What We Believe
posted by Jesse on Friday, February 1, 2008 at 6:05 pm
THE SCRIPTURES
We believe that the Bible, comprised of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, to be the verbally inspired word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant, infallible, and God-breathed. We also believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible.
(Psalm 12:6-7; II Timothy 3:15-17; I Peter 1:23-25; II Peter 1:19-21)
GOD
We believe in one Triune God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, who is infinite, eternal, immutable, and self-existent. God exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are equal in every divine perfection and attribute, and they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption and in the accomplishment of God’s eternal plan and purpose.
(Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 14:10, 26; II Corinthians 13:14; I Timothy 1:17; James 1:17; I John 4:4; 5:6-12)
JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ, eternal with the Father, was begotten of the Holy Ghost and born of Mary while she was a virgin in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men. We believe that Jesus Christ was literally God incarnate, both fully God and fully man. He possesses all the attributes of Deity, yet made himself subject to temptation. By living a perfect and sinless life, and by His substitutionary death on the cross, His burial, His physical resurrection, and His ascension to Heaven, Jesus Christ has provided Himself as the only perfect sacrifice for the sin of mankind. Christ’s death was the satisfactory payment to God for the forgiveness of sin, and the provision for eternal life in Heaven for all who believe on Him.
(Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14; I Corinthians 15:1-4; II Corinthians 5:19-21; Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 4:14-17; I John 1:1,2)
THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He regenerates, indwells, and seals all who are saved. He is also the believer’s guide and source of power for everyday life.
(Genesis 1:2; John 3:5-6; 14:7, 16; Acts 1:5, 8; 11:15; Romans 8:14-27; I Corinthians 1:22; 3:16; 6:19-20; 12:13; 13:8; 14:21-22; I John 5:7)
MAN AND SIN
We believe that man was created in innocence and in the image and likeness of God, but by voluntary transgression, he fell from his sinless state of perfection, in consequence of which, all mankind are now sinners by birth and by choice, and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse and are guilty before God and alienated from Him. Man is totally depraved and of himself completely unable to remedy his lost condition.
(Genesis 1:26-27; 3; Psalm 51:5; Romans 3; 5:12; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3; 4:17-19)
SALVATION
We believe that in order to be saved from eternal punishment in hell because of their sins, people must be born again by placing their faith in Jesus Christ. We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. We believe that all believers, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever.
(John 1:13; 3:3,5; Romans 8:1, 38-39; I Corinthians 1:4-8; Galatians 5:22-25; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; I Peter 1:4-5)
THE CHURCH
We believe that a New Testament church is a congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel observing the ordinances of Christ. We believe in the autonomy of churches, free of any external authority and control.
(Matthew 18:15-20; 28:19,20; Acts 5:29; I Corinthians 6:1-8; Ephesians 1:19-23; I Tim 3:1-13; Titus 1:6-9; Jude 3)
