What We Believe
The Bible
The Bible is God's holy Word.
We believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration of the Bible; that is, we believe that the Old and New Testament are definitely inspired word for word. We believe that God's Word for English-speaking people is eternally preserved in the Authorized Version. Please note that this summary of our beliefs is not exhaustive. The Scripture is the final authority in all manners of faith and practice.
God
God is a Person, eternally existing as a Trinity in unity -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit --
three Persons and yet but one God. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; I Corinthians 8:6)
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ, eternally existing, is the only begotten Son of God.
He became a man totally apart from sin, being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, and is true God and true man. (Luke 1:30-35; John 1:1-15; Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 1:15)
Sin
Man was created in the image of God, but fell through sin,
bringing not only physical death but also spiritual death -- separation from God. Now all mankind is totally depraved, having inherited a sinful nature; is bent towards sinning, and has become sinful in thought, word, and deed. (Genesis 1:26, 27; 2:16, 17; 3:6-19; Romans 3:10-23; 6:23)
Sacrifice
God in His love sent Jesus Christ to suffer and die to pay for the sins of the world.
He arose from the dead in the body in which He was crucified; He ascended into Heaven in the glorified body where He is seated at the right hand of God the Father as Head of the Church, making intercession for the saints as our High Priest. (Luke 24; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 5:8-10; Ephesians 1:20-23; I Peter 3:18)
Salvation
Man is lost and must be born again to enter the Kingdom of God.
Salvation is by grace alone through personal faith in the finished work of Christ on the Cross. (John 1:12; 3:3-7; Ephesians 2:8-9)
Service
The local church is a group of believers baptized by water;
banded together for edification (spiritual growth), exhortation (spiritual challenge), and evangelism as commanded by Christ in the Great Commission; preaching the Gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15; I Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 1:22,23)
Second Coming
The Lord Jesus Christ Himself is coming again in the air at any moment;
the unbelievers left behind will go through a period called the Tribulation, after which Christ shall return visibly to the earth to set up His Kingdom of one thousand years of righteous rule; after this the unbelievers of all ages will stand at the Great White Throne to be judged and cast into the Lake of Fire, separated from God forever, while believers spend eternity in the fullness of joy in Heaven with the Lord. (Matthew 24:29-42; I Thessalonians 4:16-18; Revelation 19:11-20:15)