The Bible
We
believe that the original manuscripts of the Old and New Testament
comprise the full, word-for-word, truthful, inerrant word of God which
is the supreme and final authority in doctrine and practice. (Isa 40:8;
II Tim 3:16-17; Heb 4:12; II Pet 1:20-21)
The Trinity
We
believe in one God eternally existing in three equal persons - Father,
Son and Holy Spirit, who have the same nature and attributes, but who
are distinct in office and activity. (Deut 6:4; Isa 48:16; Jer 10:10; Mt
28:19; Jn 10:30; Acts 5:3-4; II Cor 13:14; Heb 1:8)
The Father
We
believe that as eternal Father, He is the Father of all men in the
non-salvation, Creator sense, the Father of the nation of Israel, the
father of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the disciplinarian of His children.
(Ex 4:22; Ps 2:7-9; Jn 5:37; Acts 17:29; Gal 3:26; Eph 1:3-6; Heb 12:9;
I Pet 1:3)
The Person and Work of Jesus Christ
We
believe Jesus Christ is God incarnate, conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of a virgin, completely God and completely man. We believe in His
pre-existence, His sinless life, His substitutionary atonement, His
bodily resurrection from the grave, His ascension into heaven, and His
bodily return from heaven. (Lk 1:35; Jn 1:1,14,18; Rom 3:24-26; 4:45;
Eph 4:11-16; I Thess 4:13-18; Heb 1:3; 7:23-25; I Pet 2:3-5; I Jn 2:1-2)
The Holy Spirit
We
believe that the Holy Spirit regenerates, indwells, baptizes, seals,
and bestows spiritual gifts upon all believers at the time of their
conversion. Experientially, He fills, teaches, leads, assures, and prays
for believers. (Jn 14:26; 16:6-15; cf Acts 1:5; 2:1-4; 11:1-18; Rom
8:14-16, 26-27; I Cor 6:19; 12:7-11, 13; Eph 1:13-14; 5:18; II Thess
2:1-10; Titus 3:5)
Man and Sin
We
believe man was created in the image of God; that he sinned in Adam and
thereby incurred both physical and spiritual death (separation from
God); and is now a sinner, by nature and by choice; in need of
salvation. (Gen 1:1, 27; 2:17; 3:1-19; Isa 14:12-14; Lk 20:36; Jn 1:1-3;
8:44; 12:31; Rom 5:12-21; Eph 2:1-3; Col 1:16-17; Heb 1:13-14;
2:5-8,14; I Pet 2:4; Jude 6; Rev 20:10)
Salvation
We
believe in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ's
substitutionary payment for our sins, not based on human merit, works,
or religious ceremony. We believe that anyone who has placed their faith
in Christ is eternally secure, has everlasting life, will not come into
condemnation, and shall never perish. We believe that assurance comes
to the believer from three primary sources: trusting the Word of God's
promises, the witness of the Holy Spirit, and a persevering walk with
the Lord. (Dan 12:1-2; Mt 25:31-46; Jn 1:12; 2:3,16; 3:16, 36; 5:24;
10:28-29; 11:25-26; Rom 8:28-39; II Cor 5:17-21; Eph 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7;
I Jn 4:11-13; Jude 1; Rev 20:12-15)
The Church
We
believe in the church, both universally and locally, as the spiritual
body of which Christ is the Head, and in the practices of water baptism
of believers and the Lord's Supper as the ordinances of the local
church. (Mt 16:18; cf Acts 1:5; 11:15; and I Cor 12:13; Eph 1:22-23;
4:11-16; 5:22-33; Col 1:18)
The Great Commission
We
believe that those whom God has saved are sent into the world by Christ
as He was by the Father. Those so sent are ambassadors, commissioned to
go make disciples and make Christ known to the whole world. We also
believe that everyone should have an opportunity to carefully examine
the facts about Christ and have a chance to make an intelligent decision
about Him. (Mt 28:18-20; Jn 18:8; 17:18; 20:21; Acts 1; Rom 10:14-15;
II Cor 5:18-20; Col 4:2-6; II Tim 2:14-26)
Eternity
We
believe in the physical resurrection of the human body(at the second
coming of Christ); in the eternal conscious existence of all individuals
in either heaven or hell; and in the rewards of the save and the
punishment of the lost for eternity. (Luke 16:19-31; I Cor 3:11-15;
15:1-58; II Cor 5:8-10