The Bible is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure, is free of error, and is therefore totally true and trustworthy. At times, it is plain and relatively easy to understand, and at other times, it is mysterious and takes time and energy to uncover its truths. God wants to have a relationship with His people, and the way we are to know Him is through His living and active Word.
We believe in the one true God, and that He is infinite and holy. This one God has existed eternally as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He is deserving of our affection, devotion, obedience, and honor. God created everything that exists and continues to sustain it today. God is sovereign over all things and reigns over human history according to His purposes.
We believe Jesus is the Son of God, and that He is the perfect representation of God in human form. He is fully man and, at the same time, fully God. He was tempted in all the ways we are, yet He never sinned, and offered Himself as a sacrifice that man could be redeemed to God. He arose from the dead, demonstrating His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven and will some day return to earth to judge the world and to reign over His creation.
We believe the Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son, and is present in the world to convict people of their sin and make people aware of their need for salvation. The Holy Spirit comes into each believer’s life upon his or her coming to faith. Further, He gives every believer a spiritual gift to be used to serve the church. The Holy Spirit offers comfort during difficult times, gives us understanding of God’s truth, and supplies power and guidance for obedient living.
We believe people are created in the image of God, meaning we are spiritual beings and, as the pinnacle of God’s creation, intended to steward that which He made. People were created in innocence to live in fellowship with the God. However, voluntary transgression against God’s law has separated us from Him, and all people are now conceived with a nature bent toward sin. Sin taints every aspect of man’s existence, and this is why we desperately need a Savior.
We believe that upon salvation, a believer becomes part of the body of Christ, His church. There is one universal church, which is comprised of all those who have come to faith in Jesus. Believers gather as the local church for the purposes of worshiping, praying, studying God’s Word, observing the ordinances of the church, fellowshipping, developing spiritual talents and gifts in order to serve the body, and reaching out to the world. Jesus is the head of the church, and each local body exists under the leadership of a pastor, elders, and other supportive leadership.
We believe that salvation is a free gift from God, and that there is nothing people can do to earn salvation. We are saved by God’s grace when we believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and submit to Him. Upon faith in Jesus, a person is brought into the family of God and eternal life in Christ begins at that moment.
We believe that, just as saving faith is a free gift from God and depends not on a person’s works, likewise, the security of believers rests on the power of God. There is nothing a person can do to earn salvation, and there is nothing a person can do to lose salvation. Those who are truly saved will produce fruit, but no amount of good behavior or self-effort secure a believer’s salvation. God, in His sovereignty and grace, seals the believer for eternity.
We believe that people were created to exist forever. Those who have experienced forgiveness and salvation in Jesus will live forever in fellowship with God in Heaven. Those who never experienced salvation will exist in eternal subjection to God’s wrath in Hell.