The Bible
We believe the Bible is the infallible, inerrant, Word of God and is alone the rule of life. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21) Our beliefs should be determined not on the basis of what we can make the Bible say but on what the Bible teaches. We want to subject every belief to the careful scrutiny of Scripture.
God
We believe in the Trinity–that there is one God who is eternally existent in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19; Matthew 3:16-17; Deuteronomy 6:4)
We believe God is the Author, Creator, Ruler, and Sustainer of all there is and ever will be.
He is Sovereign over everything. (1 Chronicles 29:12; Psalm 135:6; Acts 17:24-26)
Jesus
We believe Jesus was God in human form, born of a Virgin. He was mysteriously fully God and fully man. He lived a sinless life. Jesus was more than “man reaching his fullest potential”–He is God who has taken the form of man. Jesus is unique. (Colossians 1:15-20; Philippians 2:5-11)
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is given to every believer to seal, equip, and lead us. We also believe the Holy Spirit is concerned not to draw attention to Himself but to Christ. We believe the Holy Spirit builds Christlike character into everyone who believes; brings strength, comfort and assurance to all believers; equips each believer with unique abilities to serve the body; and keeps us in the faith throughout our life. (John 16:7-15; Ephesians 1:13-14)
Mankind
We believe Human Beings are by nature sinners (and will deny it with their dying breath) and subject to judgment. Without God’s intervention we have no hope and no desire for salvation. (Ephesians 2:1-5)
Salvation
We believe salvation comes only by God’s grace (as a gift initiated by Him) through faith (our willing acceptance of the gift) in the sacrificial, substitutionary, death of Jesus Christ (He died for our sin, in our place). True faith involves a surrender of one’s life to the Lordship of Christ. (Ephesians 2:8-10) (John 3-16) (John 5:24)
Baptism
Christian baptism is one of two ordinances that Jesus instituted for the church. Just before His ascension Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19- 20). These instructions specify that the church is responsible to teach Jesus’ word, make disciples, and baptize those disciples. These things are to be done everywhere (“all nations”) until “the very end of the age.” So, if for no other reason, baptism has importance because Jesus commanded it.
Christian baptism is the means by which a person makes a public profession of faith and discipleship. In the waters of baptism, a person says, wordlessly, “I confess faith in Christ; Jesus has cleansed my soul from sin, and I now have a new life of santification.” (Acts 2:8)
