God

We believe that there is one and only one true God worthy of worship and service, the triune God of the Bible, who eternally exists in three distinct persons of the same essence as the Father and Creator, Jesus Christ the eternally begotten Son, and the Holy Spirit.  (Genesis 1:1-2,27; Exodus 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11; Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:6; Joel 2:28; Matthew 6:9, 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; John 1:1-3,14; 5:26; 14:6-13; 16:13-15; Acts 1:7-8; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

The Scriptures

We reverently receive the Old and New Testaments of the Bible as the Scriptures, the inspired Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice.  We recognize that all Scripture is a testimony to Christ and that He is the focus of divine revelation. (Ex. 24:3-4; Deut. 4:1-2; 17:19; Josh. 8:34; Ps. 19:7-10; 119:11,89,105,140; Isa. 34:16; 40:8; Jer. 15:16; 36; Matt. 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Rom. 15:4; 16:2526; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Heb. 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Pet. 1:25; 2 Pet. 1:19-21)

God the Father

We believe that God the Father is the creator of heaven and earth, and all things made owe their origin to Him.  We also believe that God the Father has a special and intimate relationship with His chosen people through His Son Jesus. (Deut. 32:6; Isa. 63:16; Ps. 33:6; Matt. 6:9;  John 1:1, 12-14; 5:18;17:23; 20:17; 1 Cor. 8:6; Eph. 1:3-5; 1 John 3:1-3)

Humanity

We believe that humanity is the special creation of God from the beginning.  God made people to bear His image and enjoy unique fellowship with Him.  The first human couple, Adam and Eve, were made innocent of sin and gifted with distinct gendered bodies and a covenant relationship sharing in full intimacy that we call marriage.  This original state of humanity is the model for all understandings of marriage, family, and human identity.  The first couple from whom all people descend disobeyed the command of God and plunged the whole human race into a state of sin and separation from God and His good purposes.  As a result only the grace of God can bring a human being into God’s holy fellowship. (Gen. 1:26-30; 2:5,7,18-22; 3:8-20; 9:6; Ps. 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isa. 53:6; Jer. 17:5; Matt. 19:1-12; Acts 17:26-31; Rom. 1:19-32; 3:10-18,23; 5:6,12,19; 6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18,29; 1 Cor. 11:11-15,15:19,21-22; Eph. 2:1-3,8-9)

Jesus the Son

We believe that Jesus the Son has eternally existed with the Father.  We believe that at the perfect time in history the Son was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary to be the promised Christ, God’s anointed king.  He lived a sinless life and after His substitutionary death on the cross for the redemption of humanity He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and ascended into heaven.  He is fully God and fully man.  He will visibly return in power and glory to judge the world and to complete His redemptive mission. (Ps. 2:7-9; 110:14; Isa. 7:14; 53:2-11; Dan. 7:13-14; Matt. 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 28:1-6,19; Luke 1:35; 24:46; John 1:1-18,29; 10:30,38; 16:15-16,28; 17:1-5, 21-22; 20:1-20,28; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; Rom. 1:3-4; 5:6-21; 1 Cor. 8:6; 15:1-8,24-28; Gal. 4:4-5; Eph. 1:20; Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1:13-22; 2:9; 1 Tim. 2:5-6; 3:16; Heb. 1:1-3; 4:15;13:8; 1 Pet. 2:21-25; 3:22; 1 John 1:1-4; 2 John 7; Rev. 1:17-18; 5:914; 22:13)

Salvation

We believe that through God’s grace people can be saved from their sins through repentance and faith in the gospel, the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Good works are the fruit of such faith as expressions of our gratitude and service to God.  Eternal life in Christ is the gift of God to every believer. (Gen. 3:15; 48:8-10; Ps. 51:1-2; Isa. 53:4-6; Zech. 3:8-9; Matt. 4:17; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:29; 3:16-18; 5:24; 10:9,28-29; 15:1-6; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:30-31; 17:30-31; Rom. 1:1-6,16-18; 3:23-25; 4:3-8; 5:810; 6:3-13; 8:1-9,29-39; 10:9-10; 1 Cor. 1:30; 6:19-20; 15:10; 2 Cor. 5:17-20; Gal. 2:20; 5:6; 6:15; Eph. 2:8-9; Col. 1:13-14,21-23; Titus 2:11-14; James 2:14-17; 1 Pet. 1:2)

The Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is fully God with the Father and the Son.  He revealed God’s word through the prophets and empowered God’s people for service.  Since the resurrection and ascension of Jesus He now dwells in every believer as Counselor, guide, and the seal of redemption.  We believe He gifts all God’s people with appropriate abilities to accomplish God’s mission, and conforms the believer to the image of Jesus. (Gen. 1:2; Ex. 31:1-3; Isa. 44:3; Ezek. 39:29; Joel 2:28; John 14:26; 16:8-11; 20:21-22; Acts 2:33; 9:17; Rom. 8:9-11; 1 Cor. 12:1-11; Gal. 5:16-24; Eph. 1:13-14; Titus 3:5; 2 Pet. 1:21)

The Church

We believe that everyone who repents of sin and has faith in Jesus Christ the Lord is part of the people of God, the Church.  We also believe that the Church exists as local assemblies of baptized believers in the covenant fellowship of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We believe that Jesus is the Lord of the Church and that each assembly has the freedom and responsibility to live out its obedience to Christ under the authority of Biblical leadership without interference of other institutions or assemblies.  Christ commanded local assemblies to practice baptism and the Lord’s Supper as the ordinances of the Church.  Baptism is by immersion in water following an explicit profession of a believer’s faith in the gospel as a sign of faith, obedience, and new life.  The Lord’s Supper is an act of fellowship and remembrance, showing forth Christ’s sacrificial death and anticipating His second coming.  God has gifted each local church with the offices of Pastor/Elder and Deacon for the spiritual care of the body and the exercise of Biblical discipline. (Matt. 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42; 5:11-14; 20:28; Rom. 6: 3-4; 1 Cor. 1:2; 5:4-5; 10:16-17; 11:23-26; Eph. 2:21-22; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:18; 1 Tim. 3:1-15; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:1-4; Rev. 1:4-5)

Mission

We believe that every believer has been called to participate in God’s mission.  That mission includes sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, participating in acts of love for our neighbors, and using material resources for God’s kingdom.  We are also called to support efforts to share the gospel and see churches planted in those places where the Church is lacking healthy witness. (Ex. 19:5-6; Matt. 28:18-20; Luke 24:46-53; John 20:21; Rom. 10:13-14; 15:14-21; 1 Cor. 5:16-17; 2 Tim. 4:5; 1 Pet. 2:9; 3 John 5-6)

Last Things

God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord. (Ps. 110:1; Isa. 2:4; 11:9; Dan. 7:13-14; Matt. 16:27; 18:8-9; 19:28; 24:27, 29-31, 36-41; 25:31-46; Mark 8:38; Luke 12:48; 16:19-26; 21:25-28; John 14:1-3; Rom. 14:10; 1 Cor. 15:24-28, 35-58; 2 Cor. 5:10; 1 Thess. 4:14-18; 5:2; 2 Thess. 1:7-10; 2:1-12; Heb. 9:27-28; 2 Pet. 3:7, 10-13; 1 John 3:2; Rev. 20:1-22:13)