What We Believe

THE BIBLE
The entire Bible, in its original writings, was given by inspiration of God. It is the complete and absolute authority for truth (II Tim. 3:16,17 II Pet. 1:20,21).

THE GODHEAD
There is one true God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:4-6 Deut. 6:4).

FATHER
No one comes to the Father except through the person of Jesus Christ. Anyone who knows the Son, Jesus, also knows the Father (John 5:22; 12:49-50; 14:6-11).

SON
Jesus Christ came in the flesh as a sinless, perfect human. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, has purchased man's redemption, and is at the Father’s side making intercession for believers (John 1; Rom. 8:36-39; Col. 1).

HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit sanctifies, teaches, and empowers believers (Rom. 8:1; I Cor. 12:11-13: Gal. 5:22-23).

CONDITION OF MAN APART FROM GOD
All men are separated from God and unable to please him. Apart from Jesus Christ, all men stand condemned for eternity (Eph. 2:1-4, 6-9).

REDEMPTION
All have sinned and can only be declared righteous based on the blood of Christ. This redemption cannot be obtained by any human effort. Because Christ died for sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, all believers are eternally secure (John 3:36; Rom. 3:23-30, 8:1; I Cor. 15:1-4; Eph. 2:6-10).

RESURRECTION
As Jesus was raised from the dead, so shall the believer be raised. All men will have a bodily resurrection, the just to everlasting glory and the unjust to everlasting punishment (John 3:36; I Cor. 15:16-26, 40-44; Rev. 20:10-15).

BELIEVER'S WALK
After one’s redemption, the believer's walk is the biblical view of how God desires His children to live by submitting to God’s will found in His word (Rom. 12:1-8, 13:10, 14:23).

THE CHURCH AND ITS MISSION
The universal church (the Body of Christ) consists of all believers. God established the church to bring honor and glory to Him. Local assemblies exist to worship God, to encourage each other in godliness, and to proclaim the message of reconciliation to all men (Eph. 1:1-2, 2:11-16, 4:11-15).

BAPTISM
All believers have been made members of the Body of Christ by one spiritual baptism that identifies and unites them with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-14; Col. 2:12).

LORD'S SUPPER
The Lord's Supper serves as a memorial to the death of Jesus and is to be observed until He returns. All believers are invited to partake in this communion (I Cor. 10:16, 11:26-32, 17).

COMING OF CHRIST FOR THE CHURCH
The Lord promises there will be an event when those believers who are alive will be caught up to meet Him in the air. Because Jesus Christ is coming again, a believer should purify himself and be walking in good works that will bring honor and glory to God (I Cor. 3:10-17; I Thess. 4:13-18; II Tim. 2:11-15).

STATE OF THE DEAD
Physical death is the separation of the temporal body from the eternal soul and spirit. Spiritual death is separation between God and those persons who do not trust Jesus Christ as Savior. Nowhere does scripture extend any hope of salvation outside of the person and work of Jesus Christ. At death, a believer will be present with the Lord. A nonbeliever continues forever in a state of conscious suffering, totally separated from God (John 3:36; II Cor. 5:6-8; Rev. 20:10-15).

DISPENSATIONAL EMPHASIS
Studying the different dispensations (periods of God’s dealings with man) found in scriptures is a tool to a better understanding of the Bible. We believe that all scripture is given for our learning, and that the teachings of "dispensation of the Grace of God" instruct the body of Christ today (Gal. 1:7-9, 2:4-9; Eph. 3:1-9).