The Authority of Scripture
The Second Coming of Christ
The Resurrection of the Dead
Statement of
Doctrine
The Holy Trinity
We believe in one living and true God, eternal and of infinite power, wisdom, goodness and righteousness. He is a faithful God who is the Creator and Preserver of all things. In the unity of this Godhead there are three persons of one substance with identical qualities and attributes: The Father, Son and The Holy Spirit.
Genesis 1:1 • Deuteronomy 6:4 • Jeremiah 10:10 • Matthew 3:16-17 • Matthew 28:19
John 1:1-2 • John 4:24 • John 5:18 • 1 Timothy 1:17
The Father
We believe the Father is the source of all that exists, whether by matter or spirit. With the Son and the Holy Spirit, He made man in His image. By intention, He relates to man as Father. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
The Son
We believe in the divine nature of Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin, Mary. Christ was both fully man and fully God. He walked our earth, suffered at the hands of men, was crucified, died and was buried as a sacrifice for the sins of all men and women everywhere. The purpose was to restore our relationship to God which was broken by sin (disobedience). Christ rose from the dead and ascended into heaven in full victory over Satan and sin. He now intercedes for the body of believers to God the Father.
Luke 1:2 • Luke 1:3 • Luke 1:35 • John 1:1 • John 14 • John 3:16 • Romans 3:24-25
Romans 5:10 • Ephesians 1:7 • Ephesians 5:2 • Philippians 2:5-8 • Hebrews 9:24 • Luke 24:4-7
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit as the person of the Holy Trinity who lives within us, giving us the power to live a holy life. He is the Administrator of grace to all mankind, and is particularly the effective Agent in convicting the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment. He is the Divine Teacher who guides all believers into all truth. It is both the privilege and duty of every Christian to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God.
Matthew 28:19 • John 4:24 • John 14:16-17 • John 15:26 • John 16:5-15 • Acts 5:3-4
Romans 8:9 • Romans 8:27 • 2 Corinthians 3:17 • Galatians 4:6 • Ephesians 5:18
The Authority of Scripture
We believe that the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament combined constitute the Holy Bible; no books may be added or deleted. The Holy Bible is the inspired and inerrant (that is, without error in the original manuscripts) written Word of God. The Holy Bible contains all the necessary truth to lead men and women into salvation. Ultimately, we believe whatever the Bible teaches on any subject. It is the final authority in all matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine. Whatever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man.
Psalm 19:7 • Matthew 5:18 • John 17:17 • Romans 15:4 • 1 Thessalonians 2:13
2 Timothy 3:15-17 • 2 Peter 1:20-21
Man
We believe that mankind was created by God, in His own image. But because of Adams’ sin (disobedience) man inherits a corrupt nature that inclines him to do wrong. Through sin, man became alienated from God. Man cannot save himself by his will or works. We believe that the first humans were created by God as male and female, and that a biblical marriage was designed by God to be the lifelong union of one man and one woman. God gave sexuality as a gift to be enjoyed within the confines of biblical marriage and intends it to bless us with intimacy, pleasure, and procreation of children. In the area of sexuality, Scripture records many behaviors which are outside God’s design, such as fornication, adultery, extramarital sex, and homosexual practice. The Bible considers any action or belief outside God’s original design dishonors God and destroys humans, who were made in His image.
Genesis 1:27 • Genesis 2:23-24 • Genesis 3:6-8 • Mark 10:6-9 • Romans 1:18-32
Romans 3:23 • Romans 5:12 • 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 • Ephesians 2:12 • Colossians 3:5-6
Titus 3:5 • Hebrews 13:4
Salvation
We believe that Jesus Christ, the living Son of God, was given by God as a sacrifice for the sins of all men. Christ died on the cross to mend the broken relationship which was caused by man’s sin of disobedience. It is through the shedding of His precious blood on the cross that we find forgiveness of our sins. Salvation is the free gift of God, brought to man by the grace of God and received by man through repentance from sin, personal belief and faith in Jesus Christ, recognizing Him as Lord and Savior.
John 1:12-13 • John 1:29 • John 3:16 • Acts 2:38-39 • Acts 17:30 • 1 Corinthians 5:7
Ephesians 2:8-10 • Ephesians 5:2 • Hebrews 9:22 • 1 Peter 1:18-19 •1 Peter 2:24
Good Works
We believe that even though men and women cannot receive salvation by good works, a believer’s good works are still pleasing to God & show evidence of a true faith in God, & Jesus as Lord of the believer’s life.
Matthew 5:16 • Matthew 7:16-20 • Romans 3:20 • 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 • Galatians 2:16
James 2:18 • James 2:22 • Revelation 22:12-13
Sanctification
We believe that sanctification is the work of God and power of the Holy Spirit acting as a catalyst in the life of the believer in order to produce a growing commitment, dedication and heart purity before God. Sanctification begins when a person is saved, continues throughout life and is the will of God for all believers. We are sanctified progressively by the Word of God as the desire to live for self decreases and the desire to live totally for the glory of God increases.
Deuteronomy 30:6 • John 3:30 • John 17:17 • 1 Corinthians 6:11 • Ephesians 4:13
Ephesians 4:24 • 1 Thessalonians 4:3 • 1 Thessalonians 4:7 • 1 Peter 2:2
Gifts of the Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit has given spiritual gifts to all believers for the purpose of building up the body of Christ and bringing glory to God. The gifts are to be exercised in love and emphasize the need for unity. The Holy Spirit himself is to be desired more than any gift that the Spirit might give.
1 Corinthians 12:4 • 1 Corinthians 12:18 • 1 Corinthians 12:21-25
Ephesians 4:11-16 • 1 Corinthians 12:1-14:40
Divine Healing
We believe that in the redemptive work of Christ, provision has been made for man’s healing. It is within God’s power to heal His people, and we are to pray with faith according to the Scriptures, trusting His sovereign will.
Isaiah 53:4-5 • Matthew 8:16-17 • Mark 6:13 • Acts 10:38 • James 5:13-16 • 1 Peter 2:24
Sacraments
We believe that God ordained two sacraments: The Lord’s Supper and Water Baptism. By them, He works within us to quicken, strengthen, and confirm our faith. These sacraments are in no way to be regarded as a means of salvation but simply as a token of our profession of Christian faith and of God’s gracious ministry toward us.
We believe that Water Baptism is a sacrament of the Church, commanded by our Lord and administered by immersion to believers. It signifies that the believer has repented from sin, accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and is a means of declaring one’s faith in a crucified, buried and risen Savior. Baptism is an outward symbolic act signifying salvation and cleansing of sin.
Matthew 28:19 • Mark 16:16 • Romans 6:3-5 • Colossians 2:11-13
We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a sacrament of the Church, received in remembrance of Christ’s death for our sins; the bread representing His body and the wine, His blood. It is a reminder of God’s love and grace toward us, of our hope in His victorious return and a sign of the love that Christians have for each other.
Matthew 26:26-28 • Mark 14:22-24 • 1 Corinthians 10:16 • 1 Corinthians 11:23-30
The Second Coming of Christ
We believe in the personal return of Jesus Christ to receive His believers into a literal heaven and to eternal life. The time of His return is unknown, but may be at any moment. We also believe that those who have not accepted Christ as their personal Savior, and are unrepentant, will be judged by God in His perfect justice and doomed to a literal hell and to eternal punishment.
Ecclesiastes 12:14 • Matthew 25:31-46 •Luke 16:19-31 • John 14:1-3 • Romans 2:16
2 Corinthians 5:10 • 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 • James 5:7-8 • Revelation 20:10
Revelation 20:13-15 • Revelation 22:1 • Revelation 22:12 • Revelation 22: 20
The Resurrection of the Dead
We believe in the bodily resurrection from the dead of all mankind – of the just unto the resurrection of life, and of the unjust unto the resurrection of damnation. The resurrection of the righteous dead will occur at Christ’s Second Coming, and the resurrection of the wicked will occur at a later time. The resurrection of Christ is the guarantee of the resurrection of those who are in Christ. The raised body will be physical, spiritual, whole and identifiable.
Matthew 22:30-32 • Matthew 28:1-20 • Mark 16:1-8 • Luke 14:14 • Luke 24:1-53
John 5:28,29 • John 11:21-27 • John 20:1-21:25 • Romans 8:11 • 1 Corinthians 6:14
1 Corinthians 15:1-58 • 2 Corinthians 4:14 • 2 Corinthians 5:1-11 • 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17
Revelation 20:4-6 • Revelation 20:11-13
The Holy Trinity
We believe in one living and true God, eternal and of infinite power, wisdom, goodness and righteousness. He is a faithful God who is the Creator and Preserver of all things. In the unity of this Godhead there are three persons of one substance with identical qualities and attributes: The Father, Son and The Holy Spirit.
Genesis1:1 • Deuteronomy6:4 • Jeremiah10:10 • Matthew3:16-17 • Matthew28:19 • John1:1-2 • John4:24 • John5:18 • 1Timothy 1:17
