I. The Scriptures
We believe that the Holy Bible, both Old and New Testaments, was authored by God and, through divine inspiration, written by men. We affirm that the Bible is totally sufficient and trustworthy, completely free from error in the original manuscripts, and reveals the principles by which God will judge us. It includes within it the only way of salvation and has as its ultimate fulfillment Jesus the Christ. The Bible will remain to the end of the world the supreme standard and final authority by which all matters of life and doctrine should be tested.
Nm 23:19; Deut 4:1-2; Ps 19:7-10; 119:89; Prov 30:5-6; Is 40:8; Mt 5:17-18; Lk 21:33; 24:44-46; Jn 5:39; 17:17; Rom 2:12; 15:4; 2 Tim 3:15-17; Heb 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Pt 1:25; 2 Pt 1:19-21; 1 John 4:1
II. The True God
We believe that there is only one living and true God. He is the eternal, infinite Creator and supreme Ruler of heaven and earth. He is merciful, just, and loving and governs all things according to His sovereign will for His glory. He alone is inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and is worthy of all honor, confidence, obedience, and love.
John 4:24; Ps 83:18; Heb 3:4; Rom 1:20; Jer 10:10; Ex 15:11; Ps 147:5; Isa 6:3; 1 Pet 1:15-16; Rev 4:6-8; Mark 12:30; Rev 4:11; Matt 10:37; Jer 2:12-13; Matt 28:19; John 15:26; 1 Cor 12:4-6; 1 John 5:7; John 10:30; John 5:17; John 14:23; John 17:5, 10; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Cor 2:10-11; Phil 2:5-6; Eph 2:18; 2 Cor 13:14; Rev 1:4-5
III. The Trinity
We believe that the one true God eternally exists as three distinct persons—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; each is fully God and equally possesses all the perfections of deity while executing their distinct and harmonious roles in the great work of redemption.
We believe that God the Father is fully divine and sovereignly reigns over creation. He is the source of all life and the one to whom the eternal kingdom belongs. He is the author of every event that occurs in both time and eternity. He foreknows, chooses, and predestines people according to His glorious plan of redemption. The Father draws sinners to believe in His Son through the work of the Holy Spirit. The Father forgives their sin and adopts them as His children, thus giving them peace with Him.
Matt 5:16, 6:5-14, 7:11, 18:35, 24:36, 28:19; John 3:16, 5:22-26, 6:37-40, 6:44; 8:16, 10:10 27-29; 15:8, 16:23, 17:1-8; Acts 1:7, 10:37; Rom 5:1, 6:4, 8:15, 8:28-30; 1 Cor 8:6, 15:24; Gal 1:1; Eph 1:3-12, 4:6, 4:32; Phil 2:9-11; 1 Thes 2:4; Heb 12:6-10, 13:15-20; 1 Pet 1:2, 1:17; 1 John 1:9, 3:22, 4:14; 2 John 1:4
We believe that God the Son is fully divine and has eternally existed with the same glory as the Father. In His incarnation, He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and was called Jesus. He took upon Himself human nature, becoming fully man while remaining fully God. He lived a sinless life, died as a substitute for sinners, and rose from the dead as the Lord and Savior of all those who believe. Jesus is now seated at the right hand of God the Father and serves as the mediator between God and those who believe. He will soon return to judge sinners and to receive all those who have trusted in Him.
Matt 1:18-25, 4:1, 8:18-27, 11:19, 16:21, 26:42, 28:18-20; Mark 4:38, 5:1-15, 10:45, 15:39; Luke 1:34-35, 9:12-22, 22:70, 24:36-43; John 1:1-18, 3:16, 4:6, 5:18-21, 8:58, 10:30, 11:27-35, 14:28, 19:28, 20:28-31; Acts 1:11, 20:28; Rom 1:4, 9:5; 1 Cor 15:3-4; 2 Cor 5:21; Gal 2:20; Phil2:5-11; Col 1:13-19, 2:9; Tit 1:3-4, 2:13-14; Heb1:1-2:3, 2:17, 4:12-14; 1 Pet 2:21; 2 Pet 1:1, 2:20, 3:18; 1 John 2:2, 4:2-3, 4:9, 4:15, 5:20; 2 John 7; Rev 1:5, 2:18, 3:14, 19:11-16
We believe that God the Holy Spirit is fully divine, the eternal Spirit who shares in the fullness of deity along with the Father and the Son. He is the Spirit of truth sent by God the Father and Jesus Christ to carry out the eternal plan of redemption among God’s people. His primary ministry is to exalt and glorify Jesus by applying the Gospel to sinners’ hearts, to convict them of their sin, to give them new life in Christ, to equip and strengthen them for service, and to seal them until the day of redemption.
Jer 31:31-34; Ezek 36:22-27; John 14:26, 15:26, 16:7-14; Acts 7:51, 10:19, 11:12, 13:2, 15:28, 16:6, 21:11; Rom 8:16, 8:27, 15:30; 1 Cor 2:10-14, 12:7-11; 2 Cor 3:1-6, 3:17-18, 13:14; Gal 4:4-7; Eph 1:13-14, 4:30; 1 Thes 5:19; Heb 10:29
IV. Fall of Man
We believe that Man was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state. As a result, all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but by choice. By nature they are utterly void of the holiness required by the law of God and positively inclined to evil. Therefore, they are under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse.
Gen 1:27; Gen 1:31; Eccl 7:29; Acts 17:26-29; Gen 2:16-17; Gen 3:6-24; Rom 5:12; Rom 5:15-19; Ps 51:5; Rom 8:7; Isa 53:6; Gen 6:12; Rom 3:9-18; Eph 2:1-3; Rom 1:18, 32; Rom 2:1-16; Gal 3:10; Matt 20:15; Ezek 18:19-20; Rom 1:20; Rom 3:19; Gal 3:2
V. The Way of Salvation
We believe that the salvation of sinners is only by the grace of God through the mediatorial work of Jesus Christ, who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience and by His death made a full atonement for our sins. Having risen from the dead He is now enthroned in heaven and uniting in His wonderful person the most tender sympathies with divine perfections, He is every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all-sufficient Savior.
Eph 2:3; Matt 18:11; 1 John 4:10; 1 Cor 3:5-7; Acts 15:11; John 3:16; John 1:1-14; Heb 4:14; Heb 12:24; Phil 2:9, 14; 2 Cor 5:21; Isa 42:21; Phil 2:8; Gal 4:4-5; Rom 3:21; Isa 53:4-5; Matt 20:28; Rom 4:25; Rom 3:21-26; 1 John 2:3; 1 Cor 15:1-3; Heb 9:13-15; Heb 1:8; Heb 1:3; Col 3:1-4; Heb 7:25; Col 2:18; Heb 7:26; Ps 89:19; Ps 34:1-22
VI. Justification
We believe that justification is God’s declaration of righteousness upon those who repent of their sins and believe in Christ. By faith, Christ’s righteousness is imputed to them, and they stand fully forgiven of their sins. We affirm that justification is given freely by God, not in consideration of anything we have done, but solely through faith in Christ and His finished work. This justification brings all who believe in Jesus into peace and favor with God and secures their eternal destiny with Him.
John 1:16; Eph 3:8; Acts 13:39; Isa 53:11-12; Rom 5:1-2; Rom 5:9; Zech 13:1; Matt 9:6; Acts 10:43; Rom 5:17; Titus 3:5-7; 1 Pet 3:7; 1 John 2:25; Rom 5:21; Rom 4:4-5; Rom 6:23; Phil 3:7-9; Rom 5:19; Rom 3:24-26; Rom 4:23-25; 1 John 2:12; Rom 5:3; Rom 5:11; 1 Cor 1:30-31; Matt 6:33; 1 Tim 4:8
VII. Freeness of Salvation
We believe that salvation is made free to all who believe in Christ through the gospel and that it is the immediate duty of all to receive Christ by a repentant and obedient faith. We believe the power of the Gospel is sufficient to save even the greatest sinner and that all people everywhere are commanded to repent and believe in Jesus. Those who reject Jesus and His Gospel do so voluntarily and are thus especially deserving of eternal condemnation.
Isa 55:1; Rev 22:17; Rom 16:25-26; Mark 1:15; Rom 1:15-17; John 5:40; Matt 23:37; Rom 9:32; Prov 1:24; Acts 13:46; John 3:19; Matt 11:20; Luke 10:27; 2 Thess 1:8
VIII. Grace in Regeneration
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, meaning to be born again. Regeneration is a work of God’s grace whereby the Holy Spirit gives new spiritual life and replaces our rebellious heart with a heart that delights in obeying God and responding to Him by repentance and faith. This new birth occurs when the Holy Spirit of God applies the divine truth of the Gospel to a sinner’s heart, resulting in our voluntary obedience to God through faith in Jesus Christ. The new birth is evidenced by spiritual fruits of repentance, faith, and a newness of life that seeks to please God. We believe that only God can give us this new spiritual life and bring us into the blessings of the New Covenant.
John 3:3; John 3:6-7; 1 Cor 3:14; Rev 14:3; Rev 21:27; 2 Cor 5:17; Ezek 36:26; Deut 30:6; Rom 2:28-29; Rom 5:5; 1 John 4:7; John 3:8; John 1:13; Jas 1:16-18; 1 Cor 1:30; Phil 2:13; 1 Pet 1:22-25; 1 John 5:1; Eph 4:20-24; Col 3:9-11; Eph 5:9; Rom 8:9; Gal 5:16-23; Eph 3:14-21; Matt 3:8-10; Matt 7:20; 1 John 5:4, 18; Eph 2:1-10
IX. Repentance and Faith
We believe that repentance and faith are the right and required response of sinners to the Gospel. They are the inseparable acts of turning away from sin and turning to God through Christ alone for salvation. This response to the Gospel is brought about by the Holy Spirit who graciously convicts us of our sin, convinces us of our unrighteousness, grants us remorse for our transgressions, and reveals that we are hopelessly condemned apart from Christ. At the same time we heartily receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest and King, relying on Him alone as our only and all sufficient Savior.
Mark 1:15; Acts 11:18; Eph 2:8; 1 John 5:1; John 16:8; Acts 2:37-38; Acts 16:30-31; Luke 18:13; Luke 15:18-21; Jas 4:7-10; 2 Cor 7:11; 1 Cor 10:12-13; Ps 51:1-19; Rom 10:9-11; Acts 3:22-23; Heb 4:14; Ps 2:6; Heb 1:8; Heb 7:25; 2 Tim 1:12
X. God’s Purpose of Grace
We believe that in God’s eternal purpose, He graciously chose some people before the foundation of the world to be regenerated and saved through the work of His Son Jesus Christ. This choosing, otherwise known as election, was not based on any good they would do, but only on His sovereign mercy and pleasure and for His own glory. God’s electing grace does not diminish people’s accountability before God and is perfectly consistent with man’s responsibility to believe in Christ. Biblical election is not fatalism, but God’s gracious initiative to save sinners in Christ. This grace of God exhibits His love, compassion, goodness, wisdom, holiness, power, and unchangeable character. This grace also extinguishes boasting, grants assurance, cultivates humility, promotes love, encourages prayer, fuels evangelism, and solidifies trust in God to keep those who are His.
2 Tim 1:8-9; Eph 1:3-14; 1 Pet 1:1-2; Rom 11:5-6; John 15;16; 1 John 4:19; 2 Thess 2:13-14; Acts 13:48; John 10:16; Matt 20:16; Acts 15:14; Ex 33:18-19; Matt 20:15; Eph 1:11; Rom 9:23-24; Jer 31:3; Rom 11:28-29; Jas 1:17-18; 2 Tim 1:9; Rom 11:32-36; 1 Cor 1:26-31; Rom 3:27; Rom 4:16; Col 3:12; 1 Cor 3:5-7; 1 Cor 15:10; 1 Pet 5:10; Acts 1:24; 1 Thes 2:13; 1 Pet 2:9; Luke 18:7; John 15:16; 1 Thess 2:12; 2 Tim 2:10; 1 Cor 9:22; Rom 8:28-30; John 6:37-40; 1 Thes 1:4-10; Isa 42:16; Rom 11:29; 2 Pet 1:10-11; Phil 3:12; Heb 6:11
XI. Sanctification
We believe that sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of His holiness. It is the ongoing process of being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. Sanctification begins in regeneration and is carried on in the hearts and lives of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. It also requires a believer to actively, intentionally, and persistently fight sin through means such as the word of God, mutual edification, self-examination, watchfulness and prayer.
1 Thess 4:3; 1 Thess 5:23; 2 Cor 7:1; 2 Cor 13:10; Phil 3:12-16; 1 John 2:29; Rom 8:5; Eph 1:4; Prov 4:18; 2 Cor 3:18; Heb 6:1; 2 Pet 1:5-8; John 3:6; Phil 1:9-11; Eph 1:13-14; Phil 2:12-13; Eph 4:11-12; 1 Pet 2:2; 2 Pet 3:18; 2 Cor 13:5; Luke 11:35; Luke 9:23; Matt 26:41; Eph 6:18; Eph 4:30
XII. Perseverance of the Saints
We believe that only those who are truly regenerated will endure to the end and that their persevering devotion to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors. Believers may fall into sin by succumbing to temptation, thereby grieving the Holy Spirit, impairing their fellowship with Christ, bringing reproach on His name, and incurring God’s loving discipline; yet they will be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
John 8:31; 1 John 2:27-28; 1 John 3:9; 1 John 5:18; 1 John 2:19; John 13:18; Matt 13:20-21; John 6:66-69; Job 17:9; Rom 8:28; Matt 6:30-33; Jer 32:40; Ps 121:3; Ps 91:11-12; Phil 1:6; Phil 2:13; Jude 24:25; Heb1:14; 2 Kgs 6:16; Heb 13:5; 1 John 4:4
XIII. Harmony of the Law and the Gospel
We believe that the Law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of His moral government, and that it is holy, just, and good. The inability which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen men to fulfill its precepts arises entirely from their love of sin. To deliver them from this love of sin and to restore them through a Mediator to sincere obedience to the holy law, is one great end of the gospel and of the means of grace connected with the visible church.
Rom 3:31; Matt 5:17; Luke 16:17; Rom 3:20; Rom 4:15; Rom 7:12; Rom 7:7, 14-22; Gal 3:21; Ps 119:1-176; Rom 8:7-8; Josh 24:19; Jer 13:23; John 6:44; John 5:44; Rom 8:2-4; Rom 10:4; 1 Tim 1:5; Heb 8:10; Jude 20-21
XIV. A Gospel Church
We believe that the church is the communion of God’s people drawn from every tribe, language, people, and nation throughout all the ages. The universal and invisible church becomes visible in local churches. Although a local church gathers in a building, it itself is not a place or a building. A local church is the assembly formed by baptized believers who gather with one another.
The marks of the true church are the right teaching of God’s Word and the proper administration of the two ordinances, namely baptism and the Lord’s supper. The church is ruled by the word of God, which teaches that Christ is the head of the church; that elders are qualified men given to oversee the church as pastors; that deacons are to serve the church; and that the congregation, comprised of all members, has the responsibility to affirm members, defend doctrine, and carry out discipline when required by Scripture. While both men and women possess spiritual gifts to serve in the church, the office of elder and the responsibility of preaching are limited to men who meet the qualifications set forth in Scripture.
The gathering of the church should be conducted decently and in order, gifts should be exercised only for mutual edification and everything done must be subservient to the regulation of God’s word. The local church is self-governing and independent, free from any external authority or control. It possesses the right to administer its own affairs and is not subject to the influence of hierarchical structures composed of individuals or organizations. The mission of the church is to be a corporate display of God’s glory to the world by preaching the gospel and making disciples.
1 Cor 1:1-3; Matt 18:17; Acts 5:11; Acts 8:1; Acts 11:21-23; 1 Cor 4:17; 1 Cor 14:23; 1 Tim 3:5; Acts 2:41-42; 2 Cor 8:5; Acts 2:47; 1 Cor 5:12-13; 1 Cor 11:2; 2 Thess 3:6; Rom 16:17-20; 1 Cor 11:23-24; Matt 18:15-20; 1 Cor 5:6; 2 Cor 2:17; 1 Cor 4:17; Matt 28:20; John 14:15; John 15:12; 1 John 4:21; John 14:21; 1 Thess 4:2; 2 John 6; Gal 6:2; Eph 4:7; 1 Cor 14:12; Phil 1:1; Acts 14:23; Acts 15:22; 1 Tim 3; Tit 1
XV. Baptism and The Lord’s Supper
We believe that Christian baptism is a solemn ordinance in which a believer is immersed in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, thereby expressing faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior. Baptism neither secures salvation nor is necessary for salvation. It symbolizes our death to sin and our resurrection to new life and is a response to the command of Jesus. Baptism is performed once, upon one’s profession of faith, and is a prerequisite for both membership in a church and participation in the Lord’s Supper.
We believe that the Lord’s Supper is an ordinance in which we remember the body of Jesus given for us and the blood He shed on our behalf, proclaiming His death until He returns. Like baptism, the Lord’s Supper does not bring about salvation and is not required for salvation, but is a response to the command of Jesus. It is to be observed only by true believers in Christ, who should examine themselves before participating.
Although the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ are not present in the bread and the fruit of the vine, in the Lord’s Supper the risen Lord Jesus—who is uniquely present—fellowships with His people. The Lord’s Supper should be administered regularly by each local church.
Acts 8:36-39; Matt 3:5-6; John 3:22-23; John 4:12; Matt 28:19-20; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:12; Acts 16:32-34; Acts 18:8; Acts 10:47-48; Gal 3:26-28; Rom 6:4; Col 2:12; 1 Pet 3:20-21; Acts 22:16; Acts 2:41-42; 1 Cor 11:26; Matt 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Cor 11:28; 1 Cor 5:1-8; 1 Cor 11:17-32; John 6:26
XVI. Regulative Principle of Worship
The acceptable way to worship the true God is instituted by him, and it is delimited by his own revealed will. Thus, he may not be worshipped according to human imagination or inventions or the suggestions of Satan, nor through any visible representations, nor in any other way that is not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures.
Deut 12:32, Ex 20:4–6, Matt 15:9, Lev 10:1–3, Col 2:20–23, John 4:23–24, Heb 12:28–29
XVII. The Lord’s Day
We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day and is a Christian institution for regular observance. It should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private.
Acts 20:7; Gen 2:3; Col 2:16-17; Mark 2:27; John 20:19; 1 Cor 16:1-2; Ex 20:8; Rev 1:10; Ps 118:15, 24; Isa 58:13-14; Isa 56:2-8; Heb 10:24-25; Acts 11:26; Acts 13:44; Lev 19:30; Luke 4:16; Acts 17:2-3; Ps 26:8; Ps 87:3; Heb 4:3-11
XVIII. Church Discipline
We believe that a member who persistently neglects their duties or engages in conduct that brings reproach to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, thereby harming the health of the church, should be warned by the elders and subjected to church discipline in accordance with the instructions of the Lord and the example of Scripture.
Such warning is to be given first in a private and personal setting; if the warning does not lead to repentance, the application of church discipline should be considered.
Steps that may be taken in church discipline include the following: being admonished by the elders or the congregation, temporary exclusion from the Lord’s Supper, removal from church office or service, and, ultimately, exclusion from the fellowship of the church.
The purposes of church discipline are fivefold: 1) The repentance, reconciliation, and spiritual growth of the individual under discipline; 2) To serve as an example to other believers for their instruction in righteousness and maturity; 3) To preserve the purity of the entire church; 4) To enable the congregation to fulfill its witness to the unregenerate faithfully; 5) Ultimately, to glorify God by reflecting His holy character.
Mat 18:15-20; 1 Cor 5:1-13; 2 Thes 3:6-16; 1 Tim 1:18-20, 5:19-20; Tit 1:10-16; Gal 6:1
XIX. Civil Government
We believe that civil government is divinely appointed by God and is responsible before Him for executing justice and promoting the good order of society, and that officials are to be prayed for and given the honor owed them. These officials are to be diligently obeyed in accordance with law except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience, and Ruler over the kings of the earth.
Rom 13:1-7; Deut 16:18; 2 Sam 23:3; Ex 18:23; Jer 30:21; Matt 22:21; Titus 3:1; 1 Pet 2:13; 1 Tim 2:1-4; Acts 5:29; Matt 28:1-20; Dan 3:15-18; Dan 6:7-10; Acts 4:18-20; Matt 23:10; Rom 14:4; Rev 19:16; Ps 72:11; Ps 2:1-12; Rom 14:9-13
XX. Marriage, Family, and Singleness
We believe God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society; that it is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption; that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female, and has defined marriage as the uniting of one biological man and one biological woman in an exclusive, lifetime, covenant commitment that reflects the relationship between Christ and His Church; that God has ordained marriage to be the only biblical and righteous means of sexual expression; and that marriage is God's ordained context for procreation; that marriage and its sexual expression are temporary gifts pointing to the fuller joy of our eternal union with Christ and the Church. Likewise, singleness in this temporal life offers both spiritual and societal good and remains godly through chastity. Therefore, chaste singleness unto Christ is to be honored during the present age.
Gen 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Deut 6:4-9; Ps 127:3-5; 139:13-16; Prv 5:15-20; 18:22; Mal 2:14-16; Mt 5:31-32; 19:3-9; Mk 10:6-12; Rom 1:18-32; 1 Cor 7:1-17; Eph 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Col 3:18-21; 1 Tm 5:8; Ti 2:2-5; Heb 13:4; 1 Pt 3:1-7
XXI. The World to Come
We believe that the end of the world is approaching quickly. On that last day Christ will descend from heaven, raise the dead from the grave, and bring all people to final judgment. At that time, there will be a solemn separation during which the wicked will be judged and sentenced to endless conscious punishment in hell, and the righteous in Christ rewarded with endless conscious joy in the new heavens and new earth. This judgment will fix forever the final state of people in heaven or hell based upon God’s unchanging and unchallengeable principles of righteousness.
Dan 12:2; Matt 13:36-50, 24:31-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 14:14; John 3:36, 4:36, 5:28-29, 6:40, 11:23-27; Acts 1:11, 3:21, 10:42, 17:31, 1 Thes 4:13-5:11; 2 Thes 1:5-12; Rev 20:1-22:21