Essential Beliefs

Scripture

We believe that the Holy Scriptures, contained in the 66 canonical books of the Bible, have been verbally inspired by God through His Spirit to their human authors. As such, they are infallible, inerrant, and demand our obedience. They are our sole and final authority for doctrine and practice. (Luke 24:27, John 17:17, Romans 15:4, 1 Corinthians 2:13, 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21)

God

We believe in one God, maker of all things visible and invisible, who is eternally existent in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, each having the same nature and attributes, but each carry out distinct functions in the sovereign plan of God. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:18–19, John 1:14, John 5:17–19, John 10:30, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Hebrews 1:1–3)

Man, Created and Fallen

We believe that the universe and everything in it was created by God to glorify Him. The culmination of His work was the special creation of Man and Woman in His own image. We also believe all mankind has fallen into sin, is thereby placed under God’s righteous judgment, and is therefore in need of a savior. (Genesis 1:26, Genesis 3:1–19, Psalms 14:1–3, Romans 3:10–19, Ephesians 2:1–3)

Person and Work of Jesus Christ

We believe that the man Jesus did live a perfect and sinless life on earth. Although He deserved no penalty, He was crucified as a substitute for sin to turn God’s wrath away from helpless sinners. He rose again bodily from the dead and ascended into Heaven where He currently reigns over the created world at God’s right hand. (1 Corinthians 15:4, Philippians 2:5–8, Hebrews 5:8–9, Hebrews 10:10–14, 1 John 2:2)

Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit who inspired the writers of Scripture also works to illuminate the meaning of Scripture in the lives of those who read it, and to plant faith in the hearts of those who would be saved. (John 14:16–17, Romans 8:9)

Salvation

We believe that salvation from the penalty of sin is available only in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ whereby His righteousness is imputed to the sinner. This is the gracious provision of God and is received solely through conscious faith in Jesus Christ, to the glory of God. All those who are born again by the Spirit through faith in Christ are assured of their salvation from the moment they take Him to be their Savior. (Acts 4:12, Romans 5:6–9, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Ephesians 2:8–9, 1 John 5:13)

Marriage

We believe God defines marriage as one man and one woman becoming one flesh. God establishes this one flesh relationship when one man and one woman enter into a formal covenant. God has commanded that sexual activity is reserved for the marriage relationship only and is not to be defiled by sexual immorality (Genesis 2:18–24, Matthew 19:4–6, Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5, Malachi 2:14, Matthew 19:6, Hebrews 13:4).

The Church

We believe that God’s people are united across time and space in the universal church, and that the rightful home for the Christian is the corporate gathering of the local church. (Romans 12:5, Colossians 1:18)

Return of Christ

We believe in the resurrection of the saints of God and in the bodily return of Jesus Christ in His glory to judge the living and the dead on the Day of the Lord. (Matthew 24:29–31, 1 Corinthians 15:51–52, 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, 1 Peter 4:5)