The Essentials We Believe

1. About the Bible

We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired Word of God, without error, in the original writings, and we believe them to be the Divine and final authority of all Christian faith and life. There are no other writings similarly inspired by God.

Joshua 1:8; Psalm 19:7-11; Matthew 5:17-19; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21

2. About God

There is but one God, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three possess the same nature, attributes and glory, but are distinct in office and activity.

Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 48:16; Matthew 28:19; James 2:19

3. About Jesus Christ

We believe Jesus Christ to be true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. The shedding of His blood and subsequent bodily resurrection provide the only means of satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who believe in Him. He rose from the dead to ascend into heaven, where at the right hand of God, His place is now as our High Priest and Advocate.

1 John 5:20; Luke 1:35; Matthew 1:20; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Romans 4:25; Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 4:14

4. About Salvation

We believe that man was created in the image of God but fell into sin, so that every member of the human race is separated from God, and by nature, sinful and lost. Salvation is entirely of God’s grace, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. Only those who receive Jesus Christ are born of the Holy Spirit, and thus become children of God.

Genesis 1:27; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:5

5. About the Holy Spirit

Each believer is indwelt and sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of the redemption of his body. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, and during this age to convict men, regenerate the believing sinner, indwell, guide, instruct, and empower the believer for godly living and service.
Ephesians 4:30; Ephesians 5:8; John 14:16-18; John 16:8-14; Romans 8:9

6. About the Church

The true Church is not an organization but a living organism comprised of all believers. We believe Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church. The local church is the expression, in any locality, of the true Church, having the right under Christ to decide and govern its own affairs. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances to be observed during the present age but are not to be regarded as a means of grace.

Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Galatians 3:27-28; Ephesians 1:22-23

7. About the Return of Christ

We believe in the personal and imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ in the air, whose coming is the fulfillment of the blessed hope set before the believer. He will receive His believing people to Himself and later will come to earth visibly to establish His kingdom.

John 14:1-6; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; Titus 2:13; Revelation 19:11 - 20:6

8. About the Resurrection

We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead; of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord, and of the   unbeliever to judgment and everlasting conscious punishment.

Revelation 20:12-13; Philippians 1:23; 2 Thessalonians 1: 8-9