BELIEFS

GOD

 There is only one true and living God. God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God. Genesis 1:1,26,27; 3:22, Psalm 90:2, Matthew 28:19, I Peter 1:2, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Isaiah 43:10, Matthew 16:16

HUMANITY

Humanity is made in the spiritual image of God to be like Him in character. He is the supreme object of God's creation. Humanity has tremendous potential for good, although through free choice humanity sinned against God and is marred by a natural human attitude of disobedience toward God called "sin." This sin separates man from God. Genesis 1:27, Psalm 8:3-6, Isaiah 53:6a, Romans 3:23, Isaiah 59:1-2 

ETERNITY

Humanity was created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is heaven. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence. John 3:16,   I John 2:25 & 5:11-13, Romans 6:23, Revelation 20:15

JESUS

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father and Holy Spirit. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all humanity by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven's glory as our high priest and reigns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Matthew 1:22-23, Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1-5 & 14:10-30, Hebrews 4:14-15, I Corinthians 15:3-4, Romans 1:3-4, Acts 1:9-11, I Timothy 6:14-15, Titus 2:13, Luke 1:26, Hebrews 4:14-15 

SALVATION

Salvation is a gift from God to humanity. Humanity can never make up for sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by one’s personal faith and trust in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness can humanity be saved from sin's penalty of eternal separation from God. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into their life by faith. Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 14:6 & 1:12, Titus 3:5, Galatians 3:26, Romans 5:1, Romans 10:9,10

ETERNAL SECURITY

Because God gives humanity eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. Salvation is provided by the grace and power of God, not by the self- effort of the Christian. John 10:29,     2 Timothy 1:12, Hebrews 7:25 & 10:10-14, 1 Peter 1:3-5 

THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make humanity aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian should seek to live under His influence daily through the fruits and gifts the Spirit gives for the edification of the church. 2 Corinthians 3:17, John 16:7-13 & 14:16-17, Acts 1:8, I Corinthians 2:12 & 3:16, Ephesians 1:13, Galatians 5:25, Ephesians 5:18, 1 Corinthians 14:4,5,12, I Corinthians 12:7-11 

THE BIBLE

The Bible is God's Word to all humanity. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error. 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Timothy 1:13, Psalm 119:105,160 & 12:6, Proverbs 30:5 

THE ORDINANCES

We believe that Jesus Christ has commanded the local assembly of believers to observe two New Testament ordinances of water baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Communion). We believe these two ordinances are to be observed in obedience to him as expressions of love and devotion, but they are not regarded as conditions for salvation. We believe that baptism symbolically represents death to the old life and resurrection with Christ to a new life. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is observed as a memorial of Christ’s death, and that the elements are symbols of His body and blood. Matthew 26:26-28; 28:18-20; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19, 20 Romans 6:3-7; 1 Corinthians 1:16; 11:23-26; Acts 2:41; 8:12; 10:44-48; 16:14-15, 32-33 

THE CHURCH

We believe the church is both universal and local. We believe in the universal Church, a living spiritual body of which Jesus Christ is the head and all who have true confession of faith are members united by faith above denomination. We believe the members of this body are directed to associate together in local churches for instruction, worship, prayer, fellowship, service, and the administration of the ordinances (baptism and communion). We believe that God has laid upon the members of local churches the primary task of glorifying God through the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world. We believe that the members of these assemblies are diverse, yet called to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8; 2:42-47; Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 11:3, 23-26; 12:4-7, 12-26; Ephesians 1:22, 23; 25; 2:19-22; 4:3; 5:19-30; Hebrews 10:23-25 

CHRIST’S SECOND COMING

Christ’s second coming is His triumphant return to the earth marking the time when He will destroy evil, and establish His eternal kingdom and reign on a new earth and a  new heaven. Isaiah 65:22-25, Matthew 13:41-42, Matthew 24:30, Revelations 21:10