What We Believe
The Nature and Existence of God
We believe that there is one God (Deut. 6:4; Is. 44:6; 1 Cor. 8:6) and that he has existed from before time and will exist when time is no more (Ex. 3:13-14; Job 36:26; Ps. 90:1-4; 102:12; Rev. 21).
God exists in a triune nature as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, equal in their divine perfection (Mt. 3:16-17; 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 4:4-6). God’s attributes include his unchangeableness (Num. 23:19; Jas. 1:17), His omnipotence (Job 37:23; Ps. 33:6; Is. 44:24), His omniscience (Ps. 139:4; 147:5; 1 Jn. 3:20; Heb. 4:13), and His omnipresence (Ps. 139:7-10; Pro. 15:3; Jer. 23:24) .
Furthermore, God is perfect (Mt. 5:48), all-loving (1 Jn. 4:8), just (Is. 45:21), holy (Ps. 99:9), faithful (1 Cor. 1:9; 10:13), patient (Ex. 34:6; Jon. 4:2), and righteous (Deut. 32:4; Ps. 119:137). In His goodness, He cannot sin nor be tempted to sin (Jas. 1:13). In His glory, He created all things so that they would show forth His glory and power (Ps. 19:1-2; Rom. 1:20), giving believers the desires and abilities to work for Him (Eph. 2:10; Phil. 2:13).
Revelation
We believe in the infallibility of scripture (Is. 40:8; Mt. 5:18; 24:35), that the Bible is complete (Rev. 22:18-19), that it was inspired by God (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pt. 1:20-21), and that it is the very word of God (Is. 40:8; 55:11).
Moreover, we believe that God inspired holy men to write His word as it was revealed to them (Lk. 1:70; 2 Pt. 1:20-21), and that God’s word is profitable for what’s right, what’s not right, how to get it right, and how to stay right (2 Tim. 3:16), making Christians profitable for good works (2 Tim. 3:17) which God has prepared them to walk in (Eph. 2:10).
Because of sin, all men do not accept the truth nor the truthfulness of God’s word (Jer. 6:10; 17:23; Is. 6:10; 30:9; 2 Tim. 4:3-4), yet the Bible is the final authority to mankind (Ps. 119:160; Heb. 4:12) on everything from sin (Rom. 6:23) to salvation (Jn. 3:16) to the end times (Rev. 22:18-20).
Creation
We believe that God created the universe out of nothing, and that God spoke the world into existence (Gen. 1; Heb. 11:3).
Furthermore, both the Son and the Holy Spirit were involved in the act of creation (Gen. 1:2; Job 33:4; Ps. 104:30; Jn. 1:3; Col. 1:16).
Due to God’s glory and power, His creative attributes can be seen in creation (Rom. 1:20). However due to sin, creation is restrained by man’s sin (Rom. 8:20) and therefore eagerly awaits the deliverance that one day will remake the world (Rev. 8:18-22; Rev. 20:4).
One day God will destroy the earth with fire (2 Pt. 3:10) and create a new heavens and a new earth (Is. 65:17; 2 Pt. 3:13; Rev. 21:1-4), where there will be no more sorrow, crying, or death (Rev. 21:4).
Angels
We believe that God created angels, or the “host” of heaven (Neh. 9:6; Ps. 148:2, 5), and that they were created through Christ (Col. 1:16).
Angels have the ability to make moral decisions and some have sinned against God and fallen from their original position (Is. 14:12; 2 Pt. 2:4; Jude 6).
Angels have the ability to speak (Lk. 1:19-20, 26-38; Lk. 24:4-6; Acts 12:7-8) and worship God (Lk. 2:13; Rev. 7:11), yet as they are spiritual in nature, can only be seen by people in certain situations (2 Ki. 6:17; Lk. 2:13).
Their inherent power and reflective glory often cause people to fall down in fear (Dan. 8:17) or worship them as God (Rev. 22:8).
Despite their spiritual nature, angels sometimes take the form of man, and can be seen by people without their ever knowing it (Heb. 13:2).
Angels are responsible for guarding and protecting God’s children (Ps. 91:11-12; Heb. 1:14) and seem to be innumerable in number (Heb. 12:22; Rev. 5:11).
humanity
We believe that man was created by God in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27; Gen. 5:1-2) and that woman was created not to be subservient to man, but a helper equal in status (Gen. 2:18, 20; Gal. 3:28) with talents and gifts that she is to use to better her family (Pro. 31).
In the family unit, the husband “is the head of the wife” (Eph. 5:23), yet within that structure, the husband is to love his wife as Christ “loved the church” (Eph. 5:25).
As God views all people equally (Acts 10:34; Gal. 3:28), He frequently mentions the special care that should be provided for the poor (Ex. 22:22; 23:6; Lev. 19:10, 15; Ps. 140:12; Pro. 14:31; Lk. 4:18; 14:13; Jas. 2:2-6), those that are widows and orphans (Ex. 22:22-23; Is. 1:17; Ps. 68:5; 146:9; 1 Tim. 5:3-16; Jas. 1:27), the honor that should be given to the aged (Lev. 19:32; Job 12:12; Pro. 23:22), the value that is inherent in the unborn (Ps. 139:13-16; Heb. 7:9-10), and the value in those who are married and single (1 Co. 7:7-8, 32-33).
sin
We believe that when Adam and Eve disobeyed God (Gen. 3), they introduced sin into the human race and its damaging effects on the rest of creation (Rom. 3:23; 5:12, 16; 8:22).
Sin is not just the acts man does in violation of God’s law (Ex. 20:1-17; 1 Jn. 3:4), but the thoughts (Mt. 5:27-28; 15:19-20; Mk. 7:20-23) and intents of the heart (Jas. 4:17) that also violate that law.
Sin flows from man’s corrupt nature (Jer. 17:9) and is often described as the flesh, which operates in opposition to God (Rom. 7:5; 8:5-9; Gal. 5:17).
Man’s sinfulness makes him—without Christ—an object of God’s wrath (Jn. 3:36; Rom. 1:18; Eph. 2:3), incapable of even doing good or pleasing God (Is. 64:6; Rom. 8:8; Heb. 11:6).
As God is the perfect judge (Ps. 96:10, 13; 98:9; et al.), He judges sin by the degree of the offense (Jn. 19:11), and the knowledge of the person to His law (Rom. 2:12-16).
All mankind experiences the negative consequences of sin (Rom. 6:23a; Gal. 6:7-8a), yet unbelievers and Christians experience those consequences differently.
Without Christ, the unbeliever is dead in his sin (Jas. 1:15) and doomed to an eternity in hell, separated from God forever (Mt. 25:46; Jn. 3:36; Rev. 20:15; 21:8).
When a believer sins, while there is no loss of one’s salvation (Jn. 6:37, 39; 10:28-29), there is the loss of fellowship with God (Eph. 4:30; 1 Jn. 1:6-7) and the possible chastening for sin that God uses to correct His children who continue in sin (Heb. 12:7-11).
the person and work of christ
We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:14; 8:58; 10:30; 2 Cor. 5:19; Col. 2:9; Heb. 1:8), that He existed before time (Jn. 1:1), and that He created the world and everything in it (Jn. 1:3; Col. 1:16).
We believe that Jesus was born of a virgin (Is. 7:14; Mt. 1:18-23; Lk. 1:30-35) and lived a sinless human life (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pt. 2:22) so that might He might be the perfect sacrifice for sin (Jn. 3:16-17; Heb. 9:12; 10:14; 1 Jn. 2:2).
As a man, and as proof of His humanity, Jesus experienced hunger (Mt. 4:2), thirst (Jn. 19:28), and fatigue (Jn. 4:6). In addition, he wept (Jn. 11:35) and became troubled (Jn. 13:21) and sorrowful (Mt. 26:38). He was tempted to sin and yet never sinned, making Him a high priest who knows our sorrows and afflictions (Is. 53:3; Heb. 4:15), serving as a mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5).
As without sin, Jesus became the perfect sacrifice for man’s sin (Is. 53; Rom. 5:6, 8; 1 Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:14-15; Heb. 2:9), dying on the cross (Mt. 27:35; Mk. 15:25-37; Lk. 23:33-46; Jn. 19:18-30; 1 Pt. 2:24), but on the third day rising again (Mt. 28:1-20; Mk. 16:1-8; Lk. 24:1-53; Jn. 20-21:25) in fulfillment of the scriptures (Acts 10:39-40; 1 Cor. 15:3-4).
By Christ’s death and bodily resurrection mankind became reconciled to God (Rom. 5:1, 10; 2 Cor. 5:18-19; Eph. 2:16; Col. 1:20), able to experience eternal life (Jn. 3:16) which comes through faith in Christ (Rom. 8:1, 10:9, 13).
The Bible describes Christ as holding the offices of prophet (Mt. 11:27; Jn. 1:18; 8:28; 12:49), priest (Heb. 6:20), and king (Mt. 2:2; 27:11), and that He will one day come again in power and glory (Mt. 24:30; Mk. 14:62; Lk. 21:27; Rev. 19:11-16).
the person and work of the holy spirit
We believe in the deity of the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4; 1Cor. 2:10-11; 3:16-17; 6:19-20), that He is equal to the Father and the Son (Mt. 28:19), that He is eternal (Heb. 9:14), that He is omniscient (1 Cor. 2:10-11), and that He lives in Christians today (Rom. 8:9, 11; 1 Cor. 3:16; 2 Tim. 1:14).
He is a person, evident by the masculine pronoun used to refer to Him throughout the New Testament (Jn. 16:13-14; et al.). Moreover, the Holy Spirit can be grieved (Eph. 4:30), sinned against (Is. 63:10; Acts 5:3-4), quenched (1 Ths. 5:19), and blasphemed (Mt. 12:31-32; Mk. 3:29). He also has intelligence and a will (Jn. 14:26; 1 Cor. 12:11).
The Holy Spirit was involved in creation (Gen. 1:2; Job 26:13).
He reveals God’s word to man (1 Sam. 10:6, 10; Ez. 2:2; 8:3; 11:24; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pt. 1:21) and during the time of the judges, produced leaders in Israel (Jdg. 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 13:25).
Before the time of Christ, the Holy Spirit’s presence could leave a person (Ps. 51:11). He could also protect and lead God’s people (Is. 63:11).
In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit was involved in the anointing of Jesus for His ministry, descending upon Him at His baptism (Mt. 3:16; Mk. 1:11; Lk. 3:22) and empowering Him throughout His ministry (Lk. 4:14, 18-19; Acts 10:38).
He also enabled Jesus’s disciples to minister (Acts 1:8), conduct a variety of miracles (Acts 6:5, 8; Rom. 15:19), and preach with power (Acts 4:31; 1 Ths. 1:5).
Today, the Holy Spirit gives Christians gifts that enable them to serve God (Zech. 4:6; 1 Cor. 12:11).
In addition, He helps them with prayer (Rom. 8:26), sanctifies them (Rom. 8:4; 1 Cor. 6:11; 1 Pt. 1:2), leads them (Rom. 8:14; Gal. 5:18), seals them (Eph. 1:13), helps them in the war against the flesh (Gal. 5:16), assures them of their salvation (Rom. 8:16), teaches them the things of God (Jn. 14:26; 16:13), and reveals to them their eternal destiny (Eph. 1:17-19).
salvation
We believe that all people have sinned and come short of God’s standard (Rom. 3:23). As such, the penalty for man’s sin is death, both physical and spiritual (Rom. 6:23).
Jesus, however, died for man’s sins (Rom. 5:8) so that all who call upon the name of Christ and believe that God raised Him from the dead will be saved (Rom. 10:9). This is not a matter of good works as man’s good works cannot save him (Is. 64:6; Eph. 2:8-9), but a matter of God’s divine grace (Rom. 5:1-2; 5:6-8; Eph. 1:7; Tit. 2:11) working in a person’s life.
Moreover, this is a personal decision that every person must make (Mt. 11:28; Rev. 3:20; 22:17), and yet Christ promises to accept all who call upon Him (Jn. 6:37; Rom. 10:13).
All who do have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ are promised eternal life (Mt. 7:13-14; Jn. 3:16; Rom. 6:23b; 1 Jn. 5:13) and are eternally secure (Jn. 5:24; 10:28-29; Rom. 8:35-39; 1 Pt. 1:5).
In addition, the new believer is given God’s Holy Spirit (Eze. 36:26-27; 2 Cor. 1:21-22), becoming a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).
the church
We believe Jesus Christ established His church during His earthly ministry (Mt. 4:18-22; 16:18; Mk. 1:14-20; Jn. 1:35-51) and that the church is a visible assembly of baptized believers (1 Cor. 1:2; 1 Ths. 1:1; Phm. 1-2) joined together to carry out the Great Commission (Mt. 28:19-20).
The Bible states that the church will function in perpetuity (Eph. 3:21; Heb. 3:4-6) and that it is an independent and self-governing body (Mt. 20:25-27; Tit. 1:5) led by a pastor, whose qualifications are set forth in Titus (1:5-9) and 1 Timothy (3:1-7).
Supporting the pastor within the church are deacons (1 Tim. 3:8-13); the positions of pastor and deacon make up the two divinely appointed offices within the church.
Jesus left two ordinances to the church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Baptism is an outward expression of an inner faith (Acts 10:44-48; Col. 2:11-12), where the believer is fully immersed in water (Mt. 3:16; Acts 8:36-38) in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit (Mt. 28:19).
The Lord’s Supper is a remembrance of the Last Supper and Christ’s sacrifice for sin (1 Cor. 11:23-26), restricted to the members of the participating church (1 Cor. 5:11-13).
The church serves not just to present the Gospel to the lost, but to direct believers in their praise of God (Col. 3:16) and nurture the faith of the church body (Eph. 4:12-13; Col. 1:28). Therefore believers are directed to unite themselves to a church and attend faithfully (Heb. 10:24-25).
last things
We believe in the rapture of the church (1 Cor. 15:51-53; 1 Ths. 4:15-17; 5:9; 2 Ths. 2:7; Rev. 3:10), which will occur before the seven-year tribulation period (Dan. 9:24-27), also known as Jacob’s trouble (Jer. 30:7), that prefaces the visible, premillennial return of Christ in power (Acts 1:11; 1 Cor. 4:5; 2 Ths. 1:6-10; Heb. 9:28; 1 Pt. 5:4; Jde. 14-15; Rev. 19:11-16).
Afterwards, Christ will physically rule the earth for one-thousand years with resurrected believers (Rev. 20:4-6) before satan will be loosed for one final rebellion (Rev. 20:7), which God will crush (Rev. 20:9) before casting satan into the lake of fire forever (Rev. 20:10).
All unbelievers will then be resurrected to appear before Christ at the Great White Throne Judgment, where they will be judged by their works and cast into the lake of fire, eternally separated from God (Rev. 20:11-15). God will then destroy the earth by fire (2 Pt. 3:7) and remake heaven and earth, and there will be no more death or tears and God and Christ will finally tabernacle with man (Rev. 21:1-4; 22:3-4).
Amen!