Beliefs
Beliefs
The Bible
We believe the Bible is divinely inspired by God. Its human authors, using their own styles and personalities, were led by the Holy Spirit to choose the exact words God intended to communicate to humankind. We believe the Bible’s original writings were free from error. Its words are the final and only trustworthy authority for what to believe and how to live. (Psalms 19:7-9; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
The Trinity
We believe there is only one God, Creator of all, eternally existing as three separate Persons of identical essence and equal Deity, revealed to us in the Bible as God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 12:29; John 1:1-4; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
The Person and Work of Christ
We believe that God the Son, without ceasing to be God, became fully man as Jesus Christ after being miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life and through His death on the cross paid the penalty for all sin, satisfied God's righteous judgment against it and provided forgiveness to all who trust Him. He then arose bodily from the dead, ascended to the Father's right hand where He reigns as Lord and intercedes on the believer's behalf. (Luke 1:34-35; 24:27; John 1:1-2, 14, 18; Romans 3:24-26; 8:34).
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe that God the Holy Spirit convicts people of the guilt of their sin and gives new, spiritual life to those who trust in Jesus Christ. He then indwells them permanently at the moment of salvation, identifies them with Jesus and all He has provided, and unites them in one, spiritual global Church. He guarantees their eternal salvation and empowers those who submit to His control to grow to live like Jesus. (John 3:5-8; 14:16-17; 16:7-11; 16:13-14; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18).
The Condition of Man
We believe that all people, although created in the image of God, are sinners by nature and by practice; all are born separated from God and incapable of changing their own sinful condition (Genesis 1:26; 3:1-24; 6:5; Psalms 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10-18; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3).
The Means of Salvation
We believe that salvation from sin cannot be gained by human merit or sincere efforts, nor supplied by any religious ritual. It is given only as the free gift of God's grace, initiated by His choice and received by all that turn from their sin and place their trust in Jesus Christ and the work He accomplished by His death, burial and resurrection. (John 5:24; Ephesians 1:6-7; 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:23).
The Believer's Assurance and Responsibility
We believe that all who by faith receive God's grace in Jesus Christ are forgiven of all their sins, given new, spiritual life by the Holy Spirit, and are eternally secure in His provision. God’s grace empowers all who genuinely believe to demonstrate good works, especially a love for God and others (Matthew 7:20; John 10:27-29; 13:34-35; Romans 6:13; 8:28-39; Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 2:10; James 2:14-26; 1 John 3:14,23; 5:13).
The Church
We believe that all who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ are united by the Holy Spirit into one spiritual, global Church, of which Christ is the Head. All are to then associate together in local churches for instruction, worship, prayer, fellowship, service, and the regular practice of baptism and the Lord's Supper. (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; 12:13; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:3).
The Gifts of the Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit, according to His own will, gives spiritual gifts to every believer; these are to be developed and biblically exercised for the glory of Jesus Christ and the building up of His local and global Church. (Romans 8:23; 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 27-31; 13:8-10; 14:21-22; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9; Ephesians 4:7-13; Hebrews 2:3-4; 1 Peter 4:10-11; 2 Timothy 4:20).
The Second Coming of Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ will one day return visibly and bodily to this earth to establish His kingdom reign. (2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6).
The Eternal State
We believe that at death, the souls of all believers go immediately into the joyous presence of Jesus Christ and the souls of all unbelievers immediately into torment. We also believe there will be a bodily resurrection and judgment of all humanity; those who have believed in Jesus Christ go into everlasting blessedness with Him; all unbelievers go into everlasting punishment and separation from Him. (Luke 16:19-26; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 20:11-15).