THE AFFIRMATION OF OUR FAITH
1. The Word of God
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts; written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
John 10:35; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; 3:16
2. The Trinity
We believe that there is one living and true God eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and that these are equal in every divine perfection; and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption.
Matthew 3:13-17; 28:16-19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:1-2
3. God the Father
We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, personal spirit; perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of people; that He hears and answers prayer; and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
Malachi 2:10; Matthew 6:8, 32; Romans 1:18-20; 1 Corinthians 8:6; James 1:17
4. Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal, visible return to earth.
Matthew 1:18-25; 16:13-17; Romans 5:8; 1 Peter 2:24
5. The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment; and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide.
John 14:16-26; 16:7-11; Acts 1:8; 5:3-4; Romans 8:9-16; Ephesians 4:30
6. Regeneration
We believe that all people are sinners and therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
John 3:3-21; Romans 3:23; 5:12-19; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7; 1 John 5:11-13
7. The Church
We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, associated for worship, service, and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.
Acts 2:41-47; Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:10-11; 5:21-32; Colossians 1:18
8. Christian Conduct
We believe that Christians should live for the glory of God and the well-being of other people; that their conduct should be blameless before the world; that they should be faithful stewards of their possessions; and that they should seek to realize for themselves and others the full stature of maturity in Christ.
John 13:34-35; Romans 12:1-3; Ephesians 4:20-5:2; 2 Timothy 3:16-17
9. The Ordinances
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: Baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is a public expression of a person's profession or faith in Jesus Christ and is therefore only for believers in Christ. We believe that the Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:4; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29
10. Religious Liberty
We believe that every Christian has direct relations with God, and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith. We believe that each church is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that therefore church and state must be kept separate as having different functions with each fulfilling its own duties.
Matthew 22:15-21; Acts 5:29; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 1 Peter 2:9
11. The Last Things
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His Kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal happiness of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked.
Matthew 25:31-32, 46; 1 Corinthians 15:12-23, 51-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18