THE SCRIPTURES
We believe God inspired both the Old and New Testament without error in the original manuscripts and that they are the final authority for faith and life (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21).
THE GODHEAD
We believe the Godhead eternally exists in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
JESUS CHRIST
We believe in His eternal existence as God; His incarnation and virgin birth; His death on the cross as the substitutionary sacrifice for our sin; His literal, bodily resurrection from the dead; His ascension into heaven; His present ministry as our High Priest and Advocate; and His personal future return to earth (John 1:1-3; Philippians 2:5-ll; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 John 2:1; Acts 1:11).
THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Godhead. His ministry is threefold: (1) convicting the world of sin; (2) regenerating, indwelling, baptizing, and sealing a person the moment one trusts in Christ for eternal life; and (3) gifting, assuring, praying for, filling, leading, and teaching believers subsequent to salvation (John 16:8-11; Titus 3:5; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:30; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10; Romans 8:14, 16, 26; Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:18; 1 John 2:27).
MAN
We believe man was originally created in the image of God. As a consequence of man’s sin, he incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God. All humanity is born in this state and all have a propensity to sin (Romans 5:12-14; Ephesians 2:1-3).
SALVATION
We believe that salvation is entirely a free gift of God’s grace, through faith (trust) in Christ for eternal life and based on Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice for sin. Salvation is threefold: (1) deliverance from spiritual death caused by sin when one trusts in Christ for eternal life; (2) deliverance from the practice of sin as the believer walks in obedience; and (3) deliverance from the presence of sin when the believer meets God in heaven (Titus 3:4-7; Ephesians 2:8-9; Philippians 2:12; 1 Peter 1:5).
THE CHURCH
We believe that the church is both universal and local. The ministry of the local church is twofold: (1) the gathering together of believers for mutual/reciprocal ministry and (2) the scattering of believers into the world to reveal the reality of Christ in their lives and conversations. Spiritual leadership in the local church consists of multiple/equal elders who shepherd (feed, lead, and protect) God’s people (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:42-47; Ephesians 4:11-16; Hebrews 10:24-25; Colossians 4:5-6; Acts 20:17, 28-35; 1 Peter 5:1- 4).
THE FUTURE
We believe in the imminent, personal return to earth of Jesus Christ. Those who have trusted in Christ will be resurrected to everlasting life with God. All who have not trusted in Christ will be resurrected to judgment and separation from God for all of eternity (John 3:16-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).
