inherited a sinful nature and became alienated from God. Since then, man has been totally depraved (sinful in every way) and completely unable to remedy his lost condition on his own.

JESUS

We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who, continuing to be God, added to himself humanity, being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born to the virgin Mary. We believe that Jesus accomplished our redemption through his death on the cross in our place and that our justification is made sure by his physical resurrection from the dead. We believe that Christ ascended into heaven and is now seated at the right hand of the Father where he intercedes on our behalf. We believe that Jesus will return one day to judge all men and will establish his kingdom on Earth, ruling and reigning forever.

THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that the Holy Spirit is not some kind of mysterious force, but a person who convicts the world of sin. He is the supernatural agent in regeneration, bringing cold, hardened hearts to life, indwelling them, and sealing them unto the day of redemption. He is the one who comforts us in our pain, the one who counsels us in our trials, and the one who guides us to live in all truth. He produces fruit in us that does not earn our salvation, but rather is evidence that our salvation has and is taking place.

SALVATION

We believe that salvation is a gift of God given to man by grace and received by personal faith in Jesus Christ, who died on a cross at Calvary and endured the just wrath of God against sin for all those who would believe.

ETERNAL SECURITY & THE ASSURANCE OF BELIEVERS

We believe that everyone who is truly redeemed is kept by God’s power, and is thus secure in Christ forever. We don’t believe in “once saved, always saved”; we believe that “if saved, always saved”. We believe the Bible teaches that there is nothing man can do to earn his own salvation, and there is nothing he can do to lose it either. If we are truly in Christ, He is faithful to keep us until the end. This assurance of salvation produces in believers a joyful obedience rather than sinful indulgence.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS

We believe that God is sovereign in the giving of spiritual gifts, and that particular spiritual gifts are neither essential (necessary to prove the Holy Spirit’s presence in and salvation of an individual), nor an indication of deeper spiritual experience. We believe it is the privilege and responsibility of all believers to use the gifts that God has given them for His glory.

We believe the baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs at conversion and is the placing of the believer into the body of Christ.

We believe that God does hear and answer prayers for the sick and afflicted, in accord with his own will.

THE CHURCH

We believe that the church, which is the body and bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all people who have been born again. The church is not a building, a place, or something we do. The church is something we are. Jesus is the head of the church, and we are members of his body.

While the church is a universal body made up of all believers from every tribe, tongue, and nation throughout history, we believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament. Such local churches should be independent, autonomous bodies of believers free from any external authority or control.

We recognize believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper as the two scriptural ordinances of the local church and a means of testimony for believers in this age.

We believe that the church is meant to glorify God by sharing the good news of the Gospel and the love of Jesus Christ throughout our world. While we have a heart for the nations, this mission is not just something that is done overseas. Mission is something that is done every day of our lives. As God is on a mission to redeem humanity, to bring hope out of desperation, to bring freedom out of bondage, and to bring life out of death, so the church is on mission to be a light to all people of every race and every nation.