1. One God
We believe in one God, holy, all-knowing, all-powerful, and eternally existing in three persons: The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. (Is. 44:6-7, Lev. 19:2, Heb. 1:3, Matt. 28:19)
2. Revelation
Scripture (66 canonical books) is the inspired Word of God, inerrant, and the final authority for all of life and practice. It is living and active, providing spiritual nourishment, refreshment and admonishment to the believer. It is God’s gracious revelation of Himself to mankind, expressing His glory, love and purpose towards His creation. (2 Tim. 3:16, Heb. 4:12, Psalm 19:7-11)
3. Creation of Humanity
God created man, male and female, in His own image on the sixth day. Man’s primary end was to be in relationship with God to bring God glory and to enjoy fellowship with Him forever. Man’s original mandate was to fill the earth and to subdue it, that God’s glory would be known throughout the world–to the ends of the earth. (Gen. 1:16-31, Gen 2:4-25, Hab. 2:14)
4. The Fall
Adam and Eve’s first disobedience in the Garden, the Fall, brought death (physical, spiritual and eternal) as they stepped out from under God’s Law. As a result of the fall, all mankind are sinners, dead in sin and completely separated from the Holy God. Sin is passed on through Adam, the first man, and every descendant of Adam is a sinner from birth–under the curse of sin, condemned, and without righteousness. (Gen. 3, 1 Cor. 15:22a, Romans 6:23)
5. The Plan of God
God’s plan is eternal and no one, man or Satan can thwart it. God’s purposes in creation were for His Glory to be manifest through the created order of man’s humble worship. Yet when man sinned, God’s eternal purposes were not hindered. The Old Testament repeatedly points forward to Jesus Christ as the only sufficient sacrifice for sins. The New Testament Gospels introduce Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, fully man and fully God. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died as a sacrifice for mankind’s sins, and rose again in victory over death. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ lives in heaven, as head of the Church, advocating on our behalf. He is worthy of worship, and it is for this purpose that missions is both a command and a privilege for the Church. (Eph. 1:1-14, 1 Cor. 15: 1-10, Rev. 5:9, Matt. 28:18-20)
6. The Gospel
The Good News of the Gospel is that God acted out of his great glory and love on behalf of his fallen creation demonstrating perfect love and justice while we were yet sinners. Jesus Christ came into the world and provided atonement for sins through his death and resurrection for those who believe on His name and confess him as Lord. (John 3:16, Rom. 5:8, Rom. 10:9-10)
7. Salvation through Christ Alone
Salvation is a free gift received through faith in Christ alone. There is no other way for man to be reconciled with God, not through good works or any other means. It is only through the completed work of Christ upon the cross that God’s righteous wrath against sin is satisfied and man can find forgiveness through a personal faith in Christ’s work on his behalf. (Eph. 2:8-9, John 14:1-7, Is. 64:6)
8. Justification of Sinners
God in his holiness and justice cannot forgive sin unless the debt (death) has been paid. Christ made a substitutionary atonement by becoming sin for us and dying in our place. His perfect life and sinless death impute his righteousness to believers. Jesus Christ’s declaration that, “It is finished” and his resurrection from the dead assures us that each sinner who believes upon him will be forgiven and saved from eternal separation from God and to eternal life in heaven. (2 Cor. 5:21, Eph. 2:13)
9. The Ministry of the Holy Spirit
Our family rejoices in both the ministry and mystery of the Holy Spirit’s work on our behalf.
In Salvation: We believe that the Holy Spirit quickens and convicts the hearts of sinners, who have a responsibility to respond with repentance and faith in Christ. The Holy Spirit gives life and indwells upon salvation bringing the believer into God’s Family. (John 16:8, Rom. 8:15)
In Sanctification: The Holy Spirit indwells and gives spiritual life upon salvation. Positionally, we are new creatures with right standing before God. In progressive terms of sanctification, the Spirit is our “Helper:” guiding, convicting and producing fruits of salvation as we abide and walk with Christ in the Spirit’s power. (Gal. 5:13-25)
In Glorification: Our glorious inheritance as God’s children is sealed and preserved by the guaranty of the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 1:13-14)
On Sign Gifts:
We do not practice or seek sign gifts; we believe there were purposed for affirmation of the Gospel during the early church. However, we do not presume upon God’s right to act in these ways within His created world if He deems it best. (Acts 2, Romans 12, 1 Cor. 12)
10. The Church
The Universal Church: We believe that the Church is the Bride of Christ and is made up of true believers from the New Testament age with Christ as its Head. The Church was instituted at Pentecost in Acts 2. (Acts 2)
The Local Church: The local church functions as the tangible body of Christ within its community. It is made up of believers who have joined together in fellowship through baptism and church membership. Within this local body, members are blessed to grow: in their identity in Christ and as His Body, in their knowledge of the Scripture, in their participation in body life by exercising their spiritual gifts for the edification of the church; and in their witness to the world, participating in making disciples of every nation. It is the privilege of the Church to participate in making Christ known among the nations until He returns. (Eph. 1:22-23, Eph. 4:11-16, Matt. 28:19-20)
11. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
Within the local church, Christ has instituted two ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe in baptism of the believer by immersion to declare to the world their belief and allegiance to Christ. It is a visible sign of our identification and union with Christ in His death and resurrection to new life. We believe Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper for the Church as an ordinance to remind and preach to itself and observers the Good News and Work of Christ until He returns. (Matt 3:13-17, Acts 9:10-19, Acts 8:26-40, Matt. 28:19, 1 Cor. 11:17-32)
12. Things to Come
The hope of the Church is in the imminent return of Christ to gather His saints and to carry out the final judgement and restoration of all things. We root our confidence and courage in the Revelation passages that detail the throngs of people from every nation, tribe and tongue before the throne singing, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain!” The beauty of God’s glory and love–from even before creation made manifest in Christ’s ultimate selfless sacrifice–is what compels us to go to the ends of the earth with the Gospel. (1 Thess. 4:13-18, 2 Cor. 5, Rev. 5:9-14)