What We Believe

God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe.  We believe there is one God, that the Father and the Son and the Spirit are each God, and that the Father and the Son and the Spirit are each a distinct person

(Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 2:9; Acts 5:3-4)

We believe the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that he might reveal God, fulfill prophecy, and redeem sinful man. We believe he accomplished our redemption through his substitutionary sacrifice on the cross, his burial, and his bodily resurrection. We believe our redemption and salvation are guaranteed by his literal, physical resurrection from the dead and that he is the only means of salvation.

(John 1:1-14; John 1:18; Luke 1:35; Romans 3:24-26; Romans 4:25; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:5-8; 1 Timothy 2:5)

We believe that Jesus Christ is the visible image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, the creator and sustainer of heaven and earth, and the head of the church. We believe the Lord Jesus Christ is now in heaven, exalted to the right hand of God where, as high priest to his people, he serves as our advocate and intercedes for us.

(Colossians 1:15-19; Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 3:1; Hebrews 7:23-25; 1 John 2:1-2).

We believe God the Holy Spirit is a person who restrains evil in the world and convicts men of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He dwells in all who believe in Jesus. From the moment of belief in the Son, the Spirit baptizes believers into the body, seals them for salvation, regenerates them to new life, bestows spiritual gifts on each one, and is fully present to continually fill (control and guide) his own

(John 16:7-11; John 3:8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 1 Corinthians 12:13; John 14:16-17; Ephesians 4:30; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19)

We believe man was created innocent and in the image and likeness of God, but that man sinned, bringing both physical and spiritual death to himself and his posterity (Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:17; Genesis 3:19). Man can do nothing to merit God’s favor, and as such, is in need of salvation (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23). We believe that mankind’s sinful nature is rebellious toward God and his good design for life and worship (Romans 1:20-24; Ephesians 2:1-3). Mankind’s rebellion causes confusion about good and evil, and harm to people, ultimately ending in judgment, despair and death (Genesis 1:31; Galatians 5:16-21; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; James 1:13-15).

We believe God created mankind in his image, forming each person in the womb from conception (Psalm 139:13-16; Isaiah 44:2; Isaiah 49:5; Jeremiah 1:4-5) until the point of death when they breathe their last (Genesis 25:8; Luke 23:46); and assigning gender to his people, male (man) and female (woman), as he created them sexually and biologically different, but with equal personal dignity and value (Genesis 1:26-28).

We believe that God ordained marriage as a lifelong union between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:18; Matthew 19:4-9; Ephesians 5:31-33). Those who accept and live within God’s design for sex, biological gender, and marriage experience the blessing of his good design (Psalm 1:1-3; Psalm 128:1-4), and decisions to change, alter, or modify God’s will in marriage, sex, or gender are part of man’s brokenness and lead to despair (Romans 1:21-22; James 1:13-15).

We believe that God loves and pursues mankind despite our rebellion. (Romans 5:8) He offers forgiveness, healing and abundant life to anyone who turns to him in humility (John 3:17; John 10:10; Titus 3:3-7; 1 Peter 5:6-7).

We believe salvation is a gift of God and is received by man through personal faith in Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for sin. We believe man is justified by grace through faith apart from works (Acts 13:38-39; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 1:4-5; Ephesians 2:8-10). We believe that Jesus Christ is the only means of salvation and that no one is saved apart from a conscious and personal decision to trust in Christ as his or her one and only Savior (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9-10). We believe all true believers elect of God, once saved, are kept secure in Christ forever (Romans 8:1; Romans 8:29-30; Romans 8:38-39; John 10:27-30).

Baptism is symbolic of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.  Once we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, baptism is a way for us to publicly declare our new life in Christ.  It is also a step of obedience based on God's commands and allows us to follow the example of Jesus, who submitted Himself to baptism.

(Romans 6:3-4; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41; Colossians 2:12; Matthew 3:13-17)

We believe that infants of believing parents may be dedicated to the Lord but should not be baptized until they can personally articulate their faith and the purpose of baptism.

Learn more

We believe the Lord’s Supper (Communion) is a memorial of Christ’s sacrificial death and a proclamation of our faith in His promised return. It is to be continually practiced by believers in obedience to Christ’s command. We believe every believer has the privilege of participating in the Lord’s Supper, while also recognizing that Scripture calls us to approach it with reverence and careful self-examination.

(Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32; Matthew 26:26-29)

Learn more

We believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures. His resurrection confirms His victory over sin and death, validates His claims as the Son of God, and secures the hope of eternal life for all who place their faith in Him. We also believe in the future resurrection of all people, with believers raised to eternal life with Christ and unbelievers facing eternal judgment.

(Matthew 28:5-7; Luke 24:6-7; Romans 1:4; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 1 Corinthians 15:20-22; John 5:28-29; John 11:25-26)

We believe every person was created for eternal existence and will live forever either in the presence of God or separated from Him. Because of sin, humanity stands separated from God, but through faith in Jesus Christ we can receive forgiveness and the gift of eternal life. Those who reject Christ will experience eternal separation from God in hell, while those who trust in Him will dwell eternally with God in heaven. We believe heaven and hell are real places of eternal existence.

(John 3:16-18; Matthew 25:46; John 14:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9; Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21:1-4)

We believe repentance is a response to the grace of God in which a person turns from sin and turns to God in faith. Repentance is more than feeling sorrow for sin; it is a change of heart and mind that results in a transformed life. While repentance does not earn salvation, it is an essential response to the gospel and accompanies genuine faith in Jesus Christ.

(Mark 1:15; Acts 3:19; Acts 20:21; 2 Corinthians 7:10; 2 Peter 3:9; Ephesians 2:8-9)

We believe the Church is the Body and Bride of Christ, made up of all people who have been born again through faith in Jesus Christ. The Church is not a building or organization but a spiritual family united by Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit. We believe that believers are joined into the Body of Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit, who unites us together as one people for God’s glory.

(Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2:1-4)

We believe the local church is a gathering of believers who willingly join together for worship, the teaching and study of God’s Word, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, prayer, fellowship, discipleship, and service. God has designed the local church to equip believers to grow in their faith and steward their lives for the advancement of His kingdom through fulfilling the Great Commission.

(Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 1:1-2; Ephesians 4:11-13; Matthew 16:18; Matthew 28:19-20)

We believe 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, visibly, and gloriously to bring the full realization of his kingdom and the final defeat of sin and death. At his coming, the dead will be raised, and Christ will judge all people in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. Those made righteous by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ in their resurrected and glorified bodies will enjoy unbroken fellowship with him, reigning with him, serving him, free from sin, sorrow, and death because he has made all things new. Then the eager expectation of creation will be fulfilled, and the whole earth shall proclaim the glory of God. Until this time comes, we believe the souls of believers in Jesus Christ, at death, immediately pass into his presence and remain with him until he accomplishes all his purposes on the earth, while the souls of unbelievers remain after death in constant misery in Hades until Christ’s final judgment.

(Isaiah 46:9-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 2 Peter 3:9-10; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 25:31-34, Matthew 25:41, Matthew 25:46; John 5:28-29; Revelation 20:11-15; 1 Corinthians 15:50-57; Revelation 21:1-5; Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:21-23).