What we believe...

The Holy Scriptures

The Old Testament and New Testament writings known as the Holy Bible (Word of God) was written by men divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, and is God's revelation of Himself to mankind. The Holy Spirit of God superintended the human authors and utilized their individual personalities and different styles of writing to record God’s Word to humanity and for humanity. Therefore, the compilation of the sixty-six books of the Bible given to us by the Holy Spirit constitute the comprehensive and complete Word of God. The Word of God is God-breathed, inspired in every word and infallible in the original documents.

2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20–21; Hebrews 6:18; John 16:12-13 2 Peter 1:20–21; Matthew 5:18; 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 John 2:27; John 12:47-48; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:3; Psalm 19:7-10; Matthew 24:35; 1 Peter 1:23-25

God

There is one and only one living and true God. He is the Almighty, Intelligent, Spirit, and personal Holy One. He is the great Creator, Sustainer and Redeemer who rules the universe and all that is in it. The Almighty is infinite, holy, and perfect in all His attributes. To Him is due the highest reverence, love and obedience. The eternal God is one in essence, and eternally exists as a single Tri-unity which is represented by three distinct personages as God the Father (being fully and wholly God), God the Son (being fully and wholly God), and God the Holy Spirit (being fully and wholly God), yet remaining one fully and wholly God. God has given us the capacity to apprehended Him through the comprehending of his attributes and actions through His word and through His creation.

1 Corinthians 8:4; Romans 11:33-34; John 4:24; Exodus 3:14; Revelation 4:11; Colossians 1:13-14; Colossians 1:14; Isaiah 66:1; Ephesians 1:20-22; Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Peter 1:16; Matthew 5:48; Matthew 22:37; Psalm 33:8; John 3:36; 2 Thessalonians 1:8; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5–7; Matthew 28:19

God the Father Scriptural References:

Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 104; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Psalm 62:11; 1 John 4:8; Psalm 36:7; Psalm 147:5; Genesis 1:1-31; Psalm 103:19; Ephesians 3:9; Romans 11:36; John 5:17-26; 8:54; 14:12-13; 1 John 3:1; Matthew 6:6-15; Romans 8:16; Ephesians 3:14-15, 4:6; Romans 8:14; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Ephesians 1:11; 3:15; 1 Chronicles 29:11; Habakkuk 1:13; Job 34:10; 1 Peter 1:17; Matthew 16:27; Ephesians 1:4-6; John 1:12; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:5

God the Son Scriptural References:

John 1:9, 17:5, 24; Colossians 1:19, 2:9; Psalm 110:1; John 10:30-33, 14:9; Philippians 2:6; John 1:3; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3; Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:34-35; Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 2:17-18; Hebrews 4:15; Isaiah 9:6; Micah 5:2; John 10:30, 14:9; John 5:30, 8:28-29; Romans 3:24; Hebrews 7:25-27; 1 Peter 1:18-19, 3:18; John 10:14-15, 17-18; Romans 5:8, 6:4; Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18; Romans 3:25; 1 John 2:2; Romans 3:24; Titus 2:14; Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:6-7; John 20:16, 19-20, 26; 1 Corinthians 15:5-8; Romans 4:23-25, 5:10, 18; Romans 4:25; Acts 2:32-36; John 5:25-29; Romans 4:25, 6:3-10; 1 Corinthians 15:20, 23; Acts 1:9; Acts 2:34; Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 7:25, 9:15, 24; 1 John 2:1; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:6; Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:22–23; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11-15; 1 Timothy 2:5; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18; Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 1:31-33; Matthew 25:14-46; Acts 17:30-3; Revelation 20:11-15; Romans 8:10; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 3:17; Colossians 1:27

God the Holy Spirit Scriptural References:

John 14:26, 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:10–13; Ephesians 4:30; 1 Corinthians 12:11; Hebrews 9:14; Psalm 139:7–10; Isaiah 40:13–14; Romans 15:13; John 16:13; Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3–4; 16:6-7; 28:25–26; 1 Corinthians 12:4–6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 10:15–17; John 16:8-11; Genesis 1:2, 26; Matthew 1:18; 2 Peter 1:20–21; John 3:5-7; Acts 2:4; John 14:16–17; 15:26; John 16:13-14; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 2:22; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 2 Corinthians 3:18; John 16:8; Titus 3:5; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 John 4:13; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Acts 2:4; Ephesians 2:22; Ephesians 4:7-16; 1 Corinthians 13:8–10; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 2:19-20; 3:4-5; Hebrews 2:1–4; John 16:13; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 1 Corinthians 2:14-16; Ephesians 5:18- 20; 1 Peter 4:10-11; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Galatians 4:6; 1 John 2:27; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19

Man

God created mankind for His own glory. Man was directly and immediately created by the special act of God, in His own image and likeness, and is the crowning work of His creation. In the beginning mankind was innocent of sin and was endowed by their Creator with intelligence, volition, and moral responsibility to God. God provided everything necessary for mankind to glorify God, enjoy God’s fellowship and live their lives in the will of God. By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. In Adam’s sin of disobedience to the revealed will and Word of God, mankind lost their innocence; incurred the penalty of spiritual and physical death; became subject to the wrath of God; and became inherently corrupt and utterly incapable of choosing or doing that which is acceptable to God. All men and women (humans) are sinners by nature, by choice, and by divine declaration. Mankind is spiritually dead in their sins and are incapable of saving themselves through works or any other means; therefore salvation is wholly of God’s grace.

Isaiah 43:7; Genesis 1:26-31; Genesis 2:7; Psalm 8:5; James 3:9; Genesis 1:27; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Genesis 2:19-20; Genesis 2:16- 17, 3:6; Romans 1:18-20; Genesis 1:31; Genesis 3:6; Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22; Genesis 2:16-17; Genesis 3:7-8; Romans 5:18-19; Genesis 2:16-17; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1; Genesis 3:16-24; John 3:36; Ephesians 2:3; Genesis 6:5; Job 14:4; Jeremiah 17:9; John 3:19, 6:44; Psalm 14:1-3; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:3; Ephesians 2:1-9

Repentance

Repentance is a genuine turning directions from sin to God. Repentance in a believer’s heart involves a turning from sin internally, followed by a turning from sin externally.

Isaiah 45:22; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; 2 Chronicles 7:14; James 4:9-10; John 3:36, 5:24; Acts 3:19; 2 Corinthians 7:9-10; 2 Timothy 2:25-26

Salvation

Salvation is the redemption of the whole man, involving both his immaterial soul and material body. Salvation is offered freely to all who put their trust (faith) in Jesus Christ (receive Him), who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. Salvation is wholly of God by grace and not on the basis of human merit or works. In its broadest sense, salvation includes justification, adoption, regeneration, sanctification, and glorification.

James 1:21, 5:20; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Romans 5:15-17; Ephesians 2:8; John 1:12; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:12; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Romans 3:28; Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 1:9; Ephesians 2:5; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 30; 1 Peter 1:1-2; Romans 8:30; 2 Timothy 2:10

The Church

All who place their faith in Jesus Christ are miraculously and immediately transitioned by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual body represented by many members called the church, the bride of Christ, of which Christ is the head. The church is thus a unique spiritual organism which is made up of many local congregations. The members of the one scriptural body are directed to associate themselves together in local assemblies. The one supreme authority for the church is Christ, and the church leadership, gifts, order, discipline, and worship are all appointed through His sovereignty as found in the Scriptures. The biblically designated leadership under Christ and over the assembly are elders (who are also called overseers, bishops, pastors, and pastor-teachers). It is scriptural for true churches, under the oversight of their elders, to cooperate with each other for the presentation and propagation of the faith. The purpose of the church is to worship and glorify God while building up each other in the faith, preaching the gospel and making disciples.

1 Corinthians 12:12–13; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23–32; Revelation 19:7–8; Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 2:14-20; Acts 1:5; 2:37-47; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; Romans 11:13-24; 1 Corinthians 10:32; Ephesians 3:1–6; Acts 14:23, 27; 20:17, 28; Galatians 1:2; Philippians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1; Hebrews 10:25; 1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Timothy 2:12-3:1; Acts 14:23; 15:2; 1 Timothy 5:17; Titus 1:5; 1 Peter 5:1-2; 1 Peter 5:1-5; 1 Timothy 5:17; 1 Peter 5:2-3; Hebrews 13:7, 17; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; Matthew 28:19–20; 2 Timothy 2:2; Matthew 18:15–22; Acts 5:1–11; 1 Corinthians 5:1–13; 2 Thessalonians 3:6–15; 1 Timothy 1:19–20; Titus 1:10–16; Acts 20:28-30; Romans 15:24-26; Ephesians 3:21; Ephesians 4:13–16; 2 Timothy 2:2, 15; 3:16–4:2; John 17:20-23; Acts 2:47; Ephesians 4:1-6; Luke 22:19; Acts 2:38–42; 1 Corinthians 11:26; 1 Peter 4:10-11; Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8; 2:46-47; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7; Ephesians 4:7–12; Romans 12:5–8; 1 Corinthians 12:4–31; 1 Peter 4:10–11; Hebrews 2:3–4; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 13:8–12; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-10; Revelation 13:13–14; Romans 12:6–8; Luke 18:1–6; John 5:7–9; 2 Corinthians 12:6–10; James 5:13–16; 1 John 5:14–15

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

Two ordinances have been given to the church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is a physical act of obedience symbolizing the spiritual reality of the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. Baptism is also a sign of fellowship and identification with the body of Christ. The ordinance of water baptism imparts no grace.

The Lord’s Supper is an act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize and proclaim the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming. It should always be proceeded by solemn self examination. The elements of communion are only representative of the flesh and blood of Christ. When we properly share in communion we spiritually participate in fellowship with Jesus Christ and with other believers. The Lord’s Supper is a command from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself to every believer.

Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Matthew 26:26-27; Luke 22:19; Matthew 3:16; Acts 8:38-39; Matthew 28:19; Acts 8:36-38, 16:31-33; Romans 6:3-5; Acts 2:41-42; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27-28; Acts 2:41, 10:47-48; 1 Corinthians 11:24-26; 1 Corinthians 11:28-32; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:16; Matthew 26:26-28

The Family

God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood and or adoption. Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God's unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church, and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel for sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race. The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God's image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God as is her husband is of equal worth and has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation. Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate to their children God's pattern for marriage. Parents are to teach their children spiritual and moral values and to lead them, through consistent lifestyle example and loving discipline, to make choices based on biblical truth. Children are to honor and obey their parents.

Genesis 2:18-25; Proverbs 18:22; Matthew 19:3-6; Ephesians. 5:32; Genesis 1:28, 2:25; Proverbs: 5:18-19; Hebrews 13:4; Genesis 1:26-27; 2:21-22; Ephesians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:25; Ephesians 5:33; 1 Peter 3:7; Ephesians 5:22-23; 1 Peter 3:1; Genesis 2:23-24; 1 Corinthians 7:3-4; 1 Peter 3:8-9; Psalms 128:3; Proverbs 31:10-31; Titus 2:3-5; Psalms 139:13-16; Psalms 127:3-5; Colossians 3:18-21; Proverbs 6:20-23; Deuteronomy 6:6-9; Psalms 78:1-8; Exodus 20:12; Colossians 3:20; Ephesians 6:1-3

The Second Coming and the Millennial Reign

After the tribulation period, Christ will come to earth to occupy the throne of David and establish His Messianic kingdom for a thousand years on the earth. At this time the children of God that were raptured and resurrected ones will reign with Christ. The kingdom itself will be the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel to restore them to the land which they forfeited through their disobedience. The result of their disobedience was that Israel was temporarily set aside, but will again be awakened through repentance to enter into the land of blessing. This time of our Lord’s reign will be characterized by harmony, justice, peace, righteousness, and long life, and will be brought to an end by God when He releases Satan.

Matthew 25:31; Luke 1:31–33; Acts 1:10–11; 2:29-31; Revelation 20:1–7; Revelation 20:4-6; Revelation 5:10; Isaiah 65:17–25; Ezekiel 37:21–28; Zechariah 8:1–17; Deuteronomy 28:15–68; Matthew 21:43; Romans 11:1–26; Jeremiah 31:31–34; Ezekiel 36:22–32; Romans 11:25–29; Isaiah 11; 65:17–25; Ezekiel 36:33–38; Revelation 20:7

The Judgment of the Lost

Following the release of Satan after the thousand year reign of Christ, Satan will deceive the nations of the earth and gather them to battle against the saints and the beloved city, at which time Satan and his army will be devoured by fire from heaven. Following this, Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone whereupon Christ, who is the judge of all men, will resurrect and judge the great and small at the Great White Throne judgment. This resurrection of the unsaved dead to judgment will be a physical resurrection, whereupon receiving their judgment, they will be committed to an eternal conscious punishment in the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:7; Revelation 20:8; Revelation 20:9; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10; John 5:22; Revelation 20:11-13; Matthew 25:41, 46; Revelation 14:11, 20:14–15

Eternity

After the closing of the millennium, the temporary release of Satan, and the judgment of unbelievers, the saved will enter the eternal state of glory with God, after which the elements of this earth are to be dissolved and replaced with a new earth wherein only righteousness dwells. Following this, the heavenly city will come down out of heaven and will be the dwelling place of the saints, where they will enjoy forever fellowship with God and one another. Our Lord Jesus Christ, having fulfilled His redemptive mission, will then deliver up the kingdom to God the Father, that in all spheres the triune God will reign forever and ever.

2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 20:7–15; 2 Peter 3:10, Revelation 21:1; Revelation: 21–22; Revelation 21:2; John 14:2-3; John 17:3; Revelation 21, 22; 1 Corinthians 15:24–28; 1 Corinthians 15:2