What We Believe

All Scripture references are from the King James Version of the Bible. Hover over each reference for verse text.

God

There is one and only one God (Isa. 45:5), expressed in three Persons: the Father, the Son - Jesus Christ - and the Holy Spirit (John 10:30, 1 Jn. 5:7).

God's Word

The Bible, consisting of Old and New Testaments and comprising 66 books, is the inspired, inerrant, and complete written Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16).

Creation

God the Father created everything in existence by means of the Son (Col. 1:16). God formed the first human being directly from the dust of the earth on the sixth literal day of creation (Gen. 2:7), which occurred about six thousand years ago.

Man

Man is the highest earthly creation of God, made in his image (Gen. 1:27) and endowed with an eternal spirit (Gen. 2:7).

Sin

Through his own free choice in the garden of Eden (Gen. 3), Man rejected the original plan of God and put himself under the curse of sin, the consequence of which is eternal death (Rom. 6:23).

Jesus Christ

Unwilling to see any of his creation perish (2 Pet. 3:9) God took on human form in the Person of Jesus Christ (John 1:1, John 1:14). He was literally born of a virgin (Mat. 1:18). Although tempted just as we are, He never sinned (Heb. 4:15). According to God's plan, the sin of all mankind was laid on Jesus (Isa. 53:6), who then absorbed the wrath of God by taking the punishment of death in crucifixion, shedding his own blood as the final and ultimate sacrifice for sin (Heb. 9:12). Three days later, Jesus was physically resurrected in triumph over death, and appeared to a number of witnesses (Acts 10:40, Luke 24:39). Thereafter He ascended to the right hand of the Father, where He alone intercedes on behalf of believers (1 Tim. 2:5).

Salvation

Just as all people are concluded in sin through Adam, all people now have the opportunity to be concluded in righteousness through Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:22), and thus become eligible for eternal life. There is no way to the Father outside of Jesus Christ (John 14:6). The only thing necessary for salvation is saving faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31). Saving faith will always be manifested in a changed life (2 Cor. 5:17) and in works of faith (Jas. 2:26) but such works are actually God's, not ours, and do not contribute in any way to our salvation (Eph. 2:8-10, John 6:28-29). Water baptism is the symbolic burial of the old life, and resurrection of the new (Rom. 6:4).

The Holy Spirit

The third Person of the Trinity indwells believers, empowering us to live the Christian life (Acts 1:8). The baptism in the Holy Spirit is distinct, though not necessarily separate, from salvation (Acts 8:16, Acts 10:44-47), and is available to every believer (Luke 11:13). The gifts of the Spirit are given for personal edification (1 Cor. 14:4), and for the building up of the Body of Christ (Eph. 4:11-12).

Jews and Gentiles

The Jews, descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob, are the special Chosen People of God (Gen. 12:1-3). Believers in Jesus Christ become the spiritual children of Abraham (Gal. 3:7); however, this in no way detracts from God's original covenant with Abraham's physical children (Rom. 11:1). It is not necessary for Gentile believers to observe the Law of Moses or Jewish customs (Acts 21:25).

End of the World

Jesus Christ will return to earth and reign with his saints for a thousand years (Rev. 20:4, Rev. 22:12). At the end of this period, all the dead will be resurrected and stand before the throne of God for judgment (Rev. 20:12). The heavens and the earth will be destroyed by fire, making way for new heavens and a new earth (2 Pet. 3:12-13).

Eternal Destinies

The spirits of all humans will exist consciously forever. The saved will live eternally with God in his home, known as Heaven (Rev. 22:5). The lost will be forever with Satan in a place of torment, darkness and separation known as Hell (Rev. 20:15).