What We Believe

WE BELIEVE in the one and only Triune God, who eternally exists in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, each equal in power and glory.  This triune God created all, upholds all, and governs all things.
(Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30; Hebrews 9:14)

WE BELIEVE in the person of God the Father, who is infinite, eternal, perfect in holiness, righteousness, wisdom, power, and love.  He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men.  He both comforts the afflicted and broken-hearted and judges the wicked.  He hears and answers prayer.  He saves from sin and death all those who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
(Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalms 90:2; Psalms 102:27; John 4:24; 1 Timothy 1:17; Titus 1:3)

WE BELIEVE in the person of Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings, his substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people and personal, visible return to earth.
(Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:23; Mark 16:19; Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1-2; John 8:58; John 11:25; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Hebrews 1:8; 1 John 1:2; Revelation 1:8)

WE BELIEVE in the person of the Holy Spirit, Who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify and empower for ministry all who believe in Christ.
(John 16:8-11; Acts 1:8; Romans 15:13,16; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Hebrews 9:14)

WE BELIEVE that all people are sinners by nature and by choice and, therefore, are separated from God and under His condemnation.  
(Isaiah 53:6, 59:2; Romans 3:10, 3:23)

WE BELIEVE that God saves and regenerates sinners who confess their sin and believe in Jesus Christ as both LORD and SAVIOR.  Having faith in Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection provides the atonement needed to be forgiven of sins and accepted as a child of God. Only faith alone in Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit can provide salvation.  
(Acts 8:15-17; Romans 10:9; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5)

WE BELIEVE the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide.  The Holy Spirit grants us strength to overcome sin and shows us how to avoid sin.  
(John 14:16-17, 16:8-11; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19, 10:13; Galatians 5:16, Ephesians 5:18; 2 Timothy 1:14; James 1:13)

WE BELIEVE we can have assurance of our salvation in Christ Jesus.  However, no true Christian has been granted a free license to walk in sin.
(John 3:16, 5:24, 10:29; Romans 6, 8; Galatians 5, 6:8; Philippians 1:6, 27; Hebrews 12; 1 Peter 1:22-25; 1 John 5:12-13; Jude 1:24) 

WE BELIEVE that the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, fully inspired without error in the original manuscripts, and the infallible rule of faith and practice. The Word of God is the foundation upon which this church operates and is the basis for which this church is governed.  
(Psalm 1:1-2; Psalm 19:7-14; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:19-21) 

WE BELIEVE that God speaks to us through His Word; therefore, our services are designed with an emphasis upon the systematic teaching of the Word of God that we might understand His will and ways for our lives.  
(Hebrews 1:1-2; John 1:1-3; Nehemiah 8:8; Isaiah 28:13; Romans 10:17; Matthew 13:23) 

WE BELIEVE in the universal Church of God, the living spiritual body, of which Christ is the head and all who are born again are members.  In this sense, the Church is not a location or building, but rather a group of people who have been born again in Christ.  Collectively, the universal Church is called the Bride of Christ and is in submission to His lordship and leadership.  The universal Church has also been charged with fulfilling the Great Commission of going and making disciples of all nations.  
(Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:15-16; Ephesians 5:23-24; Colossians 1:18) 

WE BELIEVE that the Lord Jesus Christ committed two ordinances to the church: (a) water baptism, and (b) the Lord’s Supper.
(Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26) 

WE BELIEVE that the worship of God should be in spirit and truth; therefore, we remain flexible, yielded, and submitted to the leading of both the Holy Spirit and Holy Scriptures to direct our time of worship.  
(John 4.24; 1 Cor 14:33, 40; Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:25) 

WE BELIEVE all believers should be in regular church attendance and fellowship with other believers. The local church gathers for the purpose of equipping the saints for the work of ministry, the stirring up of good works and love, for exhorting, encouraging, comforting, praying, and sharing in each other's blessings and burdens.  
(Acts 2:42, 20:7; 2 Corinthians 1:3-6; Galatians 6:10; Ephesians 4:12-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:18; Hebrews 3:13, 10:24-25) 

WE BELIEVE that the two greatest commandments are to love God and love others; therefore, we make it our aim to be known by and growing in both our love for God and love for others.
(Matthew 22:36-40; John 13:34-35; 1 Corinthians 13; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 4:7-8) 

WE BELIEVE that all believers are called to abide in Christ by taking up our cross daily and walking by faith and not sight.  It is not possible to bear fruit that glorifies God if one is not abiding in Christ.  
(John 8:31, 15:1-17; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 2:6-10; 1 John 3:24) 

WE BELIEVE that believers are called to speak truth in love.  We do not judge others, but we do not ignore or condone sin either.  The lost world outside of the church needs to hear the Gospel message.  Those inside the church should be lovingly but directly addressed when a pattern of sin forms in their lives.  
(Matthew 7:1, 18:15-20; Romans 12:9; 1 Cor 15:1-8; 2 Corinthians 4:2; Galatians 5:9; Ephesians 4:14-16, 5:8-11; James 4:12, 5:9; 1 John 3:18-23) 

WE BELIEVE that the Word of God supersedes any earthly law, dictate, or mandate that is contrary to the Holy Scriptures.  We submit to and pray for our governing authorities. However, we solemnly affirm that God is our King and highest authority.  We will remain faithful to God first and foremost when earthly authorities require our obedience when it is in contradiction to the clear teachings of His Word.  
(Isaiah 28:13; Nehemiah 8:8; Daniel 3:18, 6:10; Matthew 22:21; John 17:17; Acts 4:18-20, 5:29; Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:23-25, 2:13-17; 2 Peter 1:21) 

WE BELIEVE in the present gifts and ministry of the Holy Spirit and in the proper exercise of all Biblical gifts of the Spirit according to the Scriptures. There is no one gift that is required as an evidence of salvation, but each of God’s redeemed has been given a spiritual gift to steward and use as a part of the body of Christ.  
(Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12-14; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Timothy 4:14-16; 1 Peter 4:7-13) 

WE BELIEVE in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ which is His personal, visible return to earth and the establishment of His millennial kingdom, in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment and eternal blessing of the righteous and endless suffering of the wicked.
(Matthew 16:27; Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11-16, 20: 11-15)

WE BELIEVE in a literal Heaven and a literal Hell and that all those who place their faith, hope and trust in Jesus Christ will spend eternity in Heaven with the Lord, while those who reject Jesus’ free gift of salvation will spend eternity separated from the Lord in Hell.
(Matthew 5:3, 25:31-34; Hebrews 12:23; 1 Peter 1:4; Psalm 9:17; Matthew 5:22, 18:9; Luke 12:5) 

WE BELIEVE that men and women were created by God as distinct acts of creation, and that being uniquely and distinctly male and female was an aspect of how they were created in God’s own image.  
(Genesis 1:27 and 2:21-22; 1 Corinthians 11:3-12) 

WE BELIEVE that God created marriage to be a monogamous lifelong union between one man and one woman where the two become one flesh in the eyes of God.  
(Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 3:18-19; 1 Peter 3:1-7) 

WE BELIEVE in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church where all believers will meet the Lord in the air and be taken out of this world prior to the Great Tribulation that will come upon the earth. We teach from this position and believe this event could happen at any moment. We also recognize that other bible-believing Christians hold a different view on how/when End Times events will unfold. Our eschatological views are secondary issues of faith and are held with humility in love.
(Matthew 24:29-31; Luke 21:36; Romans 1:18, 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 5:9; 2 Peter 2:7-9; Revelation 5:7-10, 7:13-14) 

WE BELIEVE that Racism and slavery, in its many varied forms, is a heinous manifestation of sin and is condemned by God.  The bible, not our culture nor Critical Race Theory, teaches us how to tackle these evils.  We have a systemic sin problem and the solution to that problem is Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the One who removes all walls of separation between different groups of people.  Jesus is the One who calls for us to love both our neighbors and our enemies and provides the framework of pursuing true reconciliation.  We acknowledge that there are those who have been hurt by sins of racism and slavery.  We are instructed to minister to those who are most in need by seeking God-honoring ways to comfort and help those who have been overlooked, marginalized, neglected, oppressed, abused, and/or enslaved.  
(Matthew 5:44; Romans 10:12, 12:9-21; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, 5:17-21; Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11; 1 Timothy 5:21; James 1:19, 27, 2:1-10; 1 John 2:11, 3:17)