Our Beliefs
Below we have provided our Statement of Faith. This is a general doctrinal statement of our understanding of Christianity as was intended from the earliest days of the Church.
In addition, at the bottom of this statement is the Nicene Creed, sometimes called the Apostle's Creed. Click here to jump to the Nicene Creed.
Statement of Faith
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The Scriptures are inspired by God and divinely authoritative
The Bible is the inspired Word of God. Holy men moved upon by the Holy Spirit spoke and wrote as the Holy Spirit inspired them. We accept the whole Bible as the Word of God; but especially the New Testament as our infallible guide in all spiritual, moral, and doctrinal matters.
(2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Thessalonians 2:13)
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There is One God in three distinct Persons
The New Testament Scriptures clearly indicate that there are three distinct Persons in the One Divine God. They are the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. They exist eternally, have revealed themselves to Creation, and function in unity as a single God. Jesus Christ is God manifested in the flesh, and is equal and eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit as God.
(John 1:1,14; 14:26)
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Man was created in God's Image, fell into sin, and needs a Savior
God created man in His likeness, but man subsequently and willfully rebelled against the God's Will and sinned. Because Adam sinned, everyone born in the human race is a sinner, with the capacity to sin. Therefore, every person needs a Redeemer, a Savior. The only hope for each and every person is redemption through Jesus Christ.
(Genesis 1:26-31; 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21)
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Salvation is by Faith in Jesus Christ Alone
The Lord Jesus Christ provides salvation to all who receive Him through His death on the cross, burial, and bodily resurrection. By faith in His shed blood, apart from human works, we accept His work as complete and sufficient for forgiveness, righteousness and eternal reward.
(Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5-7; Acts 16:3; Romans 10:9-10; 2 Corinthians 5:10)
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There will be an eternal judgment for every soul
Every person that is not born again, who dies without Christ, will experience eternal separation from God in Hell. At the end of the world there will be a final judgment, and all not found in the Lamb's Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire for eternity. All of the Redeemed will have an eternal place in the new heaven and new earth.
(Zechariah 14:1-9; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; 2 Peter 3:13; Jude 14; Revelation 19:11-20; 20:1-7, 10-15; 21:1)
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Water baptism is an outward sign of an inward work
Baptism by submersion in water ("burial" with Christ) should be observed as commanded in the Scriptures by all who have repented and believed in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. It is a declaration to the world that one has received a new life from Jesus in exchange for the old life.
(Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38; 10:47-48; Romans 6:4-6)
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Communion (The Lord's Supper) is to be observed by believers
Jesus Christ established communion, the eating of bread and the drinking of "wine", as a declaration of the new covenant that was purchased for us by the braking of His body and the shedding of His shed blood. It is to be practiced by all believers.
(Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:24-28)
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The fullness of the Holy Spirit is for every believer
Every person who receives Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord--that is, born again--receives the Holy Spirit into their lives. In addition, every believer should seek and expect the tangible presence of the Holy Spirit, and a complete infilling known as the "baptism in the Holy Spirit." We accept the full ministry of the Holy Spirit to empower our witness and daily living, give utterance to prayer, produce fruit in our character, guide our lives, and bestow spiritual gifts to build up the church, including the supernatural manifestations known as the charismata.
(Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; 2:2-4; 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; 14:15; Romans 8:14, 26; Galatians 5:22, 23)
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The Church is the Body of Christ
The Church at large is the "Body of Christ", the group of believers who are the physical habitation of God through the Holy Spirit, who have a divine commission to spread the gospel throughout the world. Each born again believer belongs to the Church, is a citizen of Heaven, and is a member of the eternal Kingdom of God.
(Ephesians 1:22; 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23)
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Jesus Christ is returning in glory to rule the earth
Jesus Christ is literally and physically returning to earth again to gather His saints in the Resurrection, and to rule and reign physically over this world for 1,000 years.
(Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 15:51; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 2 Thessalonians 2:1; Titus 2:13; Revelation 19:11- 20:6)
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The Nicene Creed
During the stormy years of persecution between A.D. 100 and 312, there was a great struggle against heresy. The Church was not only fighting the outside pressure of Roman persecution, but also unholy forces from within were trying to destroy the meaning of Christianity through Gnosticism and other heresies. A very important meeting occurred in the first half of the 300s. One of the accomplishments of that meeting at Nicea was a codifying of what a Christian believes into a statement--a creed. It was one of many, but it was an important one. It was subsequently updated and expanded over time. May God bless you as you read.
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the
dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and
glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic [meaning, "universal"] and
apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of
sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.