what we believe
ABOUT THE BIBLE
We believe the entire Bible is the inspired Word of God and that men were moved by the Spirit of God to write the very words of Scripture. Therefore, we believe the Bible is without error. Matthew 5:18; John 10:35; 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21.
ABOUT GOD
We believe in one God who exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that Jesus Christ is the second member of the Trinity (the Son of God) who became flesh to reveal God to humanity and to become the Savior of the lost world. Psalm 104; Psalm 139; Matthew 10:29-31; 28:19; Acts 17:24-28; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 1:9-12; 4:4-6; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 1:4-6
ABOUT JESUS
We believe that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, that He was conceived and born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and offered himself as a substitutionary sacrifice for sinners. By the blood of His cross Jesus obtained for us eternal redemption, the forgiveness of sins, and life everlasting. He was brought back to life on the third day and ascended to the right hand of the Father, there to make intercession for the body of Christ. Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1-18; Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:1-28; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:10-14; Ephesians 1:7; Philippians 2:6-11; Colossians 1:15-23; Hebrews 7:25; 9:13-15; 10:19; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 1 John 2:1-2.
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit regenerates, indwells, comforts and graciously equips the believer for godly living and service. We also believe that all the gifts of the Spirit described in the New Testament, are operative today, under scriptural guidelines, and are designed to testify to the presence of God's kingdom, and to empower and edify the church to fulfill its calling and purpose. Matthew 3:11; John 1:12-13; 3:1-15; Acts 4:29-30; Romans 8:9; 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Galatians 3:1-5; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18.
ABOUT SATAN
Satan or the devil was originally a great and good angel. He rebelled against God and took a group of angels with him. He was cast out of God's presence and is at work with his demonic hosts to establish his counter-kingdom of darkness and evil on the earth. Satan was judged and defeated at the cross of Christ and will, at the end of the age, be cast forever into the lake of fire which has been prepared for him and his angels. Matthew 12:25-29; 25:41; John 12:31; 16:11; Ephesians 6:10-20; Colossians 2:15; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Revelation 12:7-9; 20:10.
ABOUT HUMANITY
We believe that men and women were created in the image of God to have fellowship with him but became alienated in that relationship through sinful disobedience. As a result, people are incapable of regaining a right relationship with God through their own efforts. Genesis 1-3; Psalm 51:5; Isaiah 53:5; Romans 3:9-18; 5:12-21; Ephesians 2:1-3.
ABOUT SALVATION
We believe that the blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, provides the sole basis for the forgiveness of sin. Therefore, God freely offers salvation to those who place their faith in the death and resurrection of Christ as sufficient payment for their sin. John 1:12-13; 6:37-44; 10:25-30; Acts 16:30-31; Romans 2:4, 3-4; 8:1-17,31-39; 10:8-10; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; Titus 3:3-7; 1 John 1:7,9.
ABOUT BAPTISM AND COMMUNION
We believe that water baptism and the communion are two ordinances of the church to be observed until Jesus returns. They are not a means of salvation but are channels of God's transforming grace and blessing to the faithful in Christ Jesus. Matthew 26:26-29; 28:19; Romans 6:3-11; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34; 1 Peter 3:21.
ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
We believe all Christians should live for Christ and not for themselves. By obedience to the Word of God and daily yielding to the Spirit of God, every believer should mature and be conformed to the image of Christ. 1 Corinthians 13:11, James 1:22, Hebrews 5:12-14, 1 Corinthians 14:20, Luke 8:14, Philippians 1:6
ABOUT REACHING OUT
We believe that God has called us as a local church body to share the good news to everyone, everywhere, and especially to remember the poor and to minister to their needs through sacrificial giving and practical service. This an expression of the heart of Jesus and is an essential part of the kingdom of God. Isaiah 58:6-12; 61:1; Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 4:18; 21:1-4; Galatians 2:10; 1 Timothy 6:8.
ABOUT THE CHURCH
We believe that the church is the body of Christ, of which Jesus Christ is the head. The members of the church are those who have trusted by faith the finished work of Christ. The purpose of the church is to glorify God by loving him and by making him known to the lost world. Matthew 16:17-19; Acts 2:17-18, 42; Ephesians 3:14-21; 4:11-16; Hebrews 10:23-25; 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10.
ABOUT HEAVEN AND HELL
We believe that when the Christian dies they pass immediately into the presence of Christ, there to enjoy conscious fellowship with Him until the day of the resurrection and glorious transformation of the body. The believer will then forever dwell in fellowship with the Trinity (God, Jesus and The Holy Spirit). We also believe that when the unbeliever dies they are consigned to hell, there to await the Day of Judgment when they will be punished with eternal separation from the presence of God. Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:19-31; John 5:25-29; 1 Corinthians 15:35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Philippians 1:19-26; 3:20-21; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:1-22:15.
We believe the entire Bible is the inspired Word of God and that men were moved by the Spirit of God to write the very words of Scripture. Therefore, we believe the Bible is without error. Matthew 5:18; John 10:35; 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21.
ABOUT GOD
We believe in one God who exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that Jesus Christ is the second member of the Trinity (the Son of God) who became flesh to reveal God to humanity and to become the Savior of the lost world. Psalm 104; Psalm 139; Matthew 10:29-31; 28:19; Acts 17:24-28; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 1:9-12; 4:4-6; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 1:4-6
ABOUT JESUS
We believe that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, that He was conceived and born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and offered himself as a substitutionary sacrifice for sinners. By the blood of His cross Jesus obtained for us eternal redemption, the forgiveness of sins, and life everlasting. He was brought back to life on the third day and ascended to the right hand of the Father, there to make intercession for the body of Christ. Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1-18; Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:1-28; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:10-14; Ephesians 1:7; Philippians 2:6-11; Colossians 1:15-23; Hebrews 7:25; 9:13-15; 10:19; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 1 John 2:1-2.
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit regenerates, indwells, comforts and graciously equips the believer for godly living and service. We also believe that all the gifts of the Spirit described in the New Testament, are operative today, under scriptural guidelines, and are designed to testify to the presence of God's kingdom, and to empower and edify the church to fulfill its calling and purpose. Matthew 3:11; John 1:12-13; 3:1-15; Acts 4:29-30; Romans 8:9; 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Galatians 3:1-5; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18.
ABOUT SATAN
Satan or the devil was originally a great and good angel. He rebelled against God and took a group of angels with him. He was cast out of God's presence and is at work with his demonic hosts to establish his counter-kingdom of darkness and evil on the earth. Satan was judged and defeated at the cross of Christ and will, at the end of the age, be cast forever into the lake of fire which has been prepared for him and his angels. Matthew 12:25-29; 25:41; John 12:31; 16:11; Ephesians 6:10-20; Colossians 2:15; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Revelation 12:7-9; 20:10.
ABOUT HUMANITY
We believe that men and women were created in the image of God to have fellowship with him but became alienated in that relationship through sinful disobedience. As a result, people are incapable of regaining a right relationship with God through their own efforts. Genesis 1-3; Psalm 51:5; Isaiah 53:5; Romans 3:9-18; 5:12-21; Ephesians 2:1-3.
ABOUT SALVATION
We believe that the blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, provides the sole basis for the forgiveness of sin. Therefore, God freely offers salvation to those who place their faith in the death and resurrection of Christ as sufficient payment for their sin. John 1:12-13; 6:37-44; 10:25-30; Acts 16:30-31; Romans 2:4, 3-4; 8:1-17,31-39; 10:8-10; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; Titus 3:3-7; 1 John 1:7,9.
ABOUT BAPTISM AND COMMUNION
We believe that water baptism and the communion are two ordinances of the church to be observed until Jesus returns. They are not a means of salvation but are channels of God's transforming grace and blessing to the faithful in Christ Jesus. Matthew 26:26-29; 28:19; Romans 6:3-11; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34; 1 Peter 3:21.
ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
We believe all Christians should live for Christ and not for themselves. By obedience to the Word of God and daily yielding to the Spirit of God, every believer should mature and be conformed to the image of Christ. 1 Corinthians 13:11, James 1:22, Hebrews 5:12-14, 1 Corinthians 14:20, Luke 8:14, Philippians 1:6
ABOUT REACHING OUT
We believe that God has called us as a local church body to share the good news to everyone, everywhere, and especially to remember the poor and to minister to their needs through sacrificial giving and practical service. This an expression of the heart of Jesus and is an essential part of the kingdom of God. Isaiah 58:6-12; 61:1; Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 4:18; 21:1-4; Galatians 2:10; 1 Timothy 6:8.
ABOUT THE CHURCH
We believe that the church is the body of Christ, of which Jesus Christ is the head. The members of the church are those who have trusted by faith the finished work of Christ. The purpose of the church is to glorify God by loving him and by making him known to the lost world. Matthew 16:17-19; Acts 2:17-18, 42; Ephesians 3:14-21; 4:11-16; Hebrews 10:23-25; 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10.
ABOUT HEAVEN AND HELL
We believe that when the Christian dies they pass immediately into the presence of Christ, there to enjoy conscious fellowship with Him until the day of the resurrection and glorious transformation of the body. The believer will then forever dwell in fellowship with the Trinity (God, Jesus and The Holy Spirit). We also believe that when the unbeliever dies they are consigned to hell, there to await the Day of Judgment when they will be punished with eternal separation from the presence of God. Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:19-31; John 5:25-29; 1 Corinthians 15:35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Philippians 1:19-26; 3:20-21; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:1-22:15.