Beliefs
Beliefs
1. There is one eternal God, the Creator of all things, who exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
God has always been. He is not dependent on anything or anyone. He was not created and is the Creator of all things. (Acts 17:24-25)
God is one God with one mind, one will, and one divine nature. There is no other true and living God. (Deut. 6:4)
God exists eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who equally deserve our worship and obedience. (Matt. 28:19; John 17:24; 2 Cor. 13:14; Heb. 1:5, 8)
Jesus is the divine Son of God who was born as a baby, fully human and fully God. (John 1:9, 14; Heb. 2:16)
God is perfect and infinite in his attributes, including knowledge, power, presence, love, light, life, and many others. (Psalms 115:3, 139:7-16, 147:5; Jer. 32:17; John 5:26; Rom. 11:33-36; 1 John 1:5, 1 John 4:8)
It is beyond the human mind to fully understand God, yet he invites his creation into relationship with him. He reveals many things about himself so that everyone can sufficiently know him, delight in him, and have life in him. (Psalms 16:11; John 17:3; 1 Cor. 2:2; Gal. 6:14; 2 Peter 1:3)
2. The Bible is the inspired and authoritative Word of God and serves as the true and timeless basis for the doctrine of the church. It reveals God’s love, character, and will.
The Bible is the written revelation of God through his apostles and prophets (2 Peter 1:20–21). It consists of the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament received by the church. (Luke 24:27, 45)
The Bible is infallible and inerrant in revealing who God is, what he has done, how we might be saved, and what our responsibility is to God (John 10:35; Rom. 15:4; 2 Tim. 3:14–17). Copies, translations, and interpretations of Scripture are true to the extent they faithfully represent God’s intention in what was originally written. (Matt. 22:29; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; 2 Tim. 2:15)
Because God has all authority, his written Word is the supreme authority for the doctrine and practice of the church (Matt. 5:17-19; Mark 7:1-23). God has faithfully worked through the church to preserve the Bible and preach its message throughout the ages. (Luke 16:17; 1 Thess. 2:13)
3. Mankind was created in God's image but became separated from God by sin. All who reach an age of accountability are responsible for their sinful deeds.
God made humans in his image and proclaimed his creation very good (Gen. 1:27, 31). As bearers of God’s image, every human has worth and dignity that cannot be lost. (Gen. 2:7, 9:6)
In Adam, the first created man, humanity rebelled against God and worshiped the creature more than the Creator. Ever since the first sin, each person is corrupted and experiences an inclination towards sin and self and away from God. Humans and the world stand under the power and consequences of sin and death that came from sin. (Gen. 3:17; Hosea 11:7; Rom. 1:21, 25, 5:12, 6:23)
Sin is missing the mark and therefore is in violation of God’s law. It ranges from ignorant neglect to outright rebellion, with many shades in between. Sin is first and foremost against God. (Num. 15:22, 30; Psalms 51:4)
Sin separates us from God. This does not mean God is absent, but that we cannot fully experience his presence. (Gen. 3:8; Isaiah 59:2)
We cannot avoid responsibility for sin by blaming Adam, our upbringing, or our circumstances. Becoming accountable for sin does not happen at a universal age and may be realized gradually. (Prov. 8:17; Rom. 14:12; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Tim. 3:15)
Jesus was tempted in all manner as humans are today but lived a sinless life. (2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15, 7:26; 1 Peter 1:19, 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5)
Christ accomplished atonement for sin through shedding his blood in death that allows us to be forgiven and reconciled to God. His work on the cross of Calvary is complete and sufficient for all people, for all time, and is accessed by faith. (Rom. 6:23; Heb. 9:22; 1 Peter 3:18)
After Jesus’ resurrection, he ascended to heaven and is now our high priest, sitting at the right hand of God. (Acts 1:9-11; Heb 4:14-16, 8:1; 1 John 2:1)
Jesus promised he would come again to reclaim his own. (John 14:3; 1 Thess. 4:16, 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10)
Our response to Christ’s work on the cross is to believe by grace through faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord. The grace of God draws us to him, and through faith we confess him and believe that God raised him from the dead. These simple acts of trust and obedience apply Christ’s atonement to us individually. (Rom. 10:9-10; Eph. 2:8-9)
Repentance is the turning away from sin and self with remorse for our sin, and turning to God. As a response to the application of Christ’s atonement to us, our lives bear fruit according to God living within us. These fruits include sorrow, confession of sin, turning away from sin, making restitution with those we have wronged, and a forgiving spirit toward others. (Matt. 3:8; 2 Cor. 7:10-11)
Scripture entreats us to confess (acknowledge) our sins to God and to each other. The church practices confession to God in the presence of man to bring sin to light, expose Satan, and for the easing of the conscience. This is typically practiced by confessing to someone in ordained leadership. (Lev. 5:5; Ezra 10:11; Matt. 3:6; Acts 19:18; 1 John 1:9)
Conversion means to be spiritually born again. When we are first born, we have a fleshly nature. But through conversion, we are born again spiritually and become a new creature in Christ. (John 3:3; 1 Peter 1:23)
This new creature is evidenced by a transformed walk of life, reflecting the power of Jesus living within us, bringing every thought and action under his will. (Rom. 6:4; Eph. 2:6-8; 1 Cor. 10:31; 2 Cor. 10:5-7)
We follow Christ’s teachings in all that we do, striving to reflect the Holy Spirit living within us in our daily interactions. (Gal. 5:22-26)
Our lives reflect Christ’s love by the love we show for one another. (John 13:35; Rom. 2:11, 12:9-12; 1 Cor. 13:13)
Baptism should follow repentance, public profession of saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and a covenant of faithfulness. (Acts 2:38, Acts 8:13, 36-39, Acts 10:47-48, Acts 16:14-15, Acts 16:31-33, Acts 18:8, 20:21; Eph. 4:4-5)
Baptism is a biblical command that should be carried out for all believers. (Matt. 28:19)
Although baptism should not be viewed as optional, circumstances may not afford the opportunity as we see in Jesus’ exchange with the dying thief on the cross. (Luke 23:39-43)
We perform baptism by immersion as demonstrated by New Testament examples. The English word “baptism” is taken directly from the Greek noun “baptisma,” which means immersion. (Matt. 3:16; Acts 8:39)
We practice baptism by sprinkling when health issues or physical circumstances preclude immersion.
Based on New Testament examples, following baptism, an elder lays his hands on the believer and offers a prayer of consecration. (Acts 8:15-17, 9:17, 19:6; 1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6; Heb. 6:2)
God promises the Holy Spirit, a helper and comforter, to all who believe. (John 14:16; Eph. 1:13-14)
The Holy Spirit directs and teaches us. By his work in our hearts, our actions and thoughts reflect the fruit of the Spirit. (Gal. 5:22-25)
A believer's daily spiritual life and discipleship include prayer and confession to God. Confession to others is encouraged for accountability and the easing of one’s conscience. (1 John 1:9)
The fruit of the Spirit is reflected in a lifestyle of separation from evil and unrighteousness. (1 John 2:15)
The sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit is ongoing. The Word of God calls us to a life of submission to the Spirit and of obedience to the teaching of our Father’s Word. This process includes humbly repenting for any sin and being cleansed by grace through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our advocate, and the propitiation for our sins. (Rom. 3:25; Heb. 10:19; 1 John 1:7-9, 2:1-2)
The believer’s greatest model of perseverance is the life of the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb. 12:2-3). Biblical perseverance requires the whole armor of God, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the safety we find in a multitude of counselors. (Prov. 11:14; Eph. 6:13,18; 2 Tim. 3:16)
A believer who returns to a life of sin, refuses to repent, and rejects faith in Christ forfeits salvation. (Heb. 10:29; 2 Peter 2:20-22)
Believers are encouraged to a life of obedience to the Word, trusting in the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and daily denying our own self-will; all of which is pleasing to God. (Matt. 16:24; Luke 11:28; Eph. 4:30; 1 Thess. 5:19)
Ample warning is given to the sinner to change his ways and to avoid the eternity of the lost. God does not desire that anyone should perish but rather that all would repent. (John 3:16; 2 Peter 3:7-9)
Heaven and hell are real places. Followers of Jesus Christ will spend eternity with him in heaven. (Matt. 25:34; John 17:24; 2 Cor. 5:1; Heb. 11:16; 1 Peter 1:4)
Hell is the place God created for Satan and his fallen angels to be punished for their rebellion against him. Unbelievers who die in their sins will be judged by God and sent to hell where they will be eternally tormented with the devil and the fallen angels. (Matt. 25:41; Mark 9:43-48; Heb. 9:27; Rev. 14:9-11, 20:12-15, 21:8)