What We Believe
- God
- The Bible
- The Human Condition
- Jesus Christ
- The Work of Christ
- The Holy Spirit
- The Church
- Christian Living
- Christ′s Return
- Response and Eternal Destiny
We believe in one God¹, Creator of all things², holy³, infinitely perfect⁴, and eternally existing⁵ in a loving unity⁶ of three equally divine Persons⁷: the Father⁸, the Son⁹, and the Holy Spirit¹⁰. Having limitless knowledge¹¹ and sovereign power¹², God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself¹³ and to make all things new¹⁴ for His own glory¹⁵.
We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures¹, both Old and New Testaments², through the words of human authors³. As the verbally inspired Word of God⁴, the Bible is without error in the original writings⁵, the complete revelation of His will for salvation⁶, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged⁷. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches⁸, obeyed in all that it requires⁹, and trusted in all that it promises¹⁰.
¹Matt. 1:22; 4:4; 19:4,5; Heb. 1:1-2 ²2 Pet. 3:15,16 ³Lk. 1:1-4 ⁴2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20,21 ⁵Num. 23:19; 2 Sam. 7:28; Prov. 30:5; Ps. 119:96, 160; Matt. 5:18; Jn. 10:35; 17:17; Tit. 1:1,2 ⁶Lk. 16:29-31; Gal. 1:8,9; 2 Tim. 3:15 ⁷Jn. 17:17; 1 Tim. 3:15-17; 1 Pet. 1:23; Ps. 119:44,45,165 ⁸Matt. 22:29; Rom. 15:4; 2 Tim. 3:16 ⁹Matt. 28:20; 2 Thess. 3:14; 1 Jn. 2:5 ¹⁰Rom. 1:2; 4:21; Heb. 10:23; 2 Pet. 1:4; 3:13
We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image¹, but they sinned when tempted by Satan². In union with Adam³, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice⁴, alienated from God⁵, and under His wrath⁶. Only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ⁷ can we be rescued⁸, reconciled⁹ and renewed¹⁰.
¹Gen. 1:26-27; 5:1; 9:6; 1 Cor. 11:7; Col. 3:10; Jms. 3:9 Gen. 3:1-6; Jn. 8:44; Rom. 5:12-14; 16:20; 2 Cor. 11:3; 1 Tim. 2:13-14 ³Job 14:4; Ps. 51:5; Jn. 3:6; Rom. 3:12; 5:12-14; 1 Cor. 15:22a; 1 Jn. 1:8 ⁴Gen. 6:5; Jer. 17:9; Isa. 6:5; Rom. 5:15; 8:5-8; Eph. 2:1-2; 4:17-19 ⁵Rom. 5:10 ⁶Rom. 1:18; 2:5; 3:9-19; 3:23; Eph. 2:3 ⁷Act 4:12; 1 Tim. 2:5 ⁸1 Thess. 1:10 ⁹Rom. 5:1,2,10; Col. 1:20 ¹⁰Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 4:24; Phil. 3:21; 1 Jn. 3:2
We believe that Jesus Christ¹ is God incarnate², fully God³ and fully man⁴, one Person in two natures⁵. Jesus—Israel’s promised Messiah⁶—was conceived through the Holy Spirit⁷ and born of the virgin Mary⁸. He lived a sinless life⁹, was crucified under Pontius Pilate¹⁰, arose bodily from the dead¹¹, ascended into heaven¹² and sits at the right hand of God the Father¹³ as our High Priest¹⁴ and Advocate¹⁵.
¹Matt. 1:21; 16:18 ²Jn. 1:14, 18; 1 Jn. 4:2 ³Isa. 9:6; Jer. 23:6; Jn. 1:1; 20:28; Rom. 9:5; Col. 2:9 ⁴Matt. 4:2; Lk. 2:40, 52; Jn. 11:35; Heb. 5:7-8; 1 Jn. 1:1-3 ⁵Jn. 3:13; 10:30; 17:5 ⁶Gen. 3:14-20; 12:1-3; 49:8-12; 2 Sam. 7:11b-16; Matt. 1:1, 17; Lk. 4:16-22; 24:25-27; Jn. 1:41; 4:25-26; Acts 2:36; 13:23,32; Rom. 1:2-3; 2 Tim. 2:8,9 ⁷Matt. 1:18; Lk. 1:34,35 ⁸Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:20; Lk. 1:34,35 ⁹Rom. 5:19; Gal. 4:4,5; Matt. 3:15; Phil. 2:7,8; Heb. 4:15 ¹⁰Dt. 21:23; Ps. 16:10; Matt. 27:26; Mk. 15:15; Lk. 23:16; Jn. 19:16; Acts 2:27, 37 ¹¹Matt. 28:1-10; Mk. 16:1-8; Lk. 24:39; Rom. 4:25; 1 Cor. 15:20, 44-45; Col. 1:18; Rev. 1:5 ¹²Lk. 24:51; Acts 1:6-11; Eph. 1:20; 4:8-10; 1 Tim. 3:16 ¹³Eph. 1:20; Col. 3:1; Heb. 1:3; 8:1; 10:12; 1 Pet. 3:22 ¹⁴Heb. 2:17; 3:1; 4:14; 6:20; 8:1 ¹⁵Rom. 8: 34; Heb. 7:25; 9:24; 1 Jn. 2:1
We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative¹ and substitute², shed His blood on the cross³ as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice⁴ for our sins⁵. His atoning death⁶ and victorious resurrection⁷ constitute the only ground for salvation⁸.
¹Gen. 2:15-17; Matt. 4:1-11; Mk. 1:12-13; Lk. 4:1-13; Rom. 5:18-19; 1 Cor. 1:30; 15:45, 47; Phil. 3:9 ²Mk. 10:45; Heb. 2:16-17; 1 Pet. 2:24; 3:18 ³Lev. 17:11; Mt. 26:28; Heb. 9:14, 22; 10:19; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; Rev. 12:10-11 ⁴1 Cor. 5:7; Heb. 9:23-24, 26, 28; 10:1; 13:11, 12 ⁵Isa. 53:5-7, 12; Jn. 1:29; Rom. 3:21-26; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13; 1 Jn. 3:5 ⁶Rom. 3:25; Heb. 2:17; 1 Jn. 2:2; 4:10 ⁷Col. 1:13; 2:13-15; Heb. 2:14-15 ⁸Rom. 4:25; 6:4, 11, 14; 1 Cor. 6:14; 15:20; 2 Cor. 4:14; Eph. 1:19-20; 2:5-6; 1 Pet. 1:3
We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ¹. He convicts the world of its guilt². He regenerates sinners³, and in Him they are baptized⁴ into union with Christ⁵ and adopted as heirs⁶ in the family of God⁷. He also indwells⁸, illuminates⁹, guides¹⁰, equips¹¹ and empowers¹² believers for Christ-like living and service¹³.
¹Jn. 16:14 ²Jn. 16:8; 1 Cor. 2:14 ³Ezek. 36:25-27; Jn. 3:3, 5; 1 Cor. 12:3; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:5; Col. 2:13; 1 Thess. 1:4-5; 2 Thess. 2:13; Tit. 3:5; Jms. 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:3 ⁴Mk 1:8; Acts 1:5; 1 Cor. 12:13 ⁵Rom. 3:24; 5:15-21; 12:5; 1 Cor. 1:2; 5:19; 15:22b; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 1:22; 2:17; 3:28; Eph. 1:4; 2:12; 3:6; 4:32; 2 Tim. 2:10; 1 Thess. 4:16 ⁶Rom. 8:15, 23; 9:4; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5; Tit. 3:7 ⁷Matt. 12:49-50; 2 Cor. 6:18; Eph. 3:14; 1 Jn. 3:14-18 ⁸Jn. 14:17; Rom. 8:11; 1 Cor. 3:16 ⁹1 Cor. 2:2; 2 Cor. 4:4-15; Eph. 1:17-19; Phil. 1:9-11 ¹⁰Jn. 16:13; Acts 15:28; Rom. 8:4, 14; Gal. 5:16, 18 ¹¹Rom. 12:4-8; 1 Cor. 12: 4-10; Eph. 4: 7-11; 1 Pet. 4:10-11 ¹²Acts 1:8; 10:38; Rom. 15:13; 1 Cor. 12:11; Eph. 3:16; 2 Tim. 1:7 ¹³Acts 6:8; Rom. 8:4-6, 12-16; 2 Cor. 13:14; Gal. 3:3, 5; 5:22-23, 25; Eph. 2:22; 4:3; Phil. 2:1-2
We believe that the true church¹ comprises all who have been justified by God’s grace through faith alone in Christ alone². They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ³, of which He is the Head⁴. The true church is manifest in local churches⁵, whose membership should be composed only of believers⁶. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism⁷ and the Lord’s Supper⁸, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer⁹.
¹Matt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:4-6; 5:25; Heb. 12:28 ²Ps. 103:12; Isa. 44:22; Jn. 3:16; Acts 16:31; Rom. 3:20-28; 4:3; 5:1, 21; 8:1, 30, 33-34; 10:4, 9; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-9; Phil. 3:9; Tit. 3:7; Heb. 10:14 ³1 Cor. 12:12-27 ⁴Eph. 1:22-23; 4:15-16; Col. 1:18; 2:19 ⁵Acts 9:31; 20:28-30; Rom. 16:5; 1 Cor. 1:2; 16:19; 2 Cor. 1:1; 1 Thess. 1:1; Philem. 1-2 ⁶Matt. 18:15-20; Acts 2:41, 47; 14:23; 20:7; 1 Cor. 1:2, 9; 11:20; 12:13; 14:40; 16:1-2; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; 5:9; Tit. 1:5-9; Heb. 10:25 ⁷Matt. 28:18-20; Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:12 ⁸Matt. 26:26-29; Mk. 14:22-25; Lk. 22:15-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26 ⁹Jn. 6:55-56; Acts 2:38; 8:39; 16:34; 1 Cor. 10:16; 11:29-30; Col. 2:12
We believe that God’s justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and purpose¹. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially² and to live out our faith with care for one another³, compassion toward the poor⁴ and justice for the oppressed⁵. With God’s Word, the Spirit’s power, and fervent prayer in Christ’s name⁶, we⁷ are to combat the spiritual forces of evil⁸. In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all people⁹, always bearing witness to the gospel¹⁰ in word and deed¹¹.
¹Matt. 7:17-18; 12:33, 35; Heb. 11:6; Eph. 2:10; 1 Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:17, 23; 2 Thess. 2:13; 5:23; 2 Cor. 5:17; 1 Jn. 2:29; 3:9; 5:18; 2 Cor. 3:18; Tit. 3:5; 1 Cor.6:11; Rom. 6:11, 14; 1 Pet. 1:15; Phil. 2:12-13; Heb. 12:1, 14; Rom. 6; 2 Tim. 1:9; Js. 2:17; 1 Pet. 2:24; 2 Pet. 1:3-11 ²Dt. 6:5; Lev. 19:18; Matt. 22:37-39; Mk. 12:30; Lk. 10:27 ³Rom. 12:10; 14:13; 15:7, 14; Gal. 5:26; Eph. 4:32; 1 Thess. 3:12; 5:11, 15; Heb. 10:24-25; 1 Pet. 4:9 ⁴Dt. 15:11; Psa. 82:3,4; Psa. 140:12; Prov. 14:21,31; 19:17; 22:9,16,22,23; 28:8; 29:7; 31:8,9; Jer. 22:16; Gal. 2:10; Js. 1:27 ⁵Ex. 23:6; Lev. 19:15; Psa. 82:3,4; 140:12; Prov. 29:7; 31:9; Isa. 1:17; Jer. 9:24; Mic. 6:8; Zech. 7:9,10; Matt. 23:23; Luke 4:18 ⁶Eph. 6:10-18 ⁷Heb. 3:13, 10:25 ⁸2 Cor. 10:3-5; Eph. 6:11, 12; 2 Tim. 4:7; 1 Jn. 5:3-4 ⁹Matt. 28:19; Jn. 20:21; Rev. 7:9 ¹⁰Acts 1:8 ¹¹Matt. 5:13-16
We believe in the personal, bodily¹ and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ². The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God³, requires constant expectancy⁴ and, as our blessed hope⁵, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission⁶.
¹Matt. 24:30; 26:64; Acts 1:11; Rev. 1:7 ²Matt. 25:31; Tit. 2:13; 2 Thess. 1:6-8; Rev. 19:11-21 ³Matt. 24:36; Mk. 13:32 ⁴Matt. 24:42-51; Rom. 13:11-14; 1 Thess. 5:1-11; Js. 5:8,9; 2 Pet. 3:10-14; Rev. 3:3 ⁵Tit. 2:13 ⁶2 Thess. 1:6-8; 2 Tim. 4:8; Tit. 2:14; Heb. 9:28; 1 Jn. 3:2-3; 2 Pet. 3:10-14
We believe that God commands everyone everywhere¹ to believe the gospel² by turning to Him in repentance³ and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ⁴. We believe that God will raise the dead bodily⁵ and judge the world⁶, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment⁷, and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord⁸, in the new heaven and the new earth⁹, to the praise of His glorious grace¹⁰. Amen.
¹Acts 17:30; 20:20 ²Mk. 1:15; Jn. 6:29; 8:24; 11:26; 14:1; 20:31; Acts 16:31; Rom. 3:22; 10:14; Gal. 3:22; 1 Tim. 1:16; 1 Pet. 1:8; 1 Jn. 3:23 ³Isa. 55:6-7; Lk. 24:47; Acts 2:37-38; 3:19; 14:15; 17:30; 20:21; 26:17,18; Rom. 2:4; 2 Cor. 7:9-10 ⁴Jn. 1:12 ⁵Isa. 26:19; Dan. 12:2; 1 Cor. 15; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Rev. 20:13 ⁶Ecc. 12:14; Matt. 12:36; 26:31-32; Acts 17:31; Rom. 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Tim. 4:1; Rev. 20:12 ⁷Matt. 25:46; Lk. 16:26; 2 Thess. 1:9; Rev. 14:11; 21:6,8; 22:14,15 ⁸Matt. 25:34, 46; Jn. 14:2; Rev. 21:1-3 ⁹Isa. 65:17; 66:22; Rom. 8:19-21; Heb. 12:26;27; 2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21:1; 22:3 ¹⁰Eph. 1:6, 12