The Essentials We Believe
The fundamental teachings of this body are reflected in the following clear statement of faith:
The Word of God - We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of life, faith and conduct. 2 Ti 3:15‑17; 1 Co.2:13;2 Pe.1 :16‑21; Mt 5:18; Rm 15:4: 1 Co 10: ll. Ps 19:1‑7: Jn 17:17; Rv22:18‑20; Ps 119:89; Mt 24:35.
The Trinity - We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons; that they are equal in divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption. Mt 3:13‑17.29:19; 2 Co 13:14; Mk 12:29; Jn 1:13; 1 Pe 1:2 De 6:4; Is 44:6; Gn 1:26; Jn 15:26.
God The Father. We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of His people, that He hears and answers prayers, and that He saves from sin and death, all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. Jn 4:24; Ex 34:6‑7; Ps 92: 1 Jn 4:16; Lv 20:26; Rm 16:27; Gn 17:1; I Jn 4:8;Je 33:3; Jn 3:16; Ex 3:14; 2 Pe 3:9; 1 Jn 4:8; Ps 90:2 Ep 3:1‑16.
Jesus Christ. We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son whom himself is God incarnate, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth. Jn 1:1‑3, 14: He 1:1‑4; Mt 1:20; Jn 8:46; 1 Jn 3:5; 2 Co 5:21; Jn 14:11,20:30‑31; 1 Jn 4:19 Rm 5: Lu 24:5‑7; Ac 1.9; He 7:25; Ac 1:11. Mk 9:35; Is 52:1 1‑53:12; Ph 2:5‑11; Mt 3:16-17; Jn 3:35-36; Jn 16:56-59
The Holy Spirit. We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, in regard to righteousness and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide. Mt 28:19; 2 Co 13:14; Jn 16:8‑11; 1 Jo 2:27; 1 Pe 1:2; Jn 3:5; Ep 1:13; Ac 1:8; Rm 8:14; Jn 14:26, 16:13‑14; Jn 14:16; Rm 10:9; 1 Co 6:19. Rm 8:9‑27; Gn 6:1; Ex 31:1‑5; Ps 52:11‑12; Mk 1:8‑11; 2 Co 1:22; Jn 16:7‑12.
Salvation - We believe that all people are sinners by nature and are, therefore, under Condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit. This is an act of God’s grace, not man’s works. Gn 3; Js 6:44; Ez 18:21‑23; Jn 3:14‑18; Jn 11:25‑26; Ac 3:19‑20; Ac 26:17‑18; Rm 3:10‑12.22‑24; Rm 4:23‑5:2,6‑21; Rm 6:23; 2 Co 5:14‑19; Ep 2:1‑10, He 9:11‑22; 1 Pe 1:1‑5.
The Church - We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the Head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world. 1 Co 12:13; Ep 5:23; He 10:24‑25; Ac 2:38‑47; Ac 18:8; Ac 2:23‑31; Ep 3:10. Mt 16:15‑18; Ep 2:19‑22; Ep 4:11‑16.
The Ordinances - We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Triune God. We believe that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for the commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Mt 28:19; 1 Co 11:23‑26: Mt 3:13‑17,28:19; Ac 8:37‑39; Rm 6:1‑10; C 12:11‑13; Mt 26:26‑29; Mt 28:19‑20.
The fundamental teachings of this body are reflected in the following clear statement of faith:
The Word of God - We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of life, faith and conduct. 2 Ti 3:15‑17; 1 Co.2:13;2 Pe.1 :16‑21; Mt 5:18; Rm 15:4: 1 Co 10: ll. Ps 19:1‑7: Jn 17:17; Rv22:18‑20; Ps 119:89; Mt 24:35.
The Trinity - We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons; that they are equal in divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption. Mt 3:13‑17.29:19; 2 Co 13:14; Mk 12:29; Jn 1:13; 1 Pe 1:2 De 6:4; Is 44:6; Gn 1:26; Jn 15:26.
God The Father. We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of His people, that He hears and answers prayers, and that He saves from sin and death, all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. Jn 4:24; Ex 34:6‑7; Ps 92: 1 Jn 4:16; Lv 20:26; Rm 16:27; Gn 17:1; I Jn 4:8;Je 33:3; Jn 3:16; Ex 3:14; 2 Pe 3:9; 1 Jn 4:8; Ps 90:2 Ep 3:1‑16.
Jesus Christ. We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son whom himself is God incarnate, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth. Jn 1:1‑3, 14: He 1:1‑4; Mt 1:20; Jn 8:46; 1 Jn 3:5; 2 Co 5:21; Jn 14:11,20:30‑31; 1 Jn 4:19 Rm 5: Lu 24:5‑7; Ac 1.9; He 7:25; Ac 1:11. Mk 9:35; Is 52:1 1‑53:12; Ph 2:5‑11; Mt 3:16-17; Jn 3:35-36; Jn 16:56-59
The Holy Spirit. We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, in regard to righteousness and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide. Mt 28:19; 2 Co 13:14; Jn 16:8‑11; 1 Jo 2:27; 1 Pe 1:2; Jn 3:5; Ep 1:13; Ac 1:8; Rm 8:14; Jn 14:26, 16:13‑14; Jn 14:16; Rm 10:9; 1 Co 6:19. Rm 8:9‑27; Gn 6:1; Ex 31:1‑5; Ps 52:11‑12; Mk 1:8‑11; 2 Co 1:22; Jn 16:7‑12.
Salvation - We believe that all people are sinners by nature and are, therefore, under Condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit. This is an act of God’s grace, not man’s works. Gn 3; Js 6:44; Ez 18:21‑23; Jn 3:14‑18; Jn 11:25‑26; Ac 3:19‑20; Ac 26:17‑18; Rm 3:10‑12.22‑24; Rm 4:23‑5:2,6‑21; Rm 6:23; 2 Co 5:14‑19; Ep 2:1‑10, He 9:11‑22; 1 Pe 1:1‑5.
The Church - We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the Head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world. 1 Co 12:13; Ep 5:23; He 10:24‑25; Ac 2:38‑47; Ac 18:8; Ac 2:23‑31; Ep 3:10. Mt 16:15‑18; Ep 2:19‑22; Ep 4:11‑16.
The Ordinances - We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Triune God. We believe that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for the commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Mt 28:19; 1 Co 11:23‑26: Mt 3:13‑17,28:19; Ac 8:37‑39; Rm 6:1‑10; C 12:11‑13; Mt 26:26‑29; Mt 28:19‑20.