We Believe

"In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity."

The Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, were breathed by God. It is the flawless revelation of God to humanity and is the authority for our life and faith.

 

There is one true God who has revealed Himself as self-existent, all-sufficient, Creator of all, Redeemer of mankind. He has revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

 

Jesus Christ is fully God. In the words of the Nicene Creed (325 A.D.) “…God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father…” He was born to a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, died in our place for our sins, physically rose from the dead, and was exalted to the right hand of God.

 

Mankind was created good and upright, but chose to disobey God and in that Fall brought physical and spiritual death (separation from God) to all of the human race.

 

An individual’s only hope for heaven and eternal life is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God. This free gift is received through repentance (godly sorrow and turning around) toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Water baptism by immersion and taking communion were prescribed by Jesus Christ Himself as practices for all of His followers. Water baptism is our public confession that we have died to an old life and are living a new life in Christ. Communion is a memorial of His suffering and death and a reminder that He will come again.

 

The gift of the Holy Spirit is available to all followers of Christ. Subsequent to accepting new life in Christ, all believers should expect to encounter the Holy Spirit in a wonderful way – a spiritual baptism – an immersion in the presence of the Holy Spirit. This life-changing encounter helps the follower of Christ to live a holy, obedient life and gives a boldness to share about their relationship with Christ. Along with many gifts and evidences of the presence of the Holy Spirit, when one receive this gift in fullness they should expect the wonderful experience of being able to pray in a new language as the Holy Spirit provides (Acts 2:4). The yielding of the tongue to speak this new language is evidence of the total yielding of our lives to God (James 3:2-12).

 

The Holy Spirit works in the life of every believer to cause them to be more holy – more like Christ and less like the person they were before beginning to follow Christ.

 

The Church is the spiritual Body of Christ and the Bride of Christ in the world today. Every true follower of Christ is a part of this worldwide Church. The Church exists to make Christ known in the world, provide opportunities for people to worship God, and provide encouragement for fellow followers of Christ.

 

The Lord has provided ministry gifts for leading the Church in accomplishing its God-given purpose (Ephesians 4:11-16).

 

Divine healing is provided through the work of Christ on the cross and is the privilege of all believers.

 

Jesus will return. Those who have died while following Christ will be physically resurrected and those who are alive at His return will be “caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever” (1st Thessalonians 4:17). Christ will return to earth with His followers and rule the earth. There will be a final judgment in which the dead who did not follow Christ will be raised and judged according to their works. “We are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness” (2nd Peter 3:13).