What We Believe…

This is not a complete listing of everything that we believe--but it covers the essential doctrines of the church.  In a nutshell, we are a main-stream, orthodox, evangelical church.  The basis for the formation of our doctrine is a conservative view of scripture which believes that the Bible is the inspired Word of God.  Where the Bible is clear, we strive to be clear.  Where the Bible is unclear, we steer away from developing dogma.  Paul gave young Timothy a good piece of advice:

(1 Timothy 4:16 NIV) Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."

THE BIBLE- The Bible is wholly and verbally inspired by God; the Bible is, therefore, the infallible divine authority in all matters upon which it touches and without error in all of its teaching (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

JESUS CHRIST- God the Son became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, who was begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, and who is the true God and true man. His death upon the cross was a substitutionary sacrifice to atone for sin, and all who believe in Him are declared righteous on the basis of His shed blood. He arose bodily, ascended into heaven and is now seated at the right hand of the Father as our advocate, making intercession for the Saints; He will return literally, personally, visibly and locally to receive His own.
(Hebrews 1:3; 3:1; 7:23-25: 9:24: 12:2; 1 John 2:1-2).

THE HOLY SPIRIT- The Holy Spirit is a person, is God and performs a ministry of conviction, regeneration and sanctification.  He indwells every believer (John 3:8; 15:26, 27; 16:7-15; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18). The Holy Spirit equips the members of Christ's body today for ministry through the importation of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1-11).

MAN AND SALVATION - Man was created in the image of God; he sinned, and consequently experienced not only physical death but also spiritual death which is separation from God.  Every human being is born with a sinful tendency, and when he reaches moral responsibility, he becomes a sinner in thought, word and deed; but may receive salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, as a gift of God's grace and not the result of any human effort or merit
(Genesis 1:26; 3:1-24; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:8; John 1:12).

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE - Every believer in Christ should be committed to the Lordship of Christ and growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ (Romans 12:1, 2; Galatians 5:15, 25; 2Corinthians 12:12.13).

THE CHURCH - The church is the body and bride of Christ.  It is a spiritual organism made up of believers in Christ and manifested in local congregations (Ephesians 1:22, 23; 1 Corinthians 12:12, 13).

CHURCH ORDINANCES - The two ordinances of the church are baptism and the Lord's supper.  Baptism should be administered to believers upon their verbal confession of faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  The ordinance of the Lord's supper should be observed regularly in remembrance of Christ's death and in anticipation of His return.  The elements of the Lord's supper are symbolic of His body and blood (Matthew 28:19, 20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

SATAN - Satan is a real and personal being.  He is the adversary of God and His people. He is not all powerful.  He is not all present and he is not all knowing (Matthew 4:1; 1 Peter 5:6).

SPIRITUAL WARFARE - All of mankind is in a battle for their spiritual souls.  Christ has assured us that because He was victorious on the Cross those who believe in Christ will be victorious as well (Romans 8:32-39; 1 Corinthians 15:54-57; Ephesians 6:10-18; 1 John 5:4; Revelations 3:5).

THE ETERNAL STATE - Both believers and unbelievers will be bodily raised and all men will appear before Christ to be judged.  The saved will experience everlasting blessedness in eternal life with God; the lost will experience everlasting conscious punishment in eternal separation from God (Philippians 1:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelations 20:11-15).

Printable Copy