Our Beliefs
I. The Scriptures
It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, of God's revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter.
II. God
Spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience.
God the Father
God the Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purpose of his grace. He is all powerful, all loving, and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is Father in His attitude toward all men.
God the Son
Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself the demands and necessities of human nature and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His death on the cross. He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorifying body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, partaking of the nature of God and of man, and in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers at the living and ever
present Lord.
God the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts of sin, of righteousness and of judgement. He calls men to Savior, and effects regeneration. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the assurance of God to bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in
worship, evangelism and service.
III. MAN
Man was created by the special act of God, in His own image, and is the crowning work of His creation. By his free choice, man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Only the grace of God can restore man to a proper relationship with His creator and enable man to fulfill His God-given destiny and purpose.
IV. SALVATION
Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is provided freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Salvation comes by the grace of God through faith in the finished work of Christ. He is the way the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except through Him. Salvation is not the product of man’s effort. Christ has already done all of the work necessary for man to be saved. Our role is to believe and accept His offer of Eternal Life.
V. THE CHURCH
The New Testament Church is described in two ways in the scripture. First, it is the universal body of believers of all times. This universal body recognizes no divisions based upon denominational distinctions. Every born again believer in Christ is a part of the universal body of the Church. Secondly, the New Testament speaks repeatedly of the New Testament church as a local body of baptized believers who have voluntarily chosen to unite in the service, worship, and fellowship of God and His
people. The local congregation is autonomous and accountable to Christ for its ministry. The church was established by the Lord to provide a local opportunity to promote spiritual growth, worship, ministry, fellowship, and worldwide evangelization.
VI. BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
Christian baptism is an act of obedience to Christ’s commands. The proper candidate for baptism is an individual who has truly accepted Christ as Lord. The proper method of baptism is immersion. Baptism publicly affirms one’s faith the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. It also symbolizes the death of the old life of sin and rebellion and the spiritual resurrection of the saint to walk in newness of life. Baptism does not convey or secure salvation. It is an act of obedience that follows conversion and inaugurates the Christian life.
The Lord’s Supper is a most sacred act of worship. The Bible describes this event as a memorial celebration commemorating Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. “Do this in remembrance of Me.” It is also a time of serious reflection and renewal. “Let a man examine himself.” Communion should always include an opportunity for personal and corporate renewal. Finally, the meal is a testimony of faith. We “proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” The Bible does not give instructions as to the frequency of communion but it does emphasize the sacred nature of the event and requires that the church observe it in a spirit of holiness and reverence.