BELIEFS

 THE SCRIPTURES

We believe the Bible, including the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament, as the written Word of God. The Bible is authoritative, infallible, and inerrant. It is the self-disclosure of God to all humankind and leads us to salvation in Jesus Christ. Being given by God, the Scriptures were written by men, divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit. Each book is to be interpreted in accordance with its context, purpose and responded to in obedience to the Lord. All believers are commanded to study, meditate, and apply the Scriptures to every aspect of their lives. The Scriptures have supreme authority in all matters of Christian life and practice. They are entirely sufficient, standing in need of no addition from tradition, no further light from extra-biblical revelation, and no refinement by human wisdom. Therefore, all creeds, confessions, and theology must be tested by and ultimately submit to the Word of God. 

2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; Matthew 5:18; John 16:12, 13

GOD

We believe there is only one true God; He is eternal, infinite, almighty, perfect in holiness, truth and love. He eternally exists in three distinct persons—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The triune God is co-eternal and co-equal in power, honor, and glory. This one true and living God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, and therefore, worthy of all adoration, glory, and worship. One God in three persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — is the foundation of Christian faith and life. 

Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Jude 1; 1 Peter 1:2

THE FALL

God made humankind, male and female, the crown and glory of His creation, and image bearers of God, in order that humankind would glorify and enjoy God forever. By succumbing to the temptation of Satan, humanity rebelled against God. Therefore, being alienated from God, becoming subject to God’s wrath, and totally depraved. Apart from the grace of God, humanity is incapable of returning to God and freeing themselves from their corrupt nature. This depravity is pervasive. It affects every aspect of humanity, the mind, will, and affections. Unregenerate humans live under the power of sin and Satan. They are enemies of God and in need of being reconciled to God. Fallen humanity, regardless of their achievements, are without God and hope apart from Christ 

Genesis 1:26, 27; Genesis 3:1-15; Romans 3:9-18; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12; Colossians 1:21

SALVATION

We believe that the salvation of sinners is only by the grace of God through the work of Jesus Christ, who is the mediator of a New Covenant between God and humanity, the promised Messiah and Savior of the world. He is both fully God and fully man. At His incarnation, He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, and lived a sinless life in obedience to the Father. He taught the way of God’s kingdom, worked miracles, suffered, died on a cross, rose from the dead, and is now enthroned in heaven as Lord over all and High Priest for those who come to God through Him. In His death, He made full atonement for our sins and became our sacrificial substitute, absorbing the full wrath of God, forgiving our sins, and adopting into the family of God any who repent of their sin and believe in Him. This message of salvation is known as the Gospel.

We believe that salvation is made free to all who believe in Christ, and that it is the immediate duty of all to receive Him by a penitent and obedient faith. We believe that the power of the Gospel is sufficient to save even the greatest sinner and that all people everywhere are commanded to repent and believe upon Jesus. Those who reject Jesus and His Gospel do so voluntarily and will receive eternal condemnation.

The gracious gift of salvation produces a clear distinction between the righteous and the wicked. Those who trust in Christ are pleasing in God’s sight because He has imputed Christ’s righteousness to them, while those who continue in unbelief are wicked in His sight and remain under His wrath, destined to judgment for eternity in hell.

Isaiah 53:4-5, 55:1; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Matthew 4:17, 11:20-24; Mark 1:15; Luke 19:10; John 1:1-14, 3:16-21, 5:40, 6:29; Acts 2:38, 3:19, 4:12, 13:46, 15:11, 17:30; Romans 1:16-17, 3:21-26, 4:25, 5:8-10, 6:23, 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 3:5-7, 15:1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 1:1-8, 4:14, 7:25, 9:13-15, 12:25-29; 1 John 3:23, 4:10; Revelation 22:17

REPENTANCE AND FAITH

We believe that repentance and faith are the right and required response of sinners to the Gospel. They are the inseparable acts of turning away from sin and turning to God through Christ alone for salvation. This response to the Gospel is brought about by the Holy Spirit who graciously convicts us of our sin, convinces us of our unrighteousness, grants us remorse for our transgressions, and reveals that we are hopelessly condemned apart from Christ. We affirm that salvation comes only to those who truly believe and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that all true believers will trust in Him alone as their all-sufficient Savior. Faith and repentance mark a believer’s life from the moment of conversion until Christ calls us to be with Him.

Isaiah 55:1-7; Matthew 11:28-30; Mark 1:15; Luke 15:18-21, 24:46-47; John 1:12, 3:16, 6:37, 7:37, 16:8; Acts 2:37-38, 3:19-23, 11:18; 16:30-31, 17:30, 20:21; Romans 2:4, 10:9-11, 10:17; 2 Corinthians 7:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-10; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 4:14, 6:1, 7:25

SANCTIFICATION

The Holy Spirit is the active agent in our sanctification and seeks to produce His fruit in us as our minds are renewed and we are conformed to the image of Christ. Although we are positionally set apart by God, indwelling sin is still a reality and we need to grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord. This progressive process is the continued work of God transforming our desires, empowering us to keep His commandments and live distinctly in the world. All believers are exhorted to walk in holiness and persevere in the faith, knowing they will stand before God one day accountable for every word, thought, and deed. The spiritual disciplines, especially prayer, confession, Bible intake, and worship are vital means of grace to produce Christlikeness in us. As we pursue holiness, we await the completion of our sanctification when sin will be totally eradicated. Nevertheless, believers do not persevere in their own strength but by the promise and power of God do they persevere.

Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 2:12, 13; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7; Hebrews 10:10, 14

SPIRITUAL GIFTS

In addition to affecting regeneration and sanctification, the Holy Spirit sovereignly distributes gifts to all believers. The promise of the Spirit’s indwelling presence is freely available to all who believe in Jesus Christ. The baptism of the Holy Spirit happens at the moment of salvation, yet the Holy Spirit desires to continually fill each believer subsequent to conversion with His power, enabling us for Christian life and witness. We believe the purpose of imparting these supernatural gifts is to edify the Body of Christ and to participate in God’s mission in the world. All believers are empowered by the Spirit to operate in these grace gifts for the common good, service, and mission of the church. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are to be desired, developed, and lovingly practiced according to biblical guidelines. We believe that it is a privilege and responsibility of all believers to minister in their unique gifts given to them by the grace of God. However, the gifts of the Spirit are not an indication of a hierarchy but are for building up the Body into maturity in Jesus Christ and to compel believers towards mission. 

Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12, 14:1; Ephesians 4:7-8, 11-16; 1 Peter 4:10

THE CHURCH

We believe that the church is the communion of God’s people drawn from every tribe, language, people, and nation throughout all the ages. All members of the universal Church are to be a committed part of a local church. This body of believers is made visible and marked by the faithful preaching of God’s word and faithful administration of baptism and the Lord’s Supper in local churches. The church is governed by the word of God, which teaches that Christ is the head of the church; that elders are qualified men given to oversee the church as pastors; that deacons are to serve the church; and that the congregation, comprised of all members, has the responsibility to affirm members, defend doctrine, and carry out discipline when required by Scripture. Members of local churches are commanded to assemble regularly, promote Christ-honoring unity, and live for the glory of God. The mission of the church is to be a corporate display of God’s glory to the world by preaching the gospel and making disciples. It is likewise the duty of every believer to constantly seek to lead the lost to Christ by verbal witness undergirded by a Christ-honoring lifestyle, relying on the power of the Holy Spirit. In the context of the local church, God’s people are to be nurtured and equipped for the work of ministry for the good of the church and the world. 

Matthew 5:16, 16:19, 18:15-20, 28:18-20; John 1:12, 13:34-35, 17:20-24; Acts 6:1-6, 11:26, 14:23, 20:28; Romans 16:1; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 5:4-5, 5:12-13, 11:25-26; 2 Corinthians 2:6-8; Ephesians 3:10, 4:1-2, 4:11-12, 5:22-23; 1 Timothy 3:1-13, 4:13, 5:17; Titus 1:5-9; Hebrews 10:19-25, 13:7, 13:17; 1 Peter 5:1-5; Revelation 5:9

THE ORDINANCES

We believe that baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordained by the Lord Jesus himself. Baptism is connected with our entrance into the new covenant community. Subsequent to conversion, baptism symbolizes an inward change, where believers are immersed into water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Baptism is a beautiful emblem of abandoning the old and the embracing of the new life in Christ. It signifies our union with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection, our cleansing from sin, and our commitment and inclusion in Christ’s Body, the Church, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Because baptism is also an ordinance of the church, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper is our remembrance of Christ’s death and resurrection, and it looks forward, with hope, to his promised return. These ordinances together are simultaneously God’s pledge to us, divinely ordained means of grace, our public vows of submission to Christ, and they anticipate his return and of the consummation of all things. 

Matthew 3:13–17; 26:26–29; 28:18–20; Acts 2:38–42; 8:36–38; 16:32–33; 20:7; Romans 6:4; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:11–12; 1 Peter 3:20–21

COSMIC REDEMPTION

The Restoration of all things includes the visible, personal, and glorious return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the translation and glorification of those alive in Christ, the judgment of the just and the unjust, and the fulfillment of Christ’s Kingdom in the new heavens and the new earth. 

In the Restoration, Satan, with his hosts and all who are without Christ, will be finally and eternally separated from the loving presence of God, suffering eternal punishment. Those in Christ will be resurrected with their glorious bodies into eternal blessedness and reign with God forever. The marriage between the Lamb and His bride, the Church, will take place. The Church will enter into the eternal presence of God, offering up eternal worship, praise, and glory. God’s people will forever exult and delight in the wonder and glory of God. Jesus will make all things new, where the redeemed will be with the Lord in the new heavens and the new earth. Then the anticipated expectation of creation will be fulfilled. The whole earth will be restored to God’s original intent. 

Micah 4:1-5; Matthew 24:30-31; Acts 1:10-11; Romans 8:22-23; Ephesians 1:10; Colossians 1:21; Hebrews 9:28; Revelation 21:5; Revelation 22:12, 20