Our Beliefs
The apostle Paul writes to Titus that, “He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” (Titus 1:9)
Therefore, it is important for a local church to clearly state what doctrine they “hold firm” and our elders have done so in this Statement of Belief.
If you have any questions at all, please get in touch with us. We would be happy to answer any questions you have.
Creation
Creation
We believe that the universe and all life within it result from God’s creative act, not the product of chance or random processes. This belief underlies our view of human life as sacred and endowed with dignity.
Genesis 1:1; Psalm 19:1; Acts 17:24-28
Read our “Abortion Position Statement.”
The Bible
The Bible
We believe that the original manuscripts of the Old and New Testament comprise the whole, word-for-word, truthful, inerrant Word of God, which is the supreme and final authority in doctrine and practice. Under the name of the Bible, Holy Scripture, or the Word of God, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments, which are these:
| Old Testament | ||
|---|---|---|
| Genesis | Exodus | Leviticus |
| Numbers | Deuteronomy | Joshua |
| Judges | Ruth | 1 Samuel |
| 2 Samuel | 1 Kings | 2 Kings |
| 1 Chronicles | 2 Chronicles | Ezra |
| Nehemiah | Ester | Job |
| Psalms | Proverbs | Ecclesiastes |
| Song of Solomon | Isaiah | Jeremiah |
| Lamentations | Ezekiel | Daniel |
| Hosea | Joel | Amos |
| Obadiah | Jonah | Micah |
| Nahum | Habakkuk | Zephaniah |
| Haggai | Zachariah | Malachi |
| New Testament | ||
|---|---|---|
| Matthew | Mark | Luke |
| John | Acts | Romans |
| 1 Corinthians | 2 Corinthians | Galatians |
| Ephesians | Philippians | Colossians |
| 1 Thessalonians | 2 Thessalonians | 1 Timothy |
| 2 Timothy | Titus | Philemon |
| Hebrews | James | 1 Peter |
| 2 Peter | 1 John | 2 John |
| 3 John | Jude | Revelation |
All of the above books of the Bible are given by the inspiration of God to be the rule of faith and life. Any other texts are not canon, Holy Scripture, inspired by the Holy Spirit, or authoritative on sound doctrine matters.
Psalms 19:1-3; Proverbs 22:19-21; Isaiah 8:20; Matthew 23:35; Luke 16:29,31; Luke 24:44 ; Romans 1:19-21; Romans 2:14-15; Romans 15:4; Ephesians 2:20; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1; 2 Peter 1:19-20
The Trinity
The Trinity
We believe in the existence of only one God, eternally existing in three coequal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. While these three persons share the same divine essence, and each is wholly God, they fulfill distinct roles and perform different activities.
Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:6-8; Isaiah 48:16; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:8
The Father
The Father
We acknowledge God as the eternal Father.
We believe God the Father is an infinite, eternal personal spirit perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. He is the Father of all men in the non-salvation, Creator sense, and He concerns Himself mercifully and graciously in the affairs of all humanity and as a loving father, as the disciplinarian of His children. We believe He hears and answers prayers and saves from sin and death all those who come to Him through faith in Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Christ. We believe that He baptizes, indwells, and bestows a manifestation of Himself (i.e., spiritual gifts) for the building up of the Church upon all those who have placed their faith in Christ and that at the moment this occurs, a believer is eternally justified before God, reconciled to God and saved from judgment because of the substitutionary work and atonement of Jesus Christ.
Read our “Speaking in Tongues Position Statement.”
The Person and Work of Jesus Christ
The Person and Work of Jesus Christ
We believe Jesus Christ is God incarnate, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born in the flesh of a virgin, wholly divine, and entirely human. We believe He eternally pre-existence with the Father and Holy Spirit before His birth. He is the promised Messiah of the Old Testament who would be sent by the Father to save man from his sins and to reconcile man to God. We believe He lived a completely sinless life, in His miracles and teachings, His substitutionary sacrifice of Himself on a Roman cross, His physical resurrection from the grave, His bodily ascension to heaven, His perpetual intercession with the Father for believers, and His anticipated physical return from heaven to judge the world.
The Lordship of Jesus Christ
The Lordship of Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ, being fully God, is the Lord over all creation. As believers, we acknowledge His lordship over our lives, surrender to His authority, and seek to live according to His will.
Humanity and Sin
Humanity and Sin
We believe that humanity was made in the image of God, but we fell into sin with Adam’s transgression, resulting in both physical and spiritual death—eternal separation from God. All humans are now sinners, both by nature and by choice, and are, therefore, under the condemnation of God. Sin is any thought, word, or action that is contrary or indifferent to the will or purpose of God.
Salvation
Salvation
We believe that salvation comes by the grace of God through faith in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and His sacrificial, substitutionary, atoning death and that the Father raised Jesus from the dead. Those who believe this submit to His Lordship and are eternally saved and will never face condemnation.
We believe that this justification by faith alone not only saves believers from judgment but saves them for something —that believers become heirs of God. This means believers are adopted as sons and daughters of God, shall share in Christ’s suffering in the flesh, will receive an inheritance of blessings in heaven, and that we now have a responsibility to live according to His teachings and contribute positively to the world.
The Church
The Church
We believe the Church is the spiritually united, global body of believers that have received salvation in Christ and in whom the Holy Spirit dwells. Christ is the Head of the Church, and the Church is His bride. There is only one universal Church, although it is manifested in local assemblies of believers, reflecting diversity in gathering locations, race, culture, language, expression of worship, and local fellowship.
We believe that the local church body to which a believer is a member is responsible for administering the practices of water baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe the local church is to be led by a co-equal plurality of qualified overseers/elders/pastors, and this is a gift of God to Christ’s bride for its blessing and protection.
Matthew 16:18; Matthew 26:26-28 ; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:1-4; Acts 2:38; Acts 2:46-47; Acts 11:15; Acts 12:12; Acts 19:8-10; Romans 16:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 1 Corinthians 14:23; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:11-16; Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 1:18; Philemon 1:2; Revelation 7:9-10; Revelation 19:7-9; Revelation 21:2
God's Sovereignty and Human Responsibility
God's Sovereignty and Human Responsibility
We acknowledge that God, in His sovereignty, works in conjunction with human freedom and responsibility. God’s sovereignty and human responsibility are realities taught in the Holy Scriptures, and both are true. Humans are responsible for their choices, yet God works all things according to the counsel of His will.
Perseverance of the Saints
Perseverance of the Saints
We believe God’s sovereignty extends to all aspects of salvation. Without God’s intervention, no human would choose Him of their own free will. He graciously elects, died for, draws, and preserves His people. As such, we believe that those saved will persevere to the end by God’s grace. Despite trials and hardships, nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.
Resurrection, Judgment and Eternity
Resurrection, Judgment and Eternity
We believe in the bodily resurrection of every human at Christ’s second coming and the eternal conscious existence in heaven or hell for all individuals. Believers will be raised to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord, and unbelievers to judgment and everlasting conscious punishment.
The Great Commission
The Great Commission
Christian Fellowship
Christian Fellowship
We cherish Christian fellowship as a means of encouraging one another in faith, provoking one another to love and do good deeds, sharing one another’s burdens, and strengthening the bonds within the body of Christ. We recognize the importance of gathering together for worship, instruction, and mutual encouragement and that gatherings of believers in His name will take on many forms to the glory of Christ.
Marriage and Sexuality
Marriage and Sexuality
We believe that God designed marriage which is a precious gift bestowed upon humanity by God. Scripture is clear that marriage is intended to symbolize His character and the relationship between Christ and His bride, the Church. Throughout the Bible, there is a consistent portrayal of marriage as a sacred bond exclusively between one man and one woman. Any sexual expression outside this covenant is sinful and contrary to God’s divine plan. God’s exquisite design is for His people to engage in sexual intimacy and expression solely within a marriage between a man and a woman.
Genesis 2:24-25; Matthew 5:27-28; Matthew 19:4-6; Romans 1:26-28; Colossians 3:5; Hebrews 13:4
Read our “Biblical Marriage Position Statement.”
Gender
Gender
We believe God created man and woman in His likeness and determined that His creation of man and woman as the distinct and only genders was “very good.” As the sovereign, infallible, eternally holy, and righteous Creator of the universe and all living creatures, we believe that only God can define a person’s gender and He fulfills His will for each person in that regard at conception, without error. Any personal expression of a gender identity that is contrary to the gender assigned by God is sinful.
Genesis 1:31; Psalm 139:13; Psalm 139:16; Isaiah 44:2; Isaiah 49:5; Jeremiah 1:5; Matthew 19:4; Romans 1:18-23; Colossians 1:16
Gender Roles in the Home and Church
Gender Roles in the Home and Church
Men and women, equally made in the image of God, enjoy equal access to God by faith in Christ Jesus. Both are called to significant private and public engagement in family, church, and civic life. Just as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit have distinct roles yet are worthy of equal reverence, in God’s wise purposes and divine plan, men and women are not simply interchangeable. Rather, men and women complement each other in mutually enriching ways.
Worship
Worship
We value worship as a vital means of expressing our love for God, acknowledging His sovereignty, and receiving His grace. This can involve a variety of forms, including prayer, singing, silence, fasting, reading, preaching, and teaching of the Word of God and the sacraments of water baptism and the Lord’s Supper.