We believe that the God who created all things has spoken to us through His Word, from Genesis to Revelation. We believe His Word is our supreme authority for what we believe and how we live as His community. The following biblical beliefs serve as our Statement of Faith.
1. The Bible
We believe that the Bible composed of the Old and New Testament is inspired by God and is the supreme and sole authority in faith and life.
Matthew 5:18; John 10:35; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 22:18-19.
Matthew 5:18; John 10:35; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 22:18-19.
2. The triune god
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three equally divine Persons – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Genesis 1:26; 11:7; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:21-22; John 3:1-3; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 12:4-6; 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2.
Genesis 1:26; 11:7; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:21-22; John 3:1-3; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 12:4-6; 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2.
3. Jesus
We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, that He is true God and true man, and that He is the only mediator between God and Man.
Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:16, 20, 23; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14; 14:6-14; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 10:10-14.
Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:16, 20, 23; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14; 14:6-14; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 10:10-14.
4. The gospel
We believe in the substitutionary death of the Lord Jesus Christ for our sins; in the resurrection of His body; in His ascension into Heaven; in His personal and visible return to the earth. We further believe that salvation is received only through personal faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Isaiah 1:26; 2:2-4; 53:4-6; Micah 4:1-5; Zechariah 14:1-5; John 3:16, 17; Acts 1:8-11; 4:12; Romans 5:8-11; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 50-57; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Thessalonians 4:13- 17; Titus 3:4-7; 1 Peter 2:24; Revelation 20:1-15.
Isaiah 1:26; 2:2-4; 53:4-6; Micah 4:1-5; Zechariah 14:1-5; John 3:16, 17; Acts 1:8-11; 4:12; Romans 5:8-11; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 50-57; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Thessalonians 4:13- 17; Titus 3:4-7; 1 Peter 2:24; Revelation 20:1-15.
5. The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit and that His ministry is to reveal Christ to all men in the regeneration and the sanctification of their souls.
John 14:15-26; 15:26; 16:7-16; Acts 8:29; 10:19-21; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; Ephesians 1:13-14; Titus 3:5; 1 John 5:6.
John 14:15-26; 15:26; 16:7-16; Acts 8:29; 10:19-21; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; Ephesians 1:13-14; Titus 3:5; 1 John 5:6.
6. Two Ways to Live
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between those in Christ and those apart from Christ. Only those who have faith in Christ alone are justified and sanctified by the Spirit of God - only these persons are truly righteous in God's esteem. Those who continue in impenitence and unbelief toward God and His Son, are in God's sight wicked and under the curse of God. This distinction holds among all people both in life and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.
Proverbs 14:32; Malachi 3:13-18; John 16:7-15; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:8-11; 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 20-24; Ephesians 2:8-9; Revelation 20:12-15.
Proverbs 14:32; Malachi 3:13-18; John 16:7-15; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:8-11; 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 20-24; Ephesians 2:8-9; Revelation 20:12-15.
7. Mankind
We believe that both men and women were created in the image of God, and that both sinned and thereby incurred spiritual death.
Genesis 1:26-27; Ezekiel 18:20; Romans 3:9-23; 5:12; 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22; Ephesians 2:1-3.
Genesis 1:26-27; Ezekiel 18:20; Romans 3:9-23; 5:12; 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22; Ephesians 2:1-3.
8. Baptism
We believe in baptism of the believer by water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, setting forth the essential facts of redemption, the death, and resurrection of Christ, and the essential facts in the experience of the believer - death to sin and resurrection to newness of life. The mode of baptism is immersion. All individuals who personally confess that Jesus is both their Lord and Savior are encouraged to follow Jesus and identify with Him and His people by joyfully obeying His command to be baptized.
Ezekiel 36:25-27; Matthew 3:11, 13-17; 28:19-20; John 1:26; Acts 2:38-41; 8:12; 10:47-48; 22:16; Hebrews 10:22.
Ezekiel 36:25-27; Matthew 3:11, 13-17; 28:19-20; John 1:26; Acts 2:38-41; 8:12; 10:47-48; 22:16; Hebrews 10:22.
9. Communion or The Lord's Supper
We believe that the Lord's Supper is a commemoration of Jesus' death until He comes and is to be observed regularly.
Matthew 26:26-29; 28:19-20; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:38; 8:12; 1 Corinthians 11:17-29.
Matthew 26:26-29; 28:19-20; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:38; 8:12; 1 Corinthians 11:17-29.
10. The Church
We believe that that a New Testament Church is a body of believers thus baptized, associated for worship, service, and the spread of the Gospel.
Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 2:42-47; Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; Ephesians 3:21; 2 Timothy 2:2.
Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 2:42-47; Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; Ephesians 3:21; 2 Timothy 2:2.
Creeds
In addition to our beliefs, we also cherish and confess many of the doctrinal statements of the early church such as the Apostle's Creed and the Nicene Creed. We recognize that we stand in a long line of Christians and celebrate our long storied history of God and His work among us.
Apostle's Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.
Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.
Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.
Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
Amen.