I. THE SCRIPTURES
The basis of our beliefs, stated in this document, is the Bible, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. It was fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and was written without error in the original manuscripts and accurately maintained in subsequent translations. It is the supreme and final authority in faith and life in every age.
Matthew 24:35, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21
II. GOD
There is but one God, infinite in power, wisdom, justice, goodness, and love. The Creator of all things, eternally existing in three persons–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit–each of whom possesses all the attributes of Deity and the characteristics of personality.
Genesis 1:1-31, Deuteronomy 6:4, Deuteronomy 7:9, Psalm 48:14, Psalm 147:5,
Psalm 119:68, Isaiah 30:18, Isaiah 40:28, Isaiah 45:5-6, Isaiah 61:8, Jeremiah 32:17,
Matthew 3:16-17, Matthew 19:36, Matthew 28:19, Mark 10:18, Romans 8:28,
2 Corinthians 13:14, 1 John 4:7-16
III. MAN
God created man in His own image, and man as he was originally created, was innocent before God. But man chose to sin by disobeying God, and therefore was alienated from his Creator and came under divine condemnation. Thus all human beings are born with a corrupted nature and without spiritual life and are totally incapable of pleasing God in and of themselves.
Genesis 1:27, Genesis 1:31, Genesis 2:16-17, Genesis 3:1-19, John 3:36, Romans 3:10, Romans 5:12, James 3:9
IV. JESUS
God the Father, by His own choice and out of love for sinful men and women, sent Jesus Christ into the world to reconcile sinners to Himself. Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. He is God in the flesh, both true God and true man. Jesus Christ lived a sinless life and voluntarily suffered and died as our substitute to pay the penalty for our sins, thus satisfying God’s justice and accomplishing salvation for all those who trust in Him alone. He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died. He bodily ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father, where He, the only mediator between God and man, makes intercession for His own. He will return to earth personally, visibly, and bodily to judge all men.
Matthew 1:18-24, Matthew 24:1-51, Matthew 25:31-46, Luke 2:6-7, Luke 19:10,
Luke 24:37-39,Luke 24:50-51, John 1:1-18, John 3:16-18, John 10:10-18, Romans 5:6-10,
1 Corinthians 15:3-8, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 3:13-15, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 3:18, Hebrews 1:1-4,
Hebrews 4:15, Hebrews 7:25, Hebrews 8:1; 1 Timothy 2:5, 2 Timothy 4:1, 1 John 3:5, Revelation 22:13-14
V. SALVATION
Men and women are freed from the penalty for their sins not as a result, in whole or in part, of their own works, goodness, or religious ceremony, but by the undeserved favor of God alone. God declares righteous all who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation. Faith is trust and dependence on God and His promises. Faith is the opposite of self-reliance, rather it is the reliance on God’s free grace through Christ, and on the truth that God rewards those who seek him. Faith is not a work, but genuine faith always produces good deeds.
John 1:12, Ephesians 1:7-8, Ephesians 2:8-10, Colossians 1:21-22, Romans 10:9, Hebrews 11:1-6, James 2:14-26
VI. THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit has come into the world to reveal and glorify Christ, to convict men and women of their sins, and to impart new life to all who place their faith in Christ. He indwells believers from the moment of spiritual birth, seals them until the day of redemption, and empowers them to live a life pleasing to God.
John 3:5-8, John 16:7-11, John 16:13-15, Acts 1:8, Ephesians 1:13-14, Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 2 Corinthians 3:18
VII. THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD
At physical death, the believer enters into eternal, conscious fellowship with the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his or her body to everlasting glory and blessing. At physical death, the unbeliever enters into eternal, conscious separation from the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his or her body to everlasting suffering, judgment, and condemnation.
Luke 16:19-31, Luke 23:43, Philippians 1:23, 2 Corinthians 5:8, Romans 8:10-11,Romans 8:22-23,
Daniel 12:2, John 5:28-29, Matthew 25:41-46, Revelation 6:9-11,Revelation 20:11-15
VIII. THE SACRAMENTS
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the two symbols given by God and instituted by Christ that are to be practiced by the body of Christ (the church). They are visible signs symbolizing what Christ has done for us and what is true about us because of Jesus’ death and resurrection. While baptism and the Lord’s Supper are essential to the Christian life, neither play any role in atoning for our sin.
Baptism: Acts 2:38-41, Acts 8:36-39, Acts 16:14-15, Acts 18:8, Matthew 28:18-20,
Romans 6:1-11, Colossians 2:11-12, Galatians 3:25-27, 1 Peter 3:18-21
The Lord’s Supper: 1 Corinthians 10:14-17, 1 Corinthians 11:28-32, Luke 22:19-21,
Matthew 26:26-29
IX. THE CHURCH
Jesus Christ is the head of his body called the Church. All true believers make up the church worldwide and should assemble together in local churches for worship, prayer, fellowship, and teaching, in order to grow in their love for God and one another, and ultimately to be conformed to the image of Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:18-20, 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, Acts 14:23, Acts 20:7-9,
Acts 20:28, Hebrews 10:24-25, Ephesians 4:7-13, Ephesians 5:24-32, Colossians 1:18
X. MARRIAGE
The term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one biological man and one biological woman in an exclusive union, for life, as delineated in Scripture. Marriage uniquely reflects Christ’s relationship with His Church in the joy, mutual service, and glad submission of a healthy marriage. God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other.
Genesis 1:26-28, Genesis 2:15-25, Genesis 3:1-24, Exodus 20:14, Exodus 20:17, Proverbs 5:1-23,
Malachi 2:13-14, Ephesians 5:21-33, Matthew 5:27-32, Matthew 19:3-6, Romans 1:26-27,
Romans 1:32, 1 Corinthians 6:9-20, 1 Corinthians 7:1-7, Hebrews 13:4
For a further treatment on sex, gender, and marriage click here
XI. VALUE OF HUMAN LIFE
We believe that all human life is created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally disabled, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life as instructed by scripture.
Genesis 1:26-27, Psalm 139:1-24, Matthew 6:26, Exodus 20:13, Jeremiah 1:5, Luke 18,
John 9:1-3, Psalm 8, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
XII. FINAL AUTHORITY FOR MATTERS OF BELIEF AND CONDUCT
The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe.
Hebrews 13:17, 1 Peter 5:1-4, Acts 15:1-41