WE BELIEVE THAT

The Bible
The 66 books of the Bible are the inspired Word of God, a revelation from God to men, and the final authority for all we believe and how we are to live (2 Tim. 3:15-17; 1 Pet. 1:23-25; 2 Pet. 1:20-21; Heb. 4:12). 

One True God
There is one true God who has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent, self-revealed "I AM," and has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association by simultaneously existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Isa. 43:10; Mt. 28:19-20; Mk. 12:29; Jn. 3:17).

Humanity
We believe that humanity was originally created by God in his own image, righteous and without sin. As a consequence of voluntary disobedience, all persons are sinners by nature and by choice, and therefore are spiritually dead in the sight of God and entirely unable to save themselves (Gen. 1:26-31; Gen. 3:17; Ps. 51:5; Rom. 3:9-18, 23; Rom. 5:12-21; Eph. 2:1-3). 

Jesus Christ
Jesus is the Messiah. He is God in the flesh: fully God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and offered himself as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. By his blood shed at the cross, he obtained for us the forgiveness of sins, eternal redemption, and everlasting life. Jesus was bodily raised from the dead by the power of God and has ascended to sit at the right hand of God and intercede for believers. (Isa. 53:5; Mt. 1:18-25; Jn. 1:1-18; Acts 4:12; Rom. 5:1-11; 2 Cor. 5:21; Eph. 1:3-7; Phil. 2:6-11; Col. 1:15-23; 1 Tim. 2:5-6; 1 Pet. 1:18-21; 1 Pet. 2:21-25; Heb. 7:25). 

Salvation
Salvation is based on what Jesus did for us, not what we do for Him. Salvation comes by the grace of God, and is evident to all humanity through the message of repentance toward God and through faith in Jesus. Believers are saved - by the justification that comes through grace - into a spiritual renaissance and are given the right to become children of God, with eternal life as their inheritance. The outward evidence of this salvation is a life of holiness (Mt. 7:13-20; Jn. 1:12-13; Rom. 10:9-10; 2 Cor. 5:17-21; Eph. 2:6-10; Titus 3:3-7; 1 Jn. 1:9, 2:3-6).

Evil
We believe that Satan was originally a great and good angel, but he rebelled against God and was cast out of God’s presence, taking a multitude of angels with him. He is at work with his demonic hosts to establish his counter-kingdom of darkness, evil, and unrest on earth. Satan was judged and defeated at the cross of Christ and will be cast forever into the lake of fire which has been prepared for him and his angels (Ezek. 28:11-19; Mt. 25:41; Luke 10:18; 2 Cor. 11:14; Col 2:15; 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6; Rev 12:7-9, 20:10). 

The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ baptizes believers in the Holy Spirit (this experience may be distinct from and subsequent to the experience of conversion as a follower of Jesus). The Holy Spirit regenerates, forever indwells, and graciously equips the Christian for godly living and service. He fills, empowers, and anoints believers as ministers and witnesses. We also believe that signs and wonders, as well as all the gifts of the Spirit described in the New Testament, are operative today with the purposes of testifying to the presence of God’s kingdom and empowering the Church to fulfill its calling and mission (Jn. 1:12-13, 14:16-17, 20:22; Acts 1:4-8; Acts 2:1-4, 2:38, 11:14-16, 15:7-9; Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor 12:1-31; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; Eph. 1:13-14).

Sanctification
The saving grace of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, also sanctifies us by enabling us to do what is pleasing in God’s sight, that we might be progressively conformed to the image of Christ. By the power of the Holy spirit we strive to obey the command, “Be ye holy, for I am holy.” Sanctification is the will of God for all believers, and should be earnestly pursued by walking in obedience to God’s Word (Jn. 14:15; 1 Thess. 3:13, 5:23-24; Titus 2:12; James 1:22; 1 Pet. 1:15).

The Church
We believe that the church is the holy Body of Christ and God’s primary instrument through which he is fulfilling His redemptive purposes in the earth. The church has been charged with fulfilling the great commission. In order to equip the Saints for the work of this ministry, God has given the church apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Each believer is an integral part of the church, and we affirm the priesthood of all believers and the importance of every Christian being joined with and actively involved in a local community of the saints. We believe that both men and women are equally called and gifted to proclaim the gospel and do all the works of the kingdom (Acts 2:17-18, 2:42, 20:28; Eph. 3:14-21, 4:11-16; 1 Thes. 2:4; Heb. 10:23-25; 1 Pet. 2:4-5, 9-10).

Ministry
God has called the Church to work together in unity and honor in the scripturally-ordained ministry of preaching the gospel to all nations, making disciples/edification of the church, and remembering the poor and ministering to their needs through sacrificial giving and practical service. This ministry is an expression of the heart of the Lord Jesus Christ and is an essential part of the kingdom of God. (Isa. 58:6-12, 61:1; Mt. 25:37-40, 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Gal. 2:10; Eph. 4:11-13; Jas. 1:27).

Sacraments / Ordinances
The ordinances of water baptism and The Lord’s Supper (Communion) are not a means of salvation, but are channels of God’s sanctifying grace and blessings to faithful followers of Jesus Christ.

The ordinance of baptism by burial with Christ should be observed (as commanded in the Scriptures) by all that have repented of their sins and in their hearts have believed on Christ as their Savior and Lord. In doing so, they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they have also been released to walk with Him in newness of life (Mt. 28:19; Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3-11; 1 Cor 10:16-21; Col. 2:12; 1 Pet. 3:21).

The Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements (bread and fruit of the vine) is the symbol expressing our sharing in a memorial to His suffering and death, and a prophecy of His second coming, and is enjoined to all believers “until He comes” (Mt. 26:26-29;  Jn. 6:48,51,53-57; 1 Cor. 11:23-34).

Heaven & Hell
We believe that when Christians die, they pass immediately into the presence of God, where they enjoy conscious fellowship with the Lord until the day of the resurrection and the glorious transformation of their bodies. The saved will receive eternal rewards and forever dwell in blissful fellowship with their great triune God. We also believe that Satan and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, and whosoever is not found written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will be consigned to hell, there to await the Day of Judgment when they shall be punished in the lake of fire with eternal, conscious, and tormented separation from the presence of God (1 Thes. 4:16-17; Rom. 6:23; Titus 2:13; John 14:1-3; Rev. 19:20; Mt. 25:46; Jn. 5:25-29; 1 Cor. 15:35-58; 2 Cor. 5:1-10; Phil. 3:20-21; 2 Thes. 1:5-10; Rev. 20:11-15).

The Second Coming
We believe in the literal second coming of Christ at the end of this age, when He will return to earth personally and visibly to reign over the nations in His millennial kingdom. We believe that the Church will go through the Great Tribulation with great power and victory and will only be raptured at the end of the Great Tribulation. No one can know with certainty the timing of the Lord’s return. We also believe in and are praying for the salvation of national Israel, and a great end-time harvest of souls and the emergence of a victorious Church that will experience unprecedented unity, purity, and power in the Holy Spirit (Ps. 22:27-28; Mt. 24:36; Rom. 11:25-32; 1 Cor. 15:20-28, 50-58; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Thes. 4:13-5:11; 2 Thes 1:3-12; Rev. 7:9-17).