"For you have been saved by grace through faith” Ephesians 2:8-9
The sole basis of our beliefs is the Bible, God’s infallible written Word, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. We believe that it was uniquely, verbally and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and that it was written without error (inerrant) in the original manuscripts. It is the supreme and final authority in all matters on which it speaks. We accept those areas of doctrinal teaching on which, historically, there has been general agreement among all true Christians.
God
There is one true God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He is the Creator and Sustainer of life and is personally involved with the plight humanity. He cares for us and desires a relationship with us. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:18; John 1:1-3,18; Acts 5:3,4).
Jesus
Jesus Christ is God, the living Word, who became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. Hence, He is both perfect deity and true humanity united in one person forever (John 1:1,14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:30-37; Colossians 2:9; Philippians 2:6-11).
He lived a blameless life and voluntarily atoned for the sins of men by dying on the cross as our substitute. Through His sacrifice, He satisfied God’s divine wrath and provided salvation for all who trust in Him alone (1 John 3:5; 1 Peter 3:18; John 10:17,18; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 4:10; Romans 3:24-26).
He rose from the dead in the same body, now glorified, in which He had lived and died (1 Corinthians 15:4,14-20; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:24-29).
He ascended into Heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father, where He, the only mediator between God and man, continually makes intercessions for His own (Acts 1:9-11;Ephesians 1:20; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:24,25; 1 John 2:1,2).
Humanity
Man was originally created in the image of God. He sinned by disobeying God; thus, he was alienated from his Creator. The historic fall brought all mankind under divine condemnation (Genesis 1:26,27; 2:15-17; 3:1-24; Romans 5:12-21; 1 Corinthians 15:21,22).
Man’s nature is corrupted, and he is thus totally unable to please God. Every man is in need of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit (Romans 3:9-20; Ephesians 2:1-7; Mark 7:20-23; John 3:1-21; Titus 3:5-7).
The salvation of man is wholly a work of God’s free grace and is not the work, in whole or in part, of human works or goodness or religious ceremony. God imputes His righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation, and thereby justifies them in His sight (Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 3:21-26;9:30-33; Galatians 3:11-14,22-24).
Salvation
Salvation is solely dependent on God’s grace, and cannot be attained by doing good works or engaging in religious ceremony (i.e. going to Church or doing religious activities).
God imputes His righteousness to those He divinely chooses for salvation, thereby justifying them in His sight (Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 3:21-26;9:30-33; Galatians 3:11-14,22-24).
It is the privilege of all who are born again of the Spirit to be assured of their salvation the very moment they trust Christ as their Savior. This assurance is not based upon any kind of human merit, but is produced by the witness of the Holy Spirit, who confirms in the believer the testimony of God in His written Word (1 Thessalonians 1:5; John 1:12,13; 1 John 5:9-13; Romans 8:14-17).
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit has come into the world to reveal and glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to men. He convicts and draws sinners to Christ, imparts new life to them, continually indwells them from the moment of spiritual birth and seals them until the day of redemption. His fullness, power and control are appropriated in the believer’s life by faith (John 16:7-15; Titus 3:5;John 3:5-8; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13,14; 4:30; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Galatians 3:2,3; Romans 8:2-4).
The Church
Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, His body, which is composed of all men, living and dead, who have been joined to Him through saving faith (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22,23; 5:23-32; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
God admonishes His people to assemble together regularly for worship, for participation in ordinances, for edification through the Scriptures and for mutual encouragement (Hebrews 10:23-25; Acts 2:41,42; 20:7; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-4:2).
The Believer
Every believer is called to live under the power and control of the Holy Spirit, so that he will not succumb to the lusts of the physical world, but will bear fruit that brings glory to God (Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 5:18).
The Believers Mission
The Lord Jesus Christ commanded all believers to proclaim the gospel throughout the world and to disciple men and women of every nation. The fulfillment of the Great Commission requires that all worldly and personal ambitions be subordinated to a total commitment to “Him who loved us and gave Himself for us,” (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-49; Acts 1:7,8; Romans 12:1,2; Galatians 2:19,20; Philippians 3:7-21).
When we die
After physical death, the believer enters into eternal, conscious fellowship with the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his body to everlasting glory and blessing (2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23,24; Luke 23:39-43; 1 Corinthians 15:12-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 John 3:2; Philippians 3:20,21).
For unbelievers, death means eternal separation from the Lord. The unbeliever’s body will also be resurrected, but for the purpose of everlasting judgment and condemnation in Hell (Luke 16:19-31; John 5:23-29; Revelation 20:10-15; Matthew 13:40-43).
Our Great Hope
Jesus Christ will one day return to Earth to personally, visibly, and bodily fulfill the eternal plan of God. He will assume His position as divine King, ruling over all people, all nations, and all powers as the Lord everlasting (Acts 1:9-11; 3:19-21; Matthew 24:44; Revelation 19-22).