BELIEFS

SCRIPTURES

We believe Scripture, comprised of both the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired Word of God and is the final authority for the believer’s faith and practice (Ps.19:7-11; II Tim.3:16-17). The Bible has a Divine origin (Jn.16:12-13; II Pet.1:20-21), is verbally inspired, inerrant in the original writings, and infallible in all that it asserts (Ps.119:160; Mt.5:18).

THE GODHEAD

We believe there are three co-equal, co-eternal Persons (personalities) united as One God (Deut.6:4). The Father (Eph.4:6), the Son (Jn. 1:1, 14), and the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:1-5) are equal in Divine essence, attributes, and perfections, yet each Member of the Trinity has distinct roles in which they operate (Mt.28:19; II Cor.13:14; I Pet.1:2).

JESUS CHRIST

We believe Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Triune Godhead, became a man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary (Lk.1:35; Jn.1:1, 14; Phil.2:5-8). He came to reveal God the Father (Jn.14:9) and redeem sinful humanity Lk.19:10). Christ accomplished our salvation through His substitutionary death on the

cross. Three days later, He physically rose from the dead (I Cor.15:1-18). He ascended into Heaven (Acts 1:9-10) and is now exalted at the right hand of the Father where He functions as our High Priest, makes intercession on our behalf

(Heb.7:25), and serves as our Advocate (I Jn.2:1-2).

HUMANITY

We believe people, male and female, are made in the image and likeness of God (Gen.1:26-27). Humanity was created to have fellowship with God, but this relationship was ruptured at the Fall (Gen.3; Rom.5:12). Our total depravity has alienated us from God and made us completely incapable of remedying our lost condition until He begins a saving work in us (Jn.6:65; Rom.3:22-23; Eph.2:1-5).

SALVATION

We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins (Jn.1:12; Eph.1:7,18-19, 2:8-10; I Pet.1:18-19). We further believe that those who have been redeemed are eternally kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever (Jn.6:37-40, 10:27-30; Rom.8:1, 38-39; I Cor.1:4-8; I Peter 1:5). Security in Christ should not lead believers to complacency, but rather, it should direct them to gratitude, obedience, and spiritual maturity (I Cor.6:9-11; Titus 2:11-15).

THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Triune Godhead, convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (Jn.16:8-11). He is actively involved in the process of regeneration, baptizing believers into the Body of Christ (I Cor.12:13), indwelling and sealing them permanently (Rom.8:9; Eph.1:13, 4:30), filling them with gifting and power (Eph.5:18), interceding for them (Rom.8:26), and distributing gifts to them for building up the Body of Christ (I Cor.12:4).

SPIRITUAL GIFTS

We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowing of spiritual gifts to His children for the purpose of building up the Body of

Christ (I Cor.12:7). It is, however, every believer’s responsibility to attempt to develop his or her divinely given spiritual gift(s). No particular spiritual gift proves the presence of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life, nor is any particular gift an indication of a deeper spiritual experience (I Cor.12:11, 13; Eph.4:7-8). It is the privilege and responsibility of all Christians to lovingly minister according to the gift(s) and grace God has given them (Rom.12:1-8; I Cor.13; I Pet.4:10-11).

THE CHURCH

We believe that the Church is the Body and espoused Bride of Christ (I Cor.12; II Cor.11:2; Eph.1:22, 5:22-27). Though sharing in certain blessings of God’s people in the Old Testament, the Church is distinct from Israel (I Cor.10:32). It is made up of people from a diversity of cultures and backgrounds (Acts 13:1; Gal.3:28; Eph.2:11-22). The Universal Church is a spiritual organism comprised of all born-again people throughout her entire history, a history dating back to the first Pentecost celebration following the resurrection of Christ (Acts 2; I Cor.12:13). Local churches are also recognized in Scripture (Acts 18:22, 20:17; I Tim.3:1-5; Titus 1:5; Col.4:15-16; Rev.2-3). While part of God’s Universal Church, they are the organized facet of the Body of Christ which assembles together on a regular basis (Heb.10:24-25). Each local assembly is autonomous and free from any external authority and control other than the Word of God (Acts 13:1-4, 15:19-31, 20:27-28; Rom.16:1, 4; I Pet.5:1-4).

Furthermore, we believe the two ordinances for the Church today are believer’s water baptism and the Lord’s supper,

both of which serve as a Scriptural means of testimony for the Church in this age (Matt 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42, 18:8; I Cor.11:23-26).

ANGELIC BEINGS

We believe angels are ministering spirits who serve as messengers and protectors (Heb.1:14). Demons are fallen angels who followed Satan in his rebellion (Ezek.28:15-17; Rev.12:4). Though Satan seeks to destroy (Jn.10:10), tempt (I Cor.7:5), and accuse believers (Rev.12:10), as well as to blind unbelievers to the Gospel (II Cor.4:4), he and his demonic forces will be eternally punished in the lake of fire (Mt.25:41; Rev.20:10).

THE END TIMES

We believe in the personal, physical, and imminent return of Jesus Christ. We hold to the pre-tribulation and premillennial positions of the rapture. Hence, Christ’s Church will celebrate the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev.19:9) for seven years while the Tribulation takes place on the earth (Dan.9:24-27; I Thess.1:10, 5:1-10; Rev.3:10). Christ will then return with His redeemed people to establish His Millennial Kingdom, a period lasting a literal 1,000 years (Rev.20:1-7). God’s people will ultimately be given rewards for their faith and works (I Cor.3:10-15; Rev.21:4, 22-27), whereas the wicked will faceeternal judgement and punishment (Mt.25:41-46; Rev.20:10, 21:8).

March 26, 2019