We believe there is one true and living God, the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He is one in essence and eternally exists in three distinct persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each of these persons is fully God. (Deut. 6:4, 1 Tim. 2:5, Eph. 1:1-14, Matt. 28:18-20, Gen. 1:1)

We believe Jesus Christ is both the eternal Son of God and virgin-born Son of man – fully God and fully man. His sinless life and sacrificial death on the cross satisfied the Father’s justice, offering atonement for humanity’s sins. We believe in His bodily resurrection, His physical ascension, and His physical return to establish His earthly kingdom. (John 1:1-18, Col. 1:15-20, 2 Cor. 5:21, Rom. 5:6-8, Matt. 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-38, Luke 24, John 3:16; John 20, Acts 1:1-11)

We believe the Holy Spirit is God. He is personal and co-equal with the Father and the Son. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation – regenerating, sanctifying, guiding, and empowering the Christian life. He equips Christians by giving them gifts to be used for the building up of the church, and by bearing fruit through their yielded lives. (John 3:1-8, John 14:16-17, John 14:26, John 15:26-27, John 16:7-14, Rom. 8:9, 1 Cor. 6:19, 1 Cor. 12, Gal. 5:16-26)

We believe all 66 books of the Bible are verbally inspired by God. He revealed His words to mankind through human authors, using their unique personalities to express exactly what He desired to tell mankind. The Bible is without error, complete, and sufficient and therefore the final authority for Christian faith and practice. (2 Tim. 3:14-17, 2 Pet. 1:20, 2 Tim. 1:13-14, Ps. 12:6, Ps. 119:105, 160, Heb. 4:12, John 17:17)

We believe that humanity was created in the image and likeness of God, to glorify, serve, and be in relationship with Him. Through Adam’s sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God. Man is totally depraved, unable to solve the problem of his sinful position or do any work that will close the gap between himself and the Holy God. Thus we are all by nature separated from God, spiritually dead, and destined for physical death and an eternity apart from God. (Gen. 1-3, Rom. 1:18-32, Rom. 3:9-31, Rom. 5, Eph. 2:1-3)

We believe the gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ’s substitutionary atonement for our sins through his death, burial, and resurrection. We believe that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. No ordinance, ritual, work, or any other activity on the part of man is required in order to be saved. Those who turn from sin and look to Christ alone for their righteousness are justified before God. Once salvation is obtained, it cannot be lost. Those who are truly redeemed are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. (John 1:12-13, John 6:35-44, John 10:28-30, Acts 16:30-31, Rom. 3-6, Rom. 8:1-17, Rom. 8:31-39, Rom. 10:8-13, Eph. 2:8-10, Tit. 3:3-7, Phil. 2:12-13, 1 John 5:11-13)

We believe that the church is the primary instrument through which God is fulfilling His redemptive purposes in the world. The local church is the visible expression of the Church universal. We believe in the autonomy of the local church, free of any external authority and control. We recognize believer’s baptism and the Lord’s supper as the two ordinances to be observed by the church until Christ’s return. (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 2:41-47; 13:1-4; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; 1 Cor. 12:12-31; Eph. 1:22-23; Eph. 2:11-22; Eph. 4:1-16; Eph. 5:25-27; Col. 1:24; 1 Tim. 3:14-15; Heb. 10:24-25; 1 Peter 5:1-4)

We believe that the next great event in human history will be the return of Jesus Christ for his children. After the return of Christ those who accepted God’s gracious gift of salvation will worship and enjoy God forever in the New Heaven and New Earth. Those who did not will spend an eternity separated from Him in hell. (Matt. 24:36, 1 Thess. 4:15-17, John 14:1-3, Matt. 24-25)

We affirm the doctrines of the Trinity, the deity and humanity of Christ, the bodily resurrection, the atoning work of Christ on the cross, and salvation by grace through faith make up the essential, distinctive nature of Christianity. In regards to these essential doctrines there can be no conflicting opinions of those who call themselves true followers of Christ. However, we do acknowledge that there are peripheral, or non-essential doctrines, that are important, but not critical to the follower of Christ as it relates to our salvation. While our church will be diligent to establish positions as it relates to these non-essential doctrines, we will accept into our body those who have differing views on the non-essential doctrines. We will not allow those of a different opinion to fracture the church, but will ultimately pursue the unity of the church.