What We Believe about:
God
We believe God is the Creator, Sovereign over creation. He eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God. (Genesis 1:1, 26-27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
Jesus Christ
We believe Jesus is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ and His virgin birth. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven's glory and will return again to receive us into Heaven. (Matthew 1:22, 23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14, 15; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; Romans 1:3, 4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14, 15; Titus 2:13)
Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under His guidance daily. (John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13, 5:1; Galatians 5:25)
Bible
We believe the Bible is God's Word. Through the Bible God reveals Himself - His character and His will - to human beings. Penned by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Bible is truth and without error in what it intends to say. As such, the Bible is the supreme source of truth for what Christians believe and how we live. When properly understood and practiced, the Bible defines love and leads us to love God and people. (Psalm 12:6, 105, 119, 160; Proverbs 30:52; Matthew 22:37-40; Timothy 1:13, 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
Man and Sin
We believe human beings are made in the image of God (e.g. spiritually, volitionally and emotionally). As image-bearers of God, every person matters to God. We are God's supreme purpose for creation. Yet, because of Adam's sin, we are a fallen people. Human beings will always be bent toward fighting God. Sin separates mankind from God. Therefore, everyone needs a supernatural Savior. (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; Isaiah 59:1-2; John 3:16; Romans 3:23)
Eternity
We believe that Heaven and Hell are real. People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence. (John 3:16; John 14:17; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:17-18;
Revelation 20:15; 1 Corinthians 2:7-9)
Salvation
We believe salvation is a gift from God. Human beings can never put God in our debt so that He owes us salvation. Therefore, we are saved by grace through faith because Jesus paid sin's penalty on the cross. (John 14:6, 1:12; Romans 5:1, 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26)
Baptism
We believe baptism by immersion symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Baptism is the public declaration that one has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Baptism was commanded by Jesus and practiced by the New Testament church. Biblically, whenever someone believed and repented, they were baptized. Therefore, it can be deduced that it is an essential part of the process of Salvation. (Matthew 3:16, 28:19-20; Mark 16:16; John 3:23; Colossians 2:12; Acts 8:36, 9:18, 16:13-15; Ephesians 4:4-6)
Communion
We believe communion, or the Lord's Supper, is an ordinance given to all believers by Jesus Christ who regularly remember His sacrifice for us and to symbolize the new covenant. The elements of bread and juice are symbols of Christ's body and shed blood. (Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29)
Sovereignty and Free Will
We believe in the sovereignty of God as it applies to Him being omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient, and eternal but also believe in man's God-given free will. Our free choice cannot violate God's sovereignty and God's sovereignty cannot violate our free choice. (Hebrews 10:26; 1 Corinthians 9:17; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Proverbs 16:9)
Elders
We believe elders are leaders responsible to oversee the mission and activities of the local church. (1 Corinthians 11:1-12; 1 Timothy 3:2-7; Titus 1:6-9)
Marriage
We believe that God, the Creator, designed marriage for our good. As Creator, He, alone, is qualified to define marriage. Biblical marriage is defined as the uniting of one man and one woman in a covenant relationship for life. Marriage between a man and a woman provides the biblical framework for unique companionship, for sexual intimacy, and the means for procreation. All other sexual activity (e.g. premarital sex, adultery, homosexual practices and polygamy) are outside of God's will and therefore destructive. The Bible considers all destructive behavior sin.
(Genesis 2.24; Malachi 2:16; Matthew 19:4-6)
Homosexuality
We believe that the Bible teaches that homosexual activity is sin. Temptation is not sin; giving in to temptation is. We believe homosexual sin should be treated like other sexual sins: speak the truth (be honest about its destructiveness), and lovingly seek to help the individual find forgiveness, redemption, and hope. The good news is that when people admit their sin, God is faithful to forgive and to restore. (Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 John 1:9)
Church Discipline
We believe that Church discipline is to be handled prayerfully, carefully, and justly, with individual (and escalating) attempts of restoration. The first attempt will include a private meeting with the offender. If repentance has not occurred, a second attempt with several others present will occur. If there is still no repentance, the Elders will seek to restore the offender. Finally, if the erring individual refuses to heed the warning and correction of the Elders, he/she will be removed from fellowship of the church. (Matthew 18:15-17; Luke 17:3; Titus 3:10)
Abortion
We believe in the sanctity of human life, that life begins at conception, and that life continues until natural death. We believe the unborn child is a precious life created in God's image and abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of this life. Many women who have had an abortion will come to regret their decision and feel that they have committed an unforgivable sin. The good news is that God's love, grace and forgiveness heals and restores. (Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 127:3, Psalm 139:13-16, Isaiah 44:24, Ephesians 2:10)