GOD

God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe (Genesis 1:1). He has eternally existed (Psalm 90:2) in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; I Peter 1:2). These three are coequal and are one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Ephesians 4:4-6).  God is sovereign.  He is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient, but man has 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)

JESUS

The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man (John 1:1–2, 14; Luke 1:35). He accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice, and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Romans 3:22-24; 1 Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3–5). The Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God the Father where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry as Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9-12; Romans 8:33-35; Hebrews 5:5-10; 7:25; 9:24; 1 John 2:1–2). Jesus is coming again to judge the living and the dead (1 Peter 4:5; Romans 14:8-9; 2 Timothy 4:1-2).

HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is coequal with the Father and the Son of God (2 Corinthians 3:17-18). He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ (John 16:7-11). He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation (John 14:16-17; Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 3:16). He provides the Christian with power for living (Acts 1:8), understanding of spiritual truth (1 Corinthians 2:12), guidance in doing what is right (Ephesians 5:15-18) and reassurance of redemption (Romans 8:8-9; Ephesians 1:13-14). As Christians we seek to live under His control daily (Galatians 5:25).

SCRIPTURE

The Bible is God’s Word to people. It was originally written inerrant and infallible by human authors (Proverbs 30:5; Psalm 12:6; 119:160), under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21). It is the final authority for Christian beliefs and living (Psalm 119:9, 105).

MAN

People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character (Genesis 1:26-27). People are the supreme object of God’s creation on earth (Psalm 8:3-6). Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all self-aware people have been marred by their own sin and affected by the sin of others (Isaiah 53:6, 59:1-2; Romans 3:23, 5:12). Only God can remedy this lost condition (Ephesians 2:1-5).

SALVATION

Salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace (Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10) and received through personal faith in Jesus at immersion for good works (Mark 16:16; John 3:16; Romans 5:1). Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life through immersion (Acts 2:38; Galatians 3:26-27; Titus 3:3-6; 1 Peter 3:21). The alternative to eternal life is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Hell is a literal place of eternal torment, whereas heaven is a literal place of eternal reward (Revelation 20:15). Salvation is both an event where a transaction is made in immersion and a process where a person continues to grow and act in faith (Galatians 3:11; Colossians 1:21-23).

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)

CHURCH

The church, which is the body and espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons (Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:25–31; 2 Corinthians 11:2). The establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:26-28; 18:22; 20:17; Titus 1:5). Local churches are free to operate autonomously, free of any external human authority and control (Acts 13:1–4; 15:22–31; 20:28; Romans 16:1; 1 Corinthians 3:5-11; 5:4; 1 Peter 5:1–4).

APOSTOLIC PRECEDENT

The example of the early apostolic church gives a pattern to follow for church life (Acts 2:42; Ephesians 2:19-22; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 2 Timothy 1:13-14). Whatever is not clearly taught or described in Scripture as a matter of faith and practice is a matter of freedom.

WORSHIP

Worship is a lifestyle, not just an event (John 4:23-24). This lifestyle is described in Scripture as one of service and sacrificial stewardship (Romans 12:1-8). All we have belongs to God. God has made us stewards (managers) of the resources He allows us to use. Every Christian will give account of how he manages the abilities and resources God has entrusted in him (Matthew 25:14-46). Every Christian should give regularly, sacrificially and cheerfully as God has blessed him both in time and money (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:6–11). It is the privilege and responsibility of every believer to minister according to the gifts and grace of God that is given to him (1 Peter 4:10–11).  Since man is saved for good works, neglecting this responsibility results in eternal death (Matthew 7:21; John 15:9-11; James 2:14-24; 1 John 5:1-5).

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)