Key Beliefs

We believe the Bible, consisting of both the Old and New Testament Scriptures in their entirety, is the only divinely inspired, inerrant, objectively true, and authoritative written Word of God, and the only infallible rule of faith and practice. The divine inspiration of Scripture extends to each word of the original manuscripts, but not to the various copies or translations of Scripture. The Bible should be interpreted literally, grammatically, contextually, and historically.

We believe in only one God, the Creator, who is infinite, personal, eternally existing in three persons, and who is revealed to us in Scripture as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We believe that Jesus Christ is God the Son who has neither beginning nor end. He was conceived in the flesh by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and is fully God and fully man. Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and arose bodily on the third day. He ascended into heaven and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father as our only mediator, high priest, and advocate.

We believe the Holy Spirit is God, the third person of the Trinity. He is a person, not a force. The Holy Spirit’s ministries include convicting all people of sin; calling, regenerating, indwelling, and baptizing believers into the Body of Christ; setting them apart to a holy life; and teaching, keeping, and empowering them day by day. The Holy Spirit calls and empowers all believers to be part of something that will last forever. We believe the evidence of the presence and filling of the Holy Spirit should be the fruit of the Spirit rather than an expectation of a miraculous sign.

We believe that both man and woman were created in the image of God to enjoy a personal relationship with Him. As a result of deliberate disobedience, they fell from their sinless state, and they, and all their descendants became sinners. Consequently, they cannot save themselves and, apart from the grace of God in Jesus Christ, they are condemned to a place of eternal torment.

We believe we are saved solely by the grace of God through faith in Christ alone. This salvation was purchased by the substitutionary death and shed blood of Jesus Christ for the sins of every person and is offered to everyone as a free gift. The person who has trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior is eternally secure and can enjoy the assurance of salvation. We believe that, at death, believers enter eternal glory and that unbelievers enter eternal torment consistent with the willful choices each made in life.

We believe that every believer has been sanctified, set apart with a perfect standing before God. As believers yield themselves to the Holy Spirit, they will experience spiritual growth in holiness, but they will not experience perfection in conduct. Future rewards are determined primarily by what motivates Christian behavior more than the behavior itself. Those whose behavior is an outflow of finding their identity in Christ will be rewarded. Those whose behavior is an attempt to merit favor with God will not be rewarded.

We believe that Christ is the Head of the Church, which is His Body. All who have trusted in Him as Savior are members of this Body. Christians should commit themselves to worship, instruction, fellowship, stewardship, and service in a local church. The church is responsible to represent Jesus Christ in the world through godly living and evangelism. All believers are commanded to participate in two church ordinances: believers’ baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper.

We believe that Satan was created as an angelic being. He became the author of sin, our adversary and accuser, and the great deceiver of the nations. He will finally be overcome by the Lord Jesus Christ and suffer eternal punishment in the lake of fire.

We believe, on a day known only by God the Father, Jesus will return for His Church. This will be followed by the final judgment of the wicked in the lake of fire and eternal life for God’s children in a new heaven and a new earth.

We believe that water baptism is a public witness intended to reflect an internal decision of faith to trust Jesus alone for salvation. We do not believe the Bible teaches that baptism is a necessary work for salvation, but rather it bears witness that salvation has already been experienced. We believe salvation is not by works or religious rituals but is simply received when we embrace Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection for our sins. We believe that baptism by immersion most clearly reenacts the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus which we identify with as believers.

Our belief from the Bible is that baptism is a public witness intended to reflect an internal decision of faith to trust Jesus alone for salvation. Therefore, baptism is to be pursued by those who, of their own free will, have experienced God’s salvation. We do not believe an infant is capable of such a decision, and we see no evidence from the Scriptures that babies were baptized. We dedicate our children to God as a testimony of our dependence upon God and of our belief that our children ultimately belong to God. We, as parents, are called to raise our children in a way that is pleasing to Him. We also, as a body of believers, dedicate ourselves to partner with parents to raise this generation of children to love God and serve Him.

We believe that the elements of communion represent the shed blood and broken body of our Savior Jesus Christ. We do not believe these elements are the actual body and blood of Jesus nor do we believe they become the actual body and blood of Jesus. It seems evident, since Jesus was physically present with His disciples when he commanded them to eat the bread and drink the cup, that the elements were intended to be symbolic. We also practice open communion, meaning anyone who has trusted Jesus as Savior is invited to join us in partaking of the elements.