The sole basis of our belief is the Bible, composed of the 66 books of the Old and New Testament. We believe that Scripture in its entirety originated from God and that it was given through the instrumentality of chosen men. Scripture thus at one and the same time speaks with the authority of God and reflects the backgrounds, styles, and vocabularies of the human authors. We hold that the Scriptures are infallible and inerrant in the original manuscripts. They are the unique, full, and final authority on all matters of faith and practice, and there are no other writings similarly inspired by God.
We believe that there is one true, Holy God, eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality. In the beginning God created out of nothing the world and all the things therein; thus manifesting the glory of His power, wisdom and goodness. By His sovereign power He continues to sustain His creation. By His providence He is operating throughout history to fulfill His redemptive purposes.
The central purpose of God’s revelation in Scripture is to call people into fellowship with Himself. Originally created to have fellowship with God, man defied God, choosing to go his independent way, and was thus alienated from God and suffered the corruption of his nature. The salvation of mankind is wholly a work of God’s free grace, not the result, in whole or in part of human works of goodness, and must be personally appropriated by repentance and faith in the finished work of Christ. When God has begun a saving work in the heart of any person, He gives assurance in His Word that He will continue performing it until the day of its full consummation.
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, the second Person of the Trinity, who was united forever with a true human nature by a miraculous conception and virgin birth. He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father and voluntarily atoned for the sins of all by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone. He rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of the Father, where He continually makes intercession for His own. He shall come again to earth, personally and visibly, to consummate history and the eternal plan of God.
The essential accompaniment of a genuine saving relationship with Jesus Christ is a life of holiness and obedience, attained by believers as they submit to the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit was sent into the world by the Father and the Son to apply to humankind the saving work of Christ. He enlightens the minds of sinners, awakens in them a recognition of their need of a Savior and regenerates them. He permanently indwells every believer to become the source of assurance, strength and wisdom, and uniquely endows each believer with gifts for the up building of the body. The Holy Spirit guides believers in understanding and applying the Scripture. His power and control are appropriated by faith, making it possible for the believer to lead a life of Christ-like character and to bear fruit to the glory of the Father.
Death seals the eternal destiny of each person. For all humankind, there will be a resurrection of the body and a judgment that will determine the fate of each individual. Unbelievers will be separated from God into condemnation. Believers will be received into eternal communion with God in the new heaven and new earth and will be rewarded for works done in this life.
The result of union with Jesus Christ is that all believers become members of His body, the church. There is one true church universal, comprised of all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The Scripture commands believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, observance of Baptism and communion as the sacramental ordinances established by Jesus Christ, fellowship, service to the body and stewardship of the world. Wherever God’s people meet regularly in obedience to this command, there is the local expression of the church. Under the leadership of pastors, who are given the responsibility to equip God’s people for ministry, its members are called to fulfill the Great Commission.