We believe that the Bible is God’s only written and complete revelation to man (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Proverbs 30:6; Galatians 1:6-12; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Revelation 22:18-19), given by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:7-14), never to be superseded. We believe that the 66 books of the Bible constitute the only infallible rule, and the ultimate authority, in all matters of faith and practice. (Matthew 5:18; 24:35; John 16:12-13; 17:17; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

We believe that the Word of God is objective revelation (1 Thessalonians 2:13; John 17:17; 1 Corinthians 2:13), verbally inspired in every word (2 Timothy 3:16), inerrant in the original documents, and infallible.

We believe that the Holy Spirit carried along the human authors through their individual personalities and writing styles so that they recorded God’s Word exactly as He chose, without error in whole or in part (Matthew 5:18; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

We believe that, whereas there may be several applications of any given passage of Scripture, there is but one true meaning. That meaning is found through literal, or plain, interpretation because context, grammar, and history confine the author’s intended single meaning. We believe that the Holy Spirit illumines believers as they receive God’s written Word (John 7:17; 16:12-15; 1 Corinthians 2:7-15; 1 John 2:20). Believers are responsible to seek carefully the true intent and meaning of Scripture, recognizing that proper application of the single meaning of Scripture is binding on all generations and cultures. The truth of Scripture stands in judgment of men; never do men stand in judgment of it (John 17:14, 17).

We believe in the one true and living God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-6; Jeremiah 10:10; John 17:3; 1 Corinthians 8:4). He is the God of gods (Deuteronomy 10:17), the God of Israel (Psalm 68:8), the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob (Exodus 3:6). “The LORD [YHWH] of hosts is His name, the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 47:4), even as He told Moses, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:13-14).

We believe that He is altogether holy (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8), meaning He is distinct from all creation, being eternal—having no beginning and no end (Psalm 90:2), Self-existent (Exodus 3:13-14; John 8:58), and undefiled (Hebrews 7:26). He is the Creator of all creation (Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 66:1-2; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16; Romans 4:17). He is neither the author of evil nor can He approve of it (Habakkuk 1:13; Psalm 5:4; James 1:13).

We believe that He is entirely sovereign (Genesis 1; Psalm 103:19; Romans 11:36), in accordance with His own purpose and pleasure (Daniel 4:17, 35; Isaiah 45:7; 46:11; 55:11; Romans 9:11, 16; Ephesians 1:4-5, 11b; 2:10).

We believe that God’s character is comprised of His many attributes (Exodus 34:6-7; Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 145). He is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. He is gracious and true, loving and faithful, just and merciful, compassionate and slow to anger. “God is a righteous Judge” (Psalm 7:11) and the “God of vengeance” (Psalm 94:1). He “keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished” (Exodus 34:7). He is transcendent and immanent, immutable and perfect in all His attributes.

We believe that He is spirit (John 4:24), one in essence, living eternally, distinctly, and simultaneously as three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Isaiah 48:16; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14). Each Person is equally God, yet functions with distinct roles, and each Person equally deserves worship and obedience.

We believe that the Father is eternally God (Deuteronomy 14:1; 32:62; Psalm 89:26; Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 3:19; John 17:5). He is the preeminent authority among the Persons of the Trinity: it is the Father’s will (Matthew 6:10; Luke 22:42; John 4:34; 5:30; Ephesians 1:1, 5, 9, 11; Hebrews 10:7, 9-10 [Psalm 40:8]), choice (Acts 15:7; Romans 9:11; Ephesians 1:4-5, 11), intention (Ephesians 1:5, 9), purpose (Romans 9:11; Ephesians 1:9, 11), pleasure (Isaiah 53:10; John 8:29), desire (Hebrews 10:5, 8 [Psalm 40:6]), and decree (Psalm 2:7-9) which are at work.

It is to the Father that the Son is in submission (Luke 22:42; John 14:31; 1 Corinthians 15:28). It is the Father Who sent the Son into the world (Isaiah 48:16; John 5:36; 20:21; 1 John 4:10, 14). It is the Father to Whom the Son prayed (Luke 22:41-42; John 17) and directs His people to pray (Matthew 6:9). It is the Father Who disciplines His children (Deuteronomy 8:5; 2 Samuel 7:14; John 15:1-2; Hebrews 12:5-11). It is to the glory of the Father that Christ ministered on earth (John 17:4) and to the glory of the Father that sinners are saved and bear the fruit of salvation (John 15:8; Romans 15:6; 16:27; Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14; Philippians 1:11; 2:11).

We believe that Jesus Christ the Son of God is eternally God and is eternally the Son. He is the second Person of the Trinity, under the authority of the Father yet equal to Him, “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9). We believe that He came from heaven and was born of a virgin, and that He lived a sinless life, being well-pleasing to the Father. We believe that He died a vicarious and atoning death on the cross and was buried, that He raised Himself from the dead in bodily resurrection, that He ascended to the right hand of the Father in heaven where He now mediates as Advocate and High Priest for those who are in Him. We believe that the Lord Jesus is the only way to the Father, that He is the head of the church, and that He will personally return to earth in manifest power and glory to gather His people and to judge all who are not in Him. (Psalm 2:7; Isaiah 7:14; 53:6, 10-11; 9:6; Matthew 24:27-31; 28:19; John 5:22-30; 8:23; 10:17-18; 14:6; Acts 1:9-11; 17:31; Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 1:18; 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Hebrews 4:15; 7:25-26; 2 Peter 1:17; Revelation 20)

We believe that the Holy Spirit is eternally God and is the third Person of the Trinity (Isaiah 48:16; Matthew 28:19). We believe He is equally God with the Father and the Son (Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; 28:25-26; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; cp. Jeremiah 31:31-34 with Hebrews 10:15-17). He possesses all the divine attributes, including eternality (Genesis 1:2; Hebrews 9:14), omnipresence (Psalm 139:7-10), omniscience (Isaiah 40:13-14), omnipotence (Romans 15:13), and truthfulness (John 16:13-15). His deity is evident also in His life-giving power (John 6:63; 2 Corinthians 3:6) and power to resurrect (Romans 8:11).

We believe that the Holy Spirit, being a Person, also possesses all the attributes of personality, including intellect (1 Corinthians 2:10-13), emotions (Isaiah 63:10; Ephesians 4:30), and will (1 Corinthians 12:11).

We believe that the Holy Spirit ministered before Pentecost, empowering people for wisdom, service, and teaching (Exodus 31:1-5; 35:31-34). We believe that the Holy Spirit ministered in Christ’s incarnation and earthly ministry: in the miraculous conception (Luke 1:26-35), in leading and anointing Him in power (Isaiah 11:1-2; 61:1-3; Acts 10:38; Luke 4:1, 14-21), and in glorifying Him (John 16:13-14).

We believe that the Holy Spirit ministers in many ways in this post-apostolic church age. His present ministry includes “convict[ing] the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8) and regenerating individuals (John 3:3-8; Titus 3:5), simultaneously baptizing them into the body of Christ (Acts 1:5; 1 Corinthians 12:13). Called “the Helper” (John 16:7), He presently indwells all believers (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19), individually sanctifying them (Romans 8:13; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 2:19-22; 2 Thessalonians 2:13), illumining them (1 Corinthians 2:6-16), empowering them for service (Acts 1:8; Romans 15:13), bearing His fruit in them (Galatians 5:22-23), leading them (Romans 8:14), interceding for them (Romans 8:26), and sealing them to the end (Ephesians 1:13-14).

We believe that God the Holy Spirit reveals God to man through the completed work of the inspiration of Scripture (John 15:26; 16:12-15; 2 Peter 1:21).

We believe that those born of the Spirit are commanded to be filled with (i.e., controlled by) the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).

We believe that man is created by God in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:7; 5:1; 9:6; James 3:9). Every human being is made in the image and likeness of God at the moment of conception. The image of God in every person is the basis of special human dignity and uniqueness among all creation. Nothing else in all creation is made in the image and likeness of God. Central to the image of God in man is his everlasting spirit which can be in a personal relationship with God. Furthermore, because of man’s special position among creation, he has been called by God to rule over every other creature and to subdue the earth (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:19-20).

We believe that man was created free of sin and with volition and moral responsibility to God. We believe that in Adam’s transgression against the revealed will and Word of God (Genesis 2:16-17), sin and death entered into the world (Romans 5:12-19). Man lost his innocence and incurred the penalty of spiritual and physical death (Genesis 2:17; 3:1-19; Romans 5:12-19). All men are thus sinners by nature and by choice, and therefore guilty before God (Psalm 14:1-3; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:9-19, 23; 5:12-14). Man became inherently corrupt, with neither the ability nor the desire to recover himself or to do what is acceptable to God apart from His redeeming, regenerating grace (Psalm 51:5; 53:1-3; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:23-24; 6:23; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:1-10).

We believe that apart from this grace, man is hopelessly lost and subject to the wrath of God (John 3:36; Ephesians 2:1-3). We believe that, in God’s eternal plan, He has made provision for salvation in Christ alone by grace alone on the basis of faith alone (Acts 2:23; 4:12; Ephesians 3:10-11).

We believe that God’s purpose in creating man is for His Own glory (Isaiah 43:7; Colossians 1:16; Revelation 4:11). God is glorified both through the salvation of man (Ephesians 1:3-6, 12-14; 1 Peter 1:3-9; Revelation 1:6; 5:12; 16:9) and through the judgment and condemnation of man (Exodus 9:13-9; Numbers 14:20-38; Isaiah 5:13-16; 26:9; Ezekiel 28:21-23; 39:11-13; Romans 3:3-8; 9:17-23; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Revelation 14:7).

We believe that every person will endure everlastingly: “for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28-29; cp. Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:46; Acts 24:15).

We believe that God has made provision for man’s greatest need through salvation in Christ alone by grace alone on the basis of faith alone. This is part of God’s eternal mind and plan which He has been unfolding in history through His work of creation, His giving of covenants, His calling of the Hebrews, His sending of prophets; through the incarnation of the eternal Son and His accomplishment of righteousness, through His sending of apostles; and by His providence through the end of the age and into the eternal state. He is sovereign over all things (1 Kings 12:15; Psalm 115:2-3; Isaiah 45:7; Daniel 4:34-35; Revelation 17:17), including His plan, and carrying out, of redemption (Genesis 3:15; Deuteronomy 7:6-10; Luke 22:22; John 17:6; Acts 2:23; 4:27-29; Ephesians 1:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; Hebrews 4:3; 1 Peter 1:20; Revelation 13:8; 17:8).

We believe that on the basis of the perfect life (Romans 5:10) and substitutionary death of our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:8-9; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 21; 1 Peter 3:18), everyone who believes in Him is freed from the penalty and power of sin (John 3:14-16; Romans 5:9; 6:18; 8:1; 1 Peter 2:24), and at His final revelation will be delivered from the presence of sin. Salvation cannot be merited by man, but is wholly of God’s grace through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10; Titus 3:4-7).

We believe that to be “saved” is to be saved from the wrath of God by His justifying and regenerating work. We believe that justification and regeneration are instantaneous acts of God (John 5:24; Romans 8:33; Colossians 2:13; Titus 3:4-7). Justification is the act of God by which He declares righteous those who, through faith in Christ, repent of their sins (Isaiah 55:6-7; Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; 3:19; Romans 2:4; 2 Corinthians 7:10) and truly confess Him as Lord (Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 12:3; 2 Corinthians 4:5). This righteousness is apart from any virtue of man (Romans 3:10, 20; 4:6). God declares the repentant sinner just because all his sins were condemned in Christ on the cross (Romans 8:3-4; Colossians 2:14; 1 Peter 2:24) and because He imputes Christ’s righteousness to those who believe (Romans 4:6; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Thus God is “just, and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26).

We believe that regeneration is the act of God by which He gives spiritual life to those who were spiritually dead (John 5:24; Ephesians 2:4-5; Colossians 2:13). It is accomplished solely by the power of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God (Romans 10:14-17; Titus 3:4-7; 1 Peter 1:23), when the sinner, as enabled by the Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 30:6; Ezekiel 37:12-14; John 3:3-8; 6:63; 14:17; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 2 Corinthians 3:6; cp. Matthew 11:27; John 6:44, 65; Acts 16:14), responds in faith and repentance to God’s gracious provision of salvation. To be regenerated is to be born again (John 1:13; 3:3-8; Colossians 2:13; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:3, 23; 1 John 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 4, 18). Those who have been born again have been given the gift of eternal life (John 3:15-16; Romans 6:23), and have been adopted into the family of God (Romans 8:15-17; Galatians 4:5-7; Ephesians 1:5).

We believe that the salvation of God comes exclusively through the provision of God: by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ alone. “There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12; cp. Acts 4:10-11; John 10:7-9; 14:6; Philippians 2:10-11; 1 Timothy 2:5).

We believe that the Holy Spirit works to sanctify all who are born again. Through obedience to the Word of God and through the empowering of the Holy Spirit, every believer is able to live a life of increasing holiness, becoming progressively like our Lord Jesus Christ (John 17:17, 19; Romans 6:1-22; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; 5:23). No one can truthfully claim to have no sin (Jeremiah 2:35; Proverbs 28:13; Philippians 3:12; 1 John 1:8), but the Holy Spirit does empower believers to have victory over sin (Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:20-24; Colossians 3:8-10; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 John 3:5-9).

We believe that salvation is manifested by “fruits in keeping with repentance” (Luke 3:8) because genuine disciples of Christ bear much fruit (John 15:8, 16; Galatians 5:22-23) as demonstrated in righteous attitudes and “deeds appropriate to repentance” (Acts 26:20; cp. Ephesians 2:10; James 2:14-26). Thus, salvation produces “the obedience of faith” (Romans 1:5; 16:26; cp. Philippians 2:12-13). We believe that believers’ justification is made certain and secure by Jesus Christ’s physical resurrection from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-28), which confirmed God’s acceptance of Christ’s atoning work (Acts 17:31). We believe that all the redeemed are kept by God’s power and are secure in Christ forever (John 5:24; 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 5:9-10; 8:1, 29-39; 11:29; 1 Corinthians 1:4-8; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; Hebrews 7:25; 13:5; 1 Peter 1:5; Jude 24).

We believe that believers are privileged to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through obedience (2 Peter 1:4-10), and that they should never use freedom as a pretext for sinful living (Romans 6:15-22; 13:13-14; 1 Corinthians 8:9-13; Galatians 5:13, 25; Titus 2:11-14). We believe that out of deep gratitude for the undeserved grace of God granted to us, all believers should demonstrate our love for God and for one another so as not to bring reproach upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that separation from any association with religious apostasy and sinful practices is commanded of us by God, seeing that maintaining a profession of Christ while denying the imperative of holiness is hypocrisy (Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 5:9-13; 2 Corinthians 6:14 – 7:1; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11). We believe that the Christian life is marked by an enduring pursuit of holiness (Matthew 5:2-16; Hebrews 12:14; Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 3:1-10).

We believe that all who are born again by the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual body, the church (1 Corinthians 12:12-13), which is reflected in local congregations (Acts 14:23; Romans 16:4, 16; 1 Corinthians 4:17; 7:17; 14:33; 2 Corinthians 8:18; 11:28; Revelation 2:23). The church is the bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23-32; Revelation 19:7-8), of which He is the head (Ephesians 1:22; 4:15; 5:30; Colossians 1:18).

We believe that the purpose of the church is to glorify God (Ephesians 3:21) by building itself up in the faith (Ephesians 4:12-16) through the instruction of the Word (2 Timothy 2:2, 15; 3:14 – 4:4), through the exercise of the extant spiritual gifts (1 Peter 4:10-11), through fellowship (Acts 2:42; 1 John 1:3), through the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38-42; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26), and by making disciples through the advancement and proclamation of the gospel to the entire world (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8).

We believe that two ordinances have been committed to the church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38-42; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Believer’s baptism by immersion (Acts 8:36-39) publicly pictures a believer’s union with the crucified, buried, risen, and ascended Savior. It is a sign of the believer’s death to sin and resurrection to new life in Christ (Romans 6:1-11), as well as a sign of fellowship and identification with the body of Christ (Acts 2:41-42). We believe that the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration and proclamation of His death until He returns, and that it should always be preceded by solemn self-examination (1 Corinthians 11:27-32). We believe that whereas the elements of communion are only representative of the flesh and blood of Christ, believing participation in the Lord’s Supper is nevertheless an actual communion with the risen Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16).

We believe that two categories of spiritual gifts have been given to the church. The first is sign gifts that were given to authenticate the apostles’ message in their day (Hebrews 2:3-4; 2 Corinthians 12:12). We believe that the sign gifts (e.g., revelatory, healing, and tongues) were given to the church for the apostolic era only. We believe that, because their purpose for the church has ceased, they have likewise ceased for the church as the Scripture indicates (1 Corinthians 13:8). The second category of spiritual gifts is non-revelatory speaking and serving gifts, which are given to equip and edify believers throughout the church age (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Peter 4:10-11).

We believe in a plurality of leaders (Acts 6:1-6; 14:23; 15:2, 4; 20:17, 28; 21:18; Philippians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:12; 1 Timothy 5:17; Titus 1:5; Hebrews 13:17; James 5:14; cp. Proverbs 15:22) who are biblically qualified (1 Timothy 3:1-15; Titus 1:5-16). These men are elders and deacons who together lead a local body of believers in matters of membership, policy, discipline, and benevolence (Acts 15:19-31; 16:4; 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-5).

We believe the biblical imperatives of discipleship (Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Timothy 2:2) and mutual accountability of all believers to one another (Matthew 18:1-20; Romans 12:5; 15:14; Galatians 6:1-2; Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:16). We believe and practice church discipline and restoration according to the standard of Scripture (Matthew 18:15-18; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; Galatians 6:1-2; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; 1 Timothy 1:20; 5:19-20; Titus 1:10-11; 3:9-11).

We believe that the church, the body of Christ, was begun on the first Day of Pentecost after Jesus’ ascension, and has not replaced Israel (Jeremiah 31:36-37; Romans 9 – 11; 1 Corinthians 10:32). We believe that the church is “the household of God, . . . the pillar and support of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15) and that Jesus, the head of His church, declared, “I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matthew 16:18).

We believe that Jesus will come to gather His church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) before a time of unique tribulation on the earth (Jeremiah 30:7; Zechariah 14:2; Matthew 24:21; Revelation 8:6-12; 9:13-18; 16:14-21). After this, Jesus will return to earth physically and visibly as Judge with His people to establish a 1,000-year reign on the earth (John 5:22; Acts 1:10-11; Revelation 20:1-7) wherein “He will reign as king” (Jeremiah 23:5) from the throne of David (Matthew 25:31; Luke 1:31-33; Acts 2:29-30). We believe that, after the millennial reign of Christ on earth, Satan will be temporarily released for a final rebellion before he is thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:7-10). We believe that unbelievers will be condemned at the great white throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-15; cp. 2 Thessalonians 1:9). We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the unsaved—the saved unto the resurrection of everlasting life and the unsaved unto the resurrection of everlasting torment (Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:23-26; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15; Revelation 14:10-11; 20:5-6, 10). The saved will enter the everlasting state of glory with God, and “the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10). God will make a new heavens and a new earth wherein righteousness dwells (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; Ephesians 5:5; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 20:15; 21:1; 22:15). This is the dwelling place of all believers, where they will forever enjoy perfect fellowship with God and with one another (Revelation 21 – 22).