What We Believe
The Authority of the Bible
The sixty-six books of the Bible are the authoritative Word of God. It alone is the final authority in determining all doctrinal truths. In its original writing, it is inspired, infallible, and inerrant.
The Triunity of God
We believe in one sovereign God who eternally exists in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each Person is fully and equally God, possessing the same divine essence, attributes, and glory, while remaining distinct in personhood and perfectly united in will and purpose.
The Person of Jesus Christ
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His humanity, His perfectly sinless life, His substitutionary death as an atonement for our sins, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the Father, and His personal return to the earth for His saints.
The Ministry of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is that Person of the Triune Godhead who convicts men of sin, causes spiritual birth, indwells, seals, sanctifies, guides, equips, teaches, and fills the believer, thus enabling him to walk in obedience to God and His Word.
The Creation and Fall of Man
Man was created by God in His own image and is not the product of evolution; he fell into sin through personal disobedience to the revealed will of God; and as a result, all mankind is sinful in nature and practice, is unable to save himself, and faces eternal separation from God.
The Salvation of Man
Eternal salvation from sin, death and hell is the free gift of God's grace, and is based solely upon man's personal faith and belief in Jesus Christ. He voluntarily died as a substitutionary sacrifice for our sins and arose bodily from the dead, thus guaranteeing our own resurrection to eternal life. This salvation is not received by, nor based on, any sacrament, merit, or good work on our part. The one who receives Christ's salvation is eternally secure.
The Destiny of Man
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all the dead, the saved to eternal life and blessedness in Heaven and the unsaved to eternal, conscious suffering and woe in Hell . At death, the redeemed pass immediately into the presence of Christ and there remain in joyful fellowship until their bodily resurrection unto life.
The Nature of the Church
We believe that every born-again believer should be identified with and actively participate in a local church, as ordained by Christ for worship, fellowship, breaking of bread, exercising spiritual gifts, discipleship, service, and the proclamation of the Gospel. The local churches have the authority and scriptural guidelines for administering order, discipline, and worship which Christ, the sovereign head, had appointed. The biblically designated officers serving under Christ and over the church are elders and deacons. While local churches may cooperate with other like-minded local churches for mutual encouragement and the advancement of the Gospel, no ecclesiastical organization or denomination possesses jurisdiction over a local congregation.
The Ordinances of the Church
Two ordinances have been committed to the local church: baptism and the Lord's supper. Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the triune God. This ordinance, being a command of Christ, is recognized as a prerequisite for membership in the local church. Likewise, the Lord's supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His atoning death. We have the Lord Supper ceremony on every Lord's Day.
The Organization of the Church
We have no denominational affiliation but maintain strong ties with the wider Local Church community. We believe in a plurality of biblically qualified elders who provide spiritual oversight and shepherd the congregation. Our leadership team consists of men recognized from within the congregation, who are accountable to one another, the church, and ultimately to God. In keeping with our understanding of Scripture, the offices of elder and pastoral leadership are reserved for qualified men, while every believer is encouraged to serve according to the gifts and calling God has given them. As members of the Body of Christ, we affirm the value and vital contribution of every individual and encourage all to use their spiritual gifts and talents for the edification of the church.
Usage of Spiritual Gifts
We believe that the Holy Spirit gives at least one spiritual gift to every believer for the purpose of serving and building up the Body of Christ. These gifts are to be exercised in accordance with the teachings and priorities of Scripture. We hold to a Cessationist position, believing that the miraculous sign gifts given to authenticate the apostles and establish the early church such as tongues, interpretation of tongues, prophecy, healing, and miracles were temporary in nature and ceased with the close of the apostolic age and the completion of the New Testament canon. We affirm that the Holy Spirit continues to work powerfully in the lives of believers today through His sanctifying, gifting, guiding, and empowering ministry.