We believe...
God has called us to be a Great Commandment and Great Commission Church. We are a church that is in the world but not of the world. We are a church that seeks to be faithful and fruitful. We are a Church that loves in word and deed. Therefore, our values reflect everything we are and everything we want to be. They are part of our foundational beliefs, providing guardrails, motivation, and direction as we live out our mission.
Doctrine
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,” in the sense that the Holy Spirit so guided the sacred writers that the words they wrote constitute the Word of God. We believe the Bible is the final authority and is fully sufficient for all matters of faith and conduct. (2 Tim. 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
The Godhead eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We believe that these three are one God, having the same essence, nature, attributes and perfection, and are worthy of the same reverence, confidence and obedience. (Matt. 28:19-20; John 14:6-17, 2 Cor. 13:14; Col. 1:13-19; Heb. 1:1-3)
Man was originally created in the image of God to worship and serve God in His creation; through his sin he fell from this high calling, died spiritually, lost all spiritual life and became subject to the power of the devil and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator. This fallen human nature has been transmitted to all people everywhere, the man Christ Jesus excepted, so that every child of Adam is alienated from God and in need of saving grace. (Gen. 1:26-28; Ps. 8; Rom. 1:18 and 3:23; Eph. 2:1-3)
The eternal Son of God became incarnate to reveal God to mankind and reconcile men and women to God. That in historical fact He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived on earth, was crucified and buried, rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven. (John 1:1-14: Acts 2:22-36; Phil. 2:5-11)
Salvation for men and women has been provided by the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, who died as our substitute, shedding His blood for the remission of our sins. (Rom. 5:6-21; Col. 1:12-14, 20-22; 1 Peter 1:18-23)
Salvation is initiated and completed by God and received by faith; that those who trust Christ as Savior receive forgiveness and are born again by the Spirit, passing from spiritual death unto eternal life. We believe that God desires all men and women to be saved. We believe that apart from the effectual work of the Holy Spirit, no one would respond in saving faith to Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit does this saving work in connection with the presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (John 3:1-18; Rom. 5:1-5; Eph. 2:4-10; Titus 3:4-7; 2 Peter 3:9)
All who are born again by the Spirit are assured of their salvation and this assurance is based upon the promise of God in His written Word. This saving faith produces love and obedience within us. (Rom. 8:15-17, 31-39; 1 John 3:7-14, 5:1-13)
The true Church is composed of all who are born again; that the Holy Spirit baptizes all believers into one body, endowing the Church with the gifts needed for its work. Therefore, we make every effort to rise above all personal differences, prejudices and racial barriers to maintain the unity of the Spirit in love and peace both within this local body of Christ and the larger body of Christ around us. (Rom. 12:4-19; 1 Cor. 12:1-27; Eph. 4:1-16)
The Holy Spirit is our abiding Comforter and Helper, strengthening faith and devotion and conforming us to the image of Christ. (John 16:7-15; Rom. 8:1-14; 1 Cor. 6:19-20)
We are called to holy living in obedience to the Word of God, to put away sinful desires and cultivate and bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit. (Gal. 5:16-25; Col. 3:1-17, 2 Tim. 3:14-17, 1 Peter 1:15)
Our blessed Hope, the personal return of Christ for His Church. We also believe that at death the redeemed enter into the presence of Christ, and after the resurrection of the body at His second coming, they shall be forever with Him in His glory. Unbelievers after death await the final judgment when they shall be punished with everlasting separation from the presence of the Lord in hell. (1 Cor. 15:19-58; Phil. 1:20-23; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Rev. 20:11-15)
The world is to experience the judgment of God. It will be neither converted nor perfected during the present age, but the Lord Jesus will return to earth to reign in righteousness. At the end of the millennium, He will usher in His eternal Kingdom with the creation of the new Heaven and the new earth. (2 Tim. 3:1-5; Isa. 11:1-9; Rev. 20-22)