I. The Word of God
We believe that the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is the Word of God, fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error in the original manuscripts. We believe that it is wholly sufficient as Divine revelation, and it alone has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
Psalm 12:6; 19:7–11; Isaiah 40:8; Mark 13:31; John 8:31–32; 20:30–31; Acts 20:32; 2 Timothy 3:14–17; Hebrews 1:1–2; 2 Peter 1:19–21
II. The Trinity
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three persons, being one in essence, are equal in every divine perfection, and they perform distinct but harmonious functions in the work of creation, providence, and redemption.
Genesis 1:1, 26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19–20; John 1:1–3; Romans 1:19–20; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:5–6
III. God the Father
We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He infallibly foreknows all that shall come to pass, that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. We believe that He is unchangeable in His being, all glorious in His nature, and absolutely sovereign over creation, providence, and redemption.
Psalm 115:3; 145:5; Isaiah 6:1–7; Daniel 4:34–35; Luke 10:21–22; John 3:16; 4:24; 1 Timothy 2:5–6; 1 Peter 1:3
IV. Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary, atoning death; bodily resurrection; ascension into heaven; perpetual intercession for His people; and His future, personal, and visible return to earth.
Matthew 1:18–25; John 1:1–14; 20:30–31; Acts 1:10–11; Romans 5:6–8; 6:9–10; 1 Corinthians 15:3–5; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:5–11; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:1–12; 7:25; 9:28; 1 Peter 2:21–23
V. The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment and to apply the benefits of Christ’s work to the elect in regeneration and sanctification. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide. We believe that every believer in Christ is baptized by the Holy Spirit at salvation and receives one or more spiritual gifts for the blessing and benefit of the church.
John 3:3–8; 14:16–17; 15:26–27; 16:8–14; Romans 6:3–5; 8:9, 26; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19–20; Galatians 5:22–26
VI. Salvation
We believe that man was created by God in His own image; that he sinned and thereby incurred physical, spiritual, and eternal death, which is separation from God; that as a consequence, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and willfully sin by choice and are therefore under condemnation. We believe that God in His free and sovereign grace saves sinners as He wills. Salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone, and true believers will persevere in faith and good works unto the end. This good news of salvation is freely offered to all, but it requires faith in Christ, which is enabled through regeneration by the Holy Spirit, making those who are predestined to eternal life willing and able to believe.
Genesis 1:26; 2:17; 3:1–24; 5:2; Jeremiah 17:9–10; Jonah 2:9; John 1:12–13; 3:14–16; 5:24; 8:12; 14:6; Acts 13:48; 17:30–31; Romans 3:10–26; 6:23; 8:1; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:8–9; 2 Thessalonians 1:9–10; Titus 3:3–8; 1 Peter 1:3–5
VII. The Church
We believe in the universal church, a living, spiritual body of which Christ is the head, composed of people who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and have put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe in the local church, whose membership consists of a company of baptized believers in Jesus Christ, who meet regularly for worship, Bible study, prayer, the Lord’s supper, and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world. We believe in the autonomy and independence of the local church, although voluntary cooperation with other churches, associations, or organizations may prove beneficial.
Matthew 16:17–18; Acts 2:42–47; 1 Corinthians 16:1; Ephesians 2:19–22; 4:1–16; Hebrews 10:23–25
VIII. Christian Conduct
We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and that he should seek the well-being of his fellow man; that his conduct should be one of pursuing holiness before God and blamelessness before the world; that he should seek to be a faithful steward of his possessions; and that he should seek to realize for himself and others the full stature of maturity in Christ. We disavow a legalistic approach to the Christian life and believe in the liberty of conscience.
John 14:15, 23–24; Romans 12:1–3; 14:1–20; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 2 Corinthians 9:6–9; Colossians 1:9–10, 28–29; Titus 2:11–14; Hebrews 12:1–2, 14; 1 John 2:3–6
IX. The Ordinances
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s supper. We believe that the regular mode of Christian baptism is the immersion of the believer in water into the name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord’s supper was instituted by Christ for believers as a continual and tangible reminder of His sacrificial death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered by each local church until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 3:13–17; 26:26–29; 28:18–20; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26
X. The Last Things
We believe in the personal, visible, and imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the endless suffering of the wicked, and the eternal blessedness of the believer.
Matthew 13:47–50; 16:27; 24:1–51; 25:31–46; Mark 14:62; John 14:1–3; Acts 1:10–11; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15:1–58; 2 Corinthians 5:9–10; Philippians 3:20–21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; 2 Timothy 4:1–8; Revelation 20:11–15
(Last revised on March 3, 2020)