Our Beliefs
THE SCRIPTURES
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We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. (I Timothy 3:16-17; I Thessalonians 2:13 ; II Peter 1:19-21; Mark 13:31; John 8:31,32; John 20:31; Acts 20:32; I Cor. 4:6)
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GOD
We believe in God, an infinite, intelligent, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that God infallibly foreknows all that shall come to pass, and that God is actively and mercifully engaged in the affairs of humanity, hears and answers prayer, and saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (Luke 10:21,22; Matthew 23:9; John 3:16; 6:27; Romans 1:7; I Timothy 1:1,2; 2:5,6; I Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:6)
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HUMANITY
We believe that God created humanity, male and female, in the image of God. With the image of God, humanity receives the capacity for self-understanding, self-definition, self-determination, creativity, and community. (Genesis 1:26-31, 2:4-25)
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THE FALL OF HUMANITY
We believe that humanity fell from its created state through an act of disobedience, bringing it into a condition of sin. The state of innocence was lost and placed humanity under the judgment of God and made subject to the miseries of life, the certainty of death, and the threat of permanent separation from God. (Genesis 3)
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JESUS CHRIST
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. He was fully human and divine; the visible expression of the invisible God. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth. At conversion, He regenerates, indwells, seals, and baptizes all born-again believers into the body of Christ. He increasingly conforms those who yield to Him to the image of Christ and empowers them for spiritual service. Finally, we believe that Christ will return for the purpose of fulfilling His word, raising the dead, destroying death, gathering the believers, completing the banishment of the wicked, issuing the final judgment, and glorifying and rewarding believers. (John 1:1-5,14, Colossians 1:16-17, Hebrews 1:2, John 8:58, 17:5, Matthew 16:13-20, Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-38, John 1:14, 14:7-11, Colossians 1:15, 2:9, Romans 3:24-26, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 3:13, 1 Peter 2:24, Hebrews 2:9, 1 John 2:2, 1 Peter 3:13-20, Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20, Acts 1:1-3, 1 Corinthians 15, Acts 1:9-11, Romans 8:34, 1 Corinthians 15:24-28, Ephesians 1:20, Ephesians 4:20; I Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 1:3, 4:14-16, 6:19-20, 8:1-2, 2 Peter 3:1-12, Acts 10:42, 17:31, John 14:3, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, 1 Corinthians 15:25, Matthew 24:31, 25:32-46)
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THE TRINITY
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons; that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption. (Genesis 1:1,26; John 1:1,3; Matthew 28:19; John 4:24; Romans 1:19,20; Ephesians 4:5,6)
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THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine person, equal with the Father and Son and of the same substance and nature; that He convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment, bears witness to the truth, is the agent of the new birth, and that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses to, sanctifies, and helps the believer, indwelling every true child of God (John 14:16-17; 26; John 16:9-15; Rom.8:9; 14-27; 1 Cor. 3:16; 2 Cor. 13:14; Galatians 5:22-26)
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SATAN
We believe in the distinct personality of the devil, who is still working in the world to destroy the souls of humankind. We believe that Satan is a personal being, a fallen angel who, because of pride and disobedience to God, was exiled from the presence of God. He is the unholy god and the ruler of the powers of darkness, the arch enemy of humanity's acceptance of Christ. His final destiny is defeat and eternal condemnation to the lake of fire along with all who have not received Christ as their personal Savior. (Ezekiel 28:12-19; Isa 14:12-17; Matt.4:1-3; Matt 13:19,39; Matt.25:41; 2 Cor.4:4; Rev.20:10)
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SALVATION
We believe in the personal salvation of believers through the shed blood of Jesus Christ by accepting Christ as Savior. That salvation of humanity is wholly a work of God’s free grace and not the work, in whole or in part, of human works or goodness or religious ceremony. God imputes His righteousness to those who put their faith on Christ alone for their salvation, and thereby justified them in His sight. The born-again believer is justified because of his/her new relationship in Christ, and sanctified through the redemptive work of Christ and the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit. All who are born of God are eternally secure in Him and will share eternal glory in heaven with Christ. (Jn 3:16, Jn 3:36; Jn 14:6; Acts 4:12; Matt 7:13,14; Eph 2:8,9; Jn 3:3; I Jn 5:1)
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SANCTIFICATION
We believe that Sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of His holiness; that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration; and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means, – especially, the word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness and prayer. (2 Thessalonians 2:13; Romans 8:1-2; Romans 12:1-2; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:23)
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BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
We believe in water baptism, through immersion as an act of obedience and in Holy Communion (The Lord’s Supper) and that they should be observed by all believers until Christ’s return. We believe that Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are actions, which symbolize important truths and are to be observed out of obedience to the command of Jesus Christ. While they are not essential to salvation, they are essential to discipleship and obedience. We believe that through baptism, one expresses one’s identity through and identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and is incorporated into the family of God. We believe that the Lord’s Supper represents the price that was paid for salvation, being the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ. It is observed in obedience to and in the presence of the Risen Lord and not only reflects upon His death, but also anticipates His Second Coming. (Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 6:3-5; 2 Corinthians 11:17-34; Matthew 26:17-30)
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THE CHURCH
We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head, universal and timeless and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized in a credible profession of faith, and associated by faith for worship, work, and fellowship. We believe God has given gifts to men and women to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. We believe that the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world rests upon the members of the local church. We further believe that it is the church’s mission to preach the Scriptures to the entire world, all of its endeavors being guided by multiple leadership and supported by the wise stewardship of God's people. (Ephesians 2:19-22; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:19-21; Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:23-25; Ephesians 4:1-16)
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CHRISTIAN CONDUCT
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We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and the well-being of others; that his/her conduct should be blameless before the world; that he/she should be a faithful steward of his/her possessions; and that he/she should seek to realize for him/herself and others the full stature of maturity in Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:31; Romans 12:1-3; Hebrews 12:1-2; John 14:15,23-24; I John 2:3-6; 2 Corinthians 9:6-9; 1 Corinthians 4:2; Col. 1:9-10)
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STEWARDSHIP
We believe that God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to God. We have a spiritual debtorship to the world and a binding stewardship of our possessions. We are under obligation to serve God with our time, talents, and material possessions and should recognize all these as entrusted to us to use for the glory of God and helping others. ( 1 Chronicles 29:3-4; Psalm 24:1; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Matthew 25:14-30; Proverbs 3:9-10; Proverbs 3:27-28)
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THE KINGDOM
We believe in proclaiming the reign of God in the heart and life of the individual in every human relationship, and in every form and institution of organized human society. (Matthew 3:2; Matthew 4:17; Matthew 10:7; Luke 17:21)
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THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LEADERS
We believe that God anoints leaders to guide Christ’s church in the understanding and application of the Holy Scriptures. It is their responsibility to be examples of godliness as they see to the spiritual well being and protection of the flock over which God has given them charge. (Acts 6:1-8; Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:7; 1 Peter 5:1-3)
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ASSEMBLY
God admonishes His people to assemble together for worship, for participation in ordinances, for edification through the Scriptures and for mutual encouragement (Hebrews 10:25)
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THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD AND THE RETURN OF OUR LORD
We believe that Jesus rose from the dead, and that his grave was emptied of its contents. He appeared to the disciples after his resurrection with many convincing manifestations. He now exists in his glorified body at the right hand of God. There will be a resurrection of the righteous and the wicked. In the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost in hell and the fellowship of the saved in heaven. (Thess 4:13-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; Titus 2:13)
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