Our Beliefs
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The three are co-equal and are one God. (Genesis 1:1, 26, 27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Matthew 1:22,23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13)
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. 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. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer a spiritual gift when they are saved. As Christians we seek to live under His control daily. (2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13,14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18)
The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105, 160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5)
People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme objects of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin”. This attitude separates people from God and causes many problems in life. (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2)
Salvation is God’s free gift to us, but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When, by conviction of the Spirit, we turn to Jesus in faith, we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment we receive Jesus Christ into our lives by faith, and is secured forever by God’s power. (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1; John 10:28-30.)
Baptism is a symbolic testimony of the salvation experience that gives us new and eternal life. The Greek word baptizo was anglicized centuries ago (baptize). The word actually means to immerse, to plunge or to submerge. Baptism in the New Testament always followed a profession of faith and the practice of the day was by immersion. Baptism symbolizes the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. We, therefore, baptize those who have trusted Christ as Savior, and do so by immersion. Baptism, itself, does not save; it is a visual testimony of salvation.
The Lord’s Supper is likewise a symbolic memorial of Jesus’ death on the cross. The bread and wine symbolize the body and blood of Jesus. We celebrate the Lord’s Supper (communion) to remember that our salvation was purchased by Jesus death. (Matthew 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-4; 8:35-39; 16:30-34; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 21; 11:23-29; Colossians 2:12)