1. The Scriptures

We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, comprised of 66 books, are the Word of God and were given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, all Scripture is authoritative, infallible, and inerrant. The Scriptures are fully sufficient, and are the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. We do not believe that other books are inspired by God in the same way as the Bible.

2. The Trinity

We believe that there is one living and true God who is without division of nature, essence, or being, but who eternally exists as three persons. These three persons are equal in every divine perfection, and they execute distinct but harmonious offices and roles in the work of creation, providence, and redemption.

3. God the Father

We believe in God the Father, the head of the triune Godhead. He is an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. He infallibly foreknows all that will come to pass, concerns himself mercifully in the affairs of mankind, hears and answers prayer, and saves from sin and death all who come to him through faith in Jesus Christ.

4. The Person and Work of Jesus Christ

We believe in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, who is the promised messiah of the Old Testament. He is fully God and fully man, and is the divinely appointed mediator between God and mankind. Having taken upon himself human nature, yet without sin, he perfectly fulfilled the law and suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried, rose again the third day, and ascended to his Father, at whose right hand he ever lives to make intercession for his people. He will return again visibly and bodily in the Father’s perfect time. He is the only prophet, priest, and king of the church, and the sovereign of the universe.

5. The Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit, who is fully God, and a person, not an impersonal spirit or an “it.” He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and is the supernatural agent in regeneration. He baptizes all believers into the body of Christ, and indwells and seals them for day of redemption. The Holy Spirit is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide.

6. The Depravity of Man

We believe that all men and women were created in the image and likeness of God, but through Adam’s sin the entire human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God. All people sin and are by nature children of wrath, totally depraved, and utterly unable to remedy their lost condition.

7. Salvation

We believe that salvation is a gift brought to man by the free grace and pleasure of God. Salvation was accomplished through Christ’s substitutionary life and death, and his resurrection from the grave. Salvation can be received only by repentance of sins and personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

8. Sanctification

We believe that all christians are saved unto a lifelong process of growth in holiness (i.e. - a process of being made more and more like Christ). This includes a progressive growth in: the knowledge of God, our understanding of God, good works, love of God, and love of others. Sanctification includes regular confession and repentance (which means not merely acknowledging our sin, but turning from it). While all christians are called to grow in christlikeness, no one will ever arrive at perfection before death.

9. Eternal Security and the Assurance of Believers

We believe that those who are redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and secure in Christ forever. We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation, while realizing that the Bible clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion for sin. Assurance is based upon the person and work of Christ, the testimony of the Spirit, and the evidence of conversion in the life of a believer.

10. The Church

We believe that the Lord Jesus is the head of the church, which is composed of all his true disciples. Christians are to associate themselves into local bodies for the purpose of worship, growth as disciples, service, fellowship, and missions. To each local body, Christ has given the authority for administering order, discipline, and worship. The regular officers of the church are elders (other names for elders include: pastors or overseers) and deacons. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.

11. Christian Conduct

We believe that christians should live for the glory of God, the well-being of their fellow man, and should seek the well-being of the cities and cultures in which they live. The conduct of christians should be blameless before the world. Christians are called to be faithful stewards of their time, talents, spiritual gifts, and possessions.

12. The Ordinances

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s supper (i.e. - communion or the eucharist). We believe that the only proper mode of christian baptism is by the immersion of the believer into water. Baptism does not save an individual, but is necessary for obedience, and is a picture of the believer’s union with Christ in death, burial, and resurrection. We believe that the Lord’s supper was instituted by Jesus as a commemoration of his death. Just like baptism, the Lord’s supper does not save individuals, but is necessary for obedience. During communion, Christ is not physically present in the wine (or juice) and bread themselves, but inhabits the presence of his people as we remember his death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, and are only for believers.

* Though we believe the Bible teaches baptism by immersion following a profession of faith, we do not require this mode of baptism for membership. However, we do ask prospective members to prayerfully consider being baptized by immersion, especially if they are coming from a tradition that teaches that baptism is required for their salvation.

13. The Last Things

We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the full establishment of his kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal life and joy of the righteous in the new heavens and the new earth, and the endless, conscious suffering of the wicked in hell.

14. Open & Closed Hand

We believe that Christian doctrine can be divided into categories of “open-handed doctrine” and “closed-handed doctrine.” Closed-handed doctrines are the core, essential beliefs that must be accepted by adherents of christianity. If these doctrines are not believed, then the person denying them is not truly a Christ-follower because he/she has denied beliefs essential to the faith. Examples of closed-handed doctrines are: belief in the Trinity, the divinity of Jesus, the holiness of God, salvation only by grace through faith, and the authority of the Bible. Open-handed doctrines are beliefs that are secondary to core, closed-handed doctrines. Christians may have different opinions about the Bible’s teaching on open-handed doctrines. Open-handed doctrines are still extremely important, but Christians can differ on these issues and still claim a true, christian faith. Examples of open-handed doctrines include: the Bible’s teaching on the extent of man’s will and God’s will in regards to salvation, what the Bible teaches about issues of conscience such as the consumption of alcohol and which movies we choose to watch, or how we choose to raise our kids. We encourage christians who disagree with each other on open-handed issues to live together harmoniously as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

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(with Scripture references)