Beliefs

Question 1

The Holy Spirit

Answer

We believe that those who receive Christ also receive the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit: He marks them as the possession of God, manifests the fruit of righteousness in their character, and endows them with spiritual gifts for ministry.

(2 Corinthians 1:21-22, Galatians 5:22-23, 1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

We believe that a spiritual gift is a special ability, given by the Holy Spirit to every believer, to be used to minister to others and thereby build up the Body of Christ.

(1 Peter 4:10, Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:7-11)

Question 2

The Church

Answer

We believe the mission of the church is to reach the spiritually lost for Christ, to teach with the goal of “forming Christ in them” and then to mobilize believers to accomplish God’s purposes in the world.

(Matthew 28:18-20)

We believe the Church should seek unity with all believers in matters essential to the universal Christian faith, and contend for liberty in all matters wherein the Lord has not spoken through His Word.

(Ephesians 4:2-6)

We believe the local church is an autonomous body which cooperates with many Christian agencies, but is regulated or dominated by none.

(Ephesians 5:23)

We believe love is to be shown to all people as the central trait of the Christian faith.

(John 13:35, 1 Peter 4:8)

We believe that the pattern of the New Testament was to observe the Lord’s Supper each week.

(Acts 2:42)

We believe that each believer should give a generous, intentional, regular, proportional gift of his or her income to God, through the local church, as a spiritual discipline. Scripture gives us the tithe (one tenth) as the normal beginning point of giving for a believer.

(Malachi 3:10, 1 Corinthians 16:2, 2 Corinthians 9:6-7)

Question 3

Jesus Christ

Answer

We believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God and God in human form. We believe that the virgin-born Son of God died for our sins, was buried, rose from the dead and is coming again. We believe He is both fully God and fully man.

(Philippians 2:5-7, John 14:19, John 8:58, John 1:1, 14, Colossians 2:9)

Question 4

The Bible

Answer

We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, the written record of His supernatural revelation of Himself to man, absolute in its authority, complete in its revelation, final in its content, without any error in its teaching and is “living and active,” ever speaking to our present circumstances.

(Hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21)

Question 5

Sin and Salvation

Answer

We believe that all people are guilty of sin because all people are born with a sin nature which leads all people to sin. None of us can be righteous, or without sin, on our own. We need a Savior.

(Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 3:23)

We believe the substitutionary death of Jesus on the cross is the sole basis of atonement for the sins of mankind.

(Isaiah 53:3-6, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 5:8)

We believe that the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life are promised to those who trust & believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

(John 3:16-17, Ephesians 2:8-9)

We believe the Bible teaches that the pattern to follow to receive Jesus as Savior is to believe in Jesus as God’s Son and Savior of the world, to repent of personal sin, to confess Jesus as Lord and to be immersed in baptism.

(Romans 10:9, Acts 2:38-39, Romans 6:3-4)

Question 6

Other Issues of Belief and Conduct

Answer

This statement of beliefs does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe.

Question 7

Social Issues

Answer

We are frequently asked to bring clarity to our position on these issues. We are aware there are many sins God desires to protect us from — racism, prejudice, gluttony, sexual promiscuity, adultery, etc. This is our attempt to address the complex social issues that surface most often in our setting. As you consider these, remember that we are all equally in need of God’s grace.

We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect and value all human life.

(Psalm 139:13-16)

We believe that God created marriage to be exclusively the union between one man and one woman, and that sexual intimacy is to occur exclusively within that union.

(Genesis 2:24, Jeremiah 29:6, Isaiah 62:5, Leviticus 18:22, 20:13)

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female, and that these two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. We believe that gender is assigned by God at birth and the Holy Scripture does not permit an individual from altering their sexual identity physically or otherwise.

(Genesis 1:27, Deuteronomy 23:1)

Question 8