Everything that exists, visible and invisible, exists by God, through God, and for God. Everything God has done, is doing, and will do is for his glory. Consequently, all humanity exists to glorify God and enjoy him forever. (Romans 11:33-36; Psalm 19:1; Psalm 6)

GOD’S WORD

We believe the Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are the inspired, infallible Word of God. This Word is without error in the original writings and it never changes. The Bible is the complete revelation of God’s will for the salvation of mankind and is the final authority for all Christian faith and life. We treasure the Bible and seek to read it out of obedience to God and in order to know him more. (Psalm 19:7-11, 2 Timothy 3:13-17, 2 Peter 1:19-21, John 17:17)

THE TRINITY

There is one true God who eternally exists in three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three persons of the Godhead are equal in being, power, and glory, and they are identical in essence. Each possesses all the same attributes and perfections. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-6; Isaiah 46:9-10; Psalm 139:1-24; Matthew 10:29-31; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1; John 17:3; Acts 17:24-28 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; 1 Timothy 2:5; Titus 2:13)

GOD THE FATHER

God is eternal in his existence, infinite in his attributes, and sovereign over all things. He is omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (always with us), and omnipotent (all-powerful). He not only created the world, but also now upholds, sustains, governs, providentially directs all that exists, and will bring all things to their proper consummation in Christ for the glory of his name. We believe that God concerns himself mercifully in the affairs of people, that he hears and answers prayer, and that he saves from sin and death all who come to him through Jesus Christ. (Genesis 1:1 Isaiah 40:1-48:22; Isaiah 46:10; Psalm 104:1-35; Matthew 10:29-31; 28:19; John 3:16; 4:24; Acts 17:24-28; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 1:9-12; 4:4-6; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 1:4-6)

GOD THE SON

We believe Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, the eternal Word made flesh, truly God and truly man, that he was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and offered himself as a substitutionary sacrifice for sinners. By his blood shed on the cross, he satisfied the wrath of God and obtained eternal redemption, the forgiveness of sins, spiritual adoption as sons and daughters, right relationship with God, and life everlasting for those who trust in him. He was raised bodily three days later and ascended to the right hand of the Father, where he now sits and serves to make intercession for the saints. He will come again to rule and establish his kingdom on earth. (Colossians 1:13-23, 2:15, Isaiah 53:1-12; Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1-18; Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:1- 28; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:10-14; Ephesians 1:7; Philippians 2:6-11; Hebrews 7:25; 9:13-15; 1 Peter 2:24-25; 1 John 2:1-2)

GOD THE SPIRIT

We believe the Holy Spirit is fully God, equal with the Father and Son. The primary ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. He also convicts unbelievers of their need for Christ and imparts spiritual life through regeneration (the new birth). After Jesus ascended into heaven, God sent the Holy Spirit to be counselor, comforter, and keeper of those who have trusted in Christ. The Spirit indwells, sanctifies, leads, illumines, and graciously empowers for godly living and service all who come to faith in Christ. We believe Christ baptizes believers in the Holy Spirit, in whom we are sealed for the day of redemption. The Holy Spirit lives inside all believers, giving gifts to equip the church for ministry and empowering believers to testify to the will of God. (Genesis 1:2, Acts 1:8, Matthew 3:11; John 1:12-13; 3:1-15; 15:26-27; 16:7-15; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18; Romans 12:3-8; Romans 14:1-33; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31)

MAN

All humanity, though created in God’s image, is sinful by both birth and action - Christ excluded. We believe God made man - male and female - in his own image, that man might glorify him through enjoying fellowship with him. But, as a result of his disobedience, Adam and his posterity are born subject to sin and moral corruption, and are therefore by nature and choice children of wrath, justly condemned in the sight of God, wholly unable to save themselves or to contribute in any way to their acceptance before God. (Genesis 1:1-3:24; Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:9-18; 5:12-21; Ephesians 2:1-3)

SALVATION

We believe God chose his people in Christ before the foundation of the world and will, through the work of the Holy Spirit, draw the elect to faith in his Son, Jesus Christ. By his glorious grace, God chooses sinful man; this is not dependent on either the desires or deeds of man. We are justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. No ordinance, ritual, work, or activity on the part of man is required in order to be saved, simply trust in the righteous blood of Jesus shed on the cross. This saving grace of God, by the power of the Spirit, also sanctifies us to enable us to do what is pleasing in God’s sight in order that we might be conformed to the image of Christ. (John 1:12-13; 6:37-44; 10:25-30; Acts 13:48; 16:30-31; Romans 3:1-4:25; 8:1-17, 31-39; 9:1-23; 10:8-10; Ephesians 1:4-5; 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; Titus 3:3-7)

THE CHURCH

The church is the bride and body of Christ, comprised of all believers from all time and in all places, and is God’s means for communicating the gospel to the whole world. The church is God’s primary instrument through which he is fulfilling his redemptive purposes in the earth. We believe God has called the church to preach the gospel, to remember the poor, and to minister to the needs of all through sacrificial giving and service. The church is a means by which believers are sanctified and equipped to live on mission for God in the world. (Colossians 1:8, Isaiah 58:6-12; 61:1; Matthew 16:17-19; 28:18-20; Luke 4:18; 21:1-4; Acts 2:17-18,42; Galatians 2:10; Ephesians 3:14-21; 4:11-16; 1 Timothy 6:8; Hebrews 10:23-25; 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10, 5:1-5)

MARRIAGE

We believe marriage is a sacred covenant between one man and one woman and that sex is a gift of God between a husband and wife to be shared within the confines of marriage. We believe wives should love and submit to their husbands as the church loves and submits to Christ. We also believe husbands should love their wives as Christ laid down his life for the church. (Ephesians 5:22-33)

CHRIST’S RETURN

We believe in the imminent, glorious, visible, and triumphant appearing of Christ when he will return to the earth as King of kings. We believe after Christ returns, he will bring about the ultimate defeat of Satan, the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment, and the eternal blessing of the righteous. At that time, the Kingdom of God will be completely fulfilled in the new heavens and the new earth, and we shall worship the Lord forever. (Matthew 25:46; John 5:25-29; 1 Corinthians 15:1-49; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Philippians 1:19-26; 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12; Revelation 19:1-21; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:1-22:15)