What We Believe
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare:
HIS VIRGIN BIRTH,
HIS SINLESS LIFE,
HIS MIRACLES,
HIS SUBSTITUTIONARY WORK ON THE CROSS,
HIS BODILY RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD,
HIS EXALTATION TO THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD,
Man was created good and upright; for God said, “Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness” (Gen 1:26-27). However, man by voluntary transgression, fell and incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which leads to eternal separation from God.
Humanity’s only hope of redemption and reconciliation with God is through acceptance of the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
CONDITIONS OF SALVATION
Salvation is received through repentance from sin and faith in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are justified by grace through faith, and not by works. It is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that we have eternal life.
THE EVIDENCE OF SALVATION AND THE PROCESS OF SANCTIFICATION
Salvation is evidenced through the direct witness of the Holy Spirit. Upon receiving justification by grace, the believer continuously pursues a life of righteousness and true holiness, which entails saying “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions. Simply put, it is the process of the believer becoming more like Jesus.
BAPTISM IN WATER
The ordinance of baptism is commanded by the Scriptures. All who repent of their sins and believe in Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. By doing this they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and have been raised with Him to walk in new life.
HOLY COMMUNION
The Lord’s Supper, consisting of bread and fruit of the vine, is a symbol of the body and blood of Christ, a memorial of His suffering and death, a proclamation of His second coming, and should always be preceded by self-examination.
MARRIAGE
Marriage is a lifelong commitment between one man and one woman. This ordinance is not a command, but is ordained by God for those who choose it and is an earthly reflection of the relationship between Christ and His church.
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the eternal Trinity and is co-equal and of the same essence as God the Father and Jesus Christ. All believers should expect and earnestly seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which was promised by the Father and commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ. With the baptism of the Holy Spirit comes the endowment of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts, and their use in our life of faith. The gifts of the Holy Spirit that we see on display in the New Testament are still active within the life of the church. These gifts did not end with the close of the New Testament or the death of the last apostle.
The Church is a divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry for the fourfold purpose of leading believers in:
THE EVANGELIZATION OF THE WORLD,
- Mark 16:15-20 [ESV]
THE WORSHIP OF GOD,
- John 4:23-24 [ESV]
BUILDING A BODY OF SAINTS BEING PERFECTED IN THE IMAGE OF HIS SON,
- Ephesians 4:11-16 [ESV]
MEETING HUMAN NEEDS WITH MINISTRIES OF LOVE AND COMPASSION,
- James 1:27 [ESV]
We believe that God’s eternal plan is to eradicate human suffering, wipe away every tear, and triumph over evil. We believe that God, in His own time and His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. With the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, which is His personal, visible return to Earth He will establish His millennial kingdom. We believe in the establishment of the new heaven and earth, the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, eternal blessing of the righteous in heaven, and endless separation of the wicked in hell.