The Bible

We believe that the 66 books of the Old and New Testament are the Word of God. The Bible was inspired by God; it reflects the backgrounds, styles, and vocabularies of the authors. We believe the Scriptures are infallible and without error in the original manuscripts. The Scriptures are the only divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness ...” 2 Timothy 3:16

God

We believe there is one true God existing in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit - each of Whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality. God is the Creator; he created the world out of nothing. His glory, power, wisdom, and goodness are reflected in His creation. He operates throughout history reconciling people to Himself.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

Salvation

Small falls, like the stubbing of a toe, do not receive much attention. But the Bible records a gigantic fall. In Genesis 3, human rebellion is recorded graphically. Human beings chose to turn away from God and go their own way. That decision opened Pandora’s Box. Injustice, evil, chaos, havoc and death erupted. We are all born into a fallen world that can be unjust and unfair. The wages of sin are death. God is in the business of reconciling rebels to himself. God delights in redeeming people who have sold out to sin, and this process is called, in the Bible, salvation. We cannot save ourselves. We must throw ourselves totally upon God’s free grace. Repentance and faith are the appropriate human responses to God’s amazing grace.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the eternal God. He humbled himself and became a human being. He was born of the Virgin Mary and lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father. He died on the cross to pay the penalty of human sin. He offers us forgiveness. He rose from the dead. His resurrection is the basis for our hope. He promises eternal life to those who trust in Him. He ascended into heaven and is with the Father. He has promised to return a second time. It is His second coming that is the basis of our optimism regarding the future.

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures ...” 1 Corinthians 15:3-8.

Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is not an “it” but rather a personal being who is part of God. The Holy Spirit gives us a sense of God’s presence, convicts us of sin, draws us to Jesus, makes us spiritually alive and helps us to grow in Christ-like character.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23.

Human Destiny (Eternity)

We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead. Those who have put their faith in Christ will enjoy eternal life in heaven.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne ... then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” Matthew 25:31-34

Sacraments of Baptism and Communion

We partake of the two primary sacraments that Jesus left us. Baptism, for the public acknowledgement of Christ’s atonement for our sins, and Communion, to regularly remember what he did for us on the cross.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:18-19