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What follows is our understanding of Biblical, orthodox Christian faith, what some would call our “doctrinal statement.” We believe each of these honorably reflects a theological conviction which has been commonly held by Christian believers throughout the history of Christian thought and teaching, as derived from the 66 canonical books of Scripture.
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- We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of God’s will for the salvation of men, and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith and practice. (2 Timothy 3:16–17; John 14:26; 16:12–15)
- We believe in one God (Deuteronomy 6:4), Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (2 Corinthians 13:14; Matthew 28:19)
- We believe that Jesus Christ is true God (John 1:1) and true man (Hebrews 2:14), having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:34, 35). He died on the cross, a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3; 20:24–29), was bodily raised on the third day and ascended into heaven (Acts 1:1–9), where he is at the right hand of God the Father (Colossians 3:1). He now is our High Priest and Advocate (Hebrews 7:25, 26; 1 John2:1; Philippians 2:5–7)
- We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:14) and during this age to convict men (John 16:8), regenerate the believing sinner (John 3:5–8), indwell (1 Corinthians 12: 13), guide, instruct (John 14:26), and empower the believer for godly living and service (Ephesians 5:18–21)
- We believe that man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) but fell into sin (Genesis 3) and is therefore eternally separated from God (Romans 5:12–21), and only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and eternal spiritual life be obtained (John 3:5–8)
- We believe that the blood of Jesus Christ, shed in His death on the cross, and His Resurrection from the dead provide the only ground for justification and salvation for all who believe (Hebrews 9:22–28; Romans 4:25), and only such as receive Jesus Christ are born of the Holy Spirit, and thus become children of God (John 1:10–13; 3:5–8)
- We believe that water Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances to be observed by the Church during the present age (Matthew 28:19–20; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26). They are, however, not to be regarded as means of salvation (Ephesians 2:8, 9)
- We believe that the true Church is composed of all such persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the Body of Christ, of which He is the Head (Colossians 1: 18–22)
- We believe that only those who are thus members of the true Church shall be eligible for membership in the local church (1 Corinthians 1:2; Acts 2:47b)
- We believe that Jesus is the Lord and the Head of the Church (Colossians 1:18) and that every local church has the right under Christ to decide and govern its own affairs (Matthew 18: 17; 1 Corinthians 6:4, 5)
- We believe in the personal (Acts 1:11) and pre-millennial (Revelation 19:19–20:6) and imminent (Mark 13:33–37; Revelation 22:20) coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and that this “Blessed Hope” has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer (Titus 2:11–14)
- We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead: of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:51–53; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18), and of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting punishment (Revelation 20:7–15)
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