Core Beliefs

1. Authority and Inerrancy of Scripture:  We believe in the scripture of the Old and New Testaments as being inspired by God and inerrant in the original writings and to be the final authority in life.  2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21

2. The Trinity:  God eternally exist as 3 persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and each person is fully God and there is one God.  Matthew 28:18-19; Mark 12:29; John 14; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:1-2

A.  God, the Father:  We believe God the Father rules in a sovereign—yet personal way—over His creation, judges justly according to His holiness, and compassionately reconciles a lost world back to himself. Genesis 1; Exodus 4:22, 34:6-7; Romans 8:14-17; Ephesians 4:6

B. God, the Son:  We believe the Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who became man without ceasing to be God, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born sinless of the virgin Mary, and lived a sinless life.  Isaiah 53:12; Luke 1:31-35; John 1:1, 2, 14, 18; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:19; 1 Peter 2:22

C. God, the Spirit:  We believe that the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin; that He brings new life to those who are spiritually dead; that He baptizes (or places) all believers into the one true Church which is the Body of Christ; that He indwells them permanently, seals them unto the day of redemption, bestows spiritual gifts upon them, fills (controls) those who are yielding to Him.  John 3:3-8, 14:16-17, 16:7-11; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11,13; Ephesians 4:30, 5:18

3. Total Depravity of Humanity:  We believe that man was originally created in the image of God and that he fell through sin, and as a consequence of sin lost his life and was separated from God.  We also believe that this total depravity of human nature has been transmitted to the entire human race and that every human being is born at enmity with God.  Genesis 3; Romans 3:23, 5:6-12, 6:23

4. The Substitutionary Atonement and Bodily Resurrection of Jesus:  We believe in the physical death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Therefore, we believe Jesus Christ is the only sufficient sacrifice for sin and the only true mediator for mankind.  Matthew 27, 28; Romans 8:3, 5:12-21; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Timothy 2:5-6

5. Salvation by Faith Alone in Jesus:  We believe that salvation is a gift from God by grace through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ.  John 14:6 Galatians 2:20-21; Ephesians 2:8-10

6. The Physical Imminent Return of Jesus:  We believe in the imminent, physical return of Jesus Christ.  John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 22:20

7. The Church: We believe that the local church is a body of members all of whom are saved who are joined together to do God’s will in order to draw people to glorify Him. Matthew 16:18; Acts 2; 1 Corinthians 12:26-27; Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 10:23-25

8. Eternal Security of the Believer:  We believe that all who are saved are kept secure in Christ forever.  John 10:27-30; Romans 8:38-39; Ephesians 1:13-14; I Peter 1:3-5

9. Baptism:  We believe that baptism does not save a person but that it is a public testimony of a personal faith relationship in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and is an act of obedience to Scripture.  Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 6:3-7

10. Lord’s Supper: We believe that the Lord's Supper is a remembrance by the Church that Jesus Christ's atonement on the cross is complete and that He is coming again. We believe that the bread and the cup are symbols of Christ's broken body and shed blood. Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

11. Heaven/Hell:  We believe in a bodily resurrection in a real place; either in Heaven with the eternal joy of all who are saved, or in Hell with the eternal conscious punishment of those who are not saved.  Matthew 25:31-46; Hebrews 9:27-28; The Book of Revelation

12. Satan, demons and evil:  We believe there is an angelic being called Satan who is called the Devil, Lucifer, the Evil One in Scripture.  He appears to be the highest created being who rebelled against God by seeking equality with Him.  He was removed from his lofty position and now functions in this world as the greatest and most powerful enemy of God.  He deceives mankind, offers temptation to sin and causes confusion and destruction in God's orderly creation.  Demons are fallen angels which do the bidding of Satan.  Genesis 3:1-5, 13-15; Isaiah 14:13-14; Matthew 4:3-10; 2 Corinthians 4:4

13. Rewards: We believe that God will eternally reward all who are saved for speech and deeds done under the power and direction of the Holy Spirit that align with His Word. Matthew 6:1-4; 1 Corinthians 3:12-14; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Galatians 6:7-10; 2 Timothy 4:8; Revelation 22:12-13

14. Spiritual Gifts:  We believe that The Holy Spirit distributes a gift or gifts to all who are saved for the purpose of building up of the church.  Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7; Ephesians 4:7-16

15. Women in Ministry:  The leadership of women in the church is equal to, but different than, and never supplants, male leadership in church.  We believe that women do not serve in the biblical role of elder or overseer in the church.  1 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Timothy 2:11-14, 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9

16. The Christian Life:  We believe that all who are saved are called and commanded to reflect God’s character, live lives of integrity, justice and compassion in all areas, and draw others to the living God for His glory.  John 15:5; Romans 1:16-17; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; Ephesians 2:1-10, 4:1-6; Colossians 2:6-7

17. Stewardship:  We believe that all who are saved are called and commanded to faithfully manage all that God has entrusted to them, since God owns all things Genesis 1:28; Matthew 6:19-21, 25:14-30; 2 Corinthians 8,9; Ephesians 5:15-17, 5:21-6:9