Our Beliefs

Mission: We exist for the Glory of God. Our Mission is to Love God’s Word and Grow as Disciples, to Love the Church and Grow as a Family, and to Love our City and Go out on Mission.

Statement of Faith: What we believe as a church is commonly known as church doctrine. Our doctrine is the foundation by which we serve God.

We believe that the 66 books of the Bible are the authoritative word of God, infallible and inerrant. It is God’s revelation to us about who He is, what He is like, and what He has done, is doing, and will do throughout history. It directs all we do in faith and practice and is central to our understanding of life. It is the final authority in all we do and for the life of our church. It is inspired by the Holy Spirit, written by man, and proves true in all that it affirms in practice and in history. The Bible will remain to the end of the world the supreme standard and final authority by which all matters of life and doctrine should be tested.

Psalm 119; Proverbs 30:5-6; Isaiah 40:8; Luke 24:25–47; John 5:39; Romans 2:12; Philippians 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2, 4:12-13; 2 Peter 1:19-21; 1 John 4:1

We believe that there is only one living and true God. He is the eternal, infinite Creator and supreme Ruler of heaven and earth. He is merciful, just, and loving and governs all things according to His sovereign will for His glory. He alone is inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and is worthy of all honor, confidence, obedience and love.

We believe that the one true God eternally exists as three distinct persons—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; each is fully God and equally possesses all the perfections of deity while executing their distinct and harmonious roles in the great work of redemption.

Exodus 20:3-4; Deuteronomy 4:35, 4:39, 6:4–5, 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:2; 1 Kings 8:23; Psalms 86:8–10; Isaiah 6:3; 44:6–8, 45:5-25, 46:9; Jer. 10:6-10; Micah 7:18; Malachi 3:6; Matthew 28:18-20; John 14:6, 17:3; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 8:4–6; 2 Corinthians 3:17, 13:14; Galatians 3:20; Ephesians 1:3-14, 4:5-6; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; 1 Timothy 1:17, 2:5; James 2:19; 1 John 5:20; Jude 25; Revelation 4:11

We believe that God created people in His own image and because of this all people have inherent value. We believe that God created people male and female as the crowning jewel of His creation, this essential gender identity may not be changed or repudiated. Our first parents, Adam and Eve, were created with innocence, but voluntarily rebelled against God and brought sin into the world. As a result, all people are born as sinners, inheriting the condemnation of our first parents, Adam and Eve.

We believe that we are sinners by nature, utterly void of the holiness required by God and completely inclined to evil. As a result, we do not worship God as He requires according to His holy Law, but instead choose to worship idols and unworthy things. All people are, apart from God’s grace, unable to turn to God and are under just condemnation to eternal punishment, without defense or excuse.

Genesis 1:26-27, 3:1–6; Psalm 51:5; Isaiah 64:6; Hosea 6:7; Romans 1:18, 2:14, 3:10-18, 5:12–21, 6:16-17,  8:7-10; 1 Corinthians 15:21–22, 15:45–50; Ephesians 2:1-3, 4:18; Titus 3:3

We believe that God the Father is fully divine and sovereignly reigns over creation. He is the source of all life and the one to whom the eternal kingdom belongs. He is the author of every event that occurs in both time and eternity. He foreknows, chooses and predestines people according to His glorious plan of redemption. The Father draws sinners to believe in His Son through the work of the Holy Spirit. The Father forgives their sin and adopts them as His children, thus giving them peace with Him.

Matthew 5:16, 6:5-14, 7:11, 18:35, 24:36, 28:19; John 3:16, 5:22-26, 6:37-40, 6:44; 8:16, 10:10 27-29; 15:8, 16:23, 17:1-8; Acts 1:7, 10:37; Romans 5:1, 6:4, 8:15, 8:28-30; 1 Corinthians 8:6, 15:24; Galatians 1:1; Ephesians 1:3-12; 4:6, 32; Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 2:4; Hebrews 12:6-10, 13:15-20; 1 Peter 1:2, 1:17, 1 John 1:9, 3:22, 4:14; 2 John 1:4

We believe that God the Son is fully divine and has eternally existed with the same glory as the Father. He was born as a man named Jesus who lived a sinless life, died as a substitute for sinners, and rose from the dead as the Lord and Savior of all those who believe. Jesus is now seated at the right hand of God the Father and serves as the mediator of those who believe. He will soon return to judge sinners and to receive all those who have trusted in Him.

Matthew 1:25, 4:1, 8:18-27, 11:19, 16:21, 26:42, 28:18-20; Mark 4:38, 5:1-15, 10:45, 15:39; Luke 1:34-35, 9:12-22, 22:70, 24:36-43; John 1:1-18, 3:16, 4:6, 5:18-21, 8:58, 10:30, 11:27-35, 14:28, 19:28, 20:28-31; Acts 1:11, 20:28; Romans 1:4, 9:5; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:13-19, 2:9; Titus 1:3-4, 2:13-14; Hebrews 1:1-2:3, 2:17, 4:12-14; 1 Peter 2:21; 2 Peter 1:1, 2:20, 3:18; 1 John 2:2, 4:2-3, 4:9, 4:15, 5:20; 2 John 7; Revelation 1:5, 2:18, 3:14, 19:11-16

We believe that God the Holy Spirit is the eternal Spirit who shares in the fullness of deity along with the Father and the Son. He is the Spirit of truth sent by God the Father and Jesus Christ to carry out the eternal plan of redemption among God’s people. His primary ministry is to exalt and glorify Jesus by applying the Gospel to sinners’ hearts, convict them of their sin, give them new life in Christ, and seal them until the day of redemption.

Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:22-27; John 14:26, 15:26, 16:7-14; Act 7:51, 10:19, 11:12, 13:2, 15:28, 16:6, 21:11; Romans 8:16, 8:27, 15:30; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14, , 12:7-11; 2 Corinthians 3:1-6, 3:17-18, 13:14; Galatians 4:4-7; Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; Hebrews 10:29

We believe that the salvation of sinners is only by the grace of God through the work of Jesus Christ, who is the mediator of the New Covenant, the promised Messiah and Savior of the world. He is fully God and fully man, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, and lived a sinless life in obedience to the Father. He taught the way of God’s kingdom, worked miracles, suffered, died on a cross, rose from the dead and is now enthroned in heaven as High Priest and Lord over all. In His death, He made full atonement for our sins and became our sacrificial substitute, absorbing the full wrath of God, forgiving sins, and adopting into the family of God any who repent of their sin and believe in Him. This message of salvation is known as the Gospel.

We believe that salvation is made free to all who believe in Christ, and that it is the immediate duty of all to receive Him by a penitent and obedient faith. We believe that the power of the Gospel is sufficient to save even the greatest sinner and that all people everywhere are commanded to repent and believe upon Jesus. Those who reject Jesus and His Gospel do so voluntarily and will receive eternal condemnation for their decision.

The gracious gift of salvation makes a clear distinction between the righteous and the wicked. Those who trust in Christ are pleasing in God’s sight and those who continue in unbelief are wicked in His sight and remain under His wrath, destined to judgment for eternity in Hell.

Isaiah 53:4-5, 55:1; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Matthew 4:17, 11:20-24; Mark 1:15; Luke 19:10; John 1:1-14, 3:16-21, 5:40, 6:29; Acts 2:38, 3:19, 4:12, 13:46, 15:11, 17:30; Romans 1:16-17, 3:21-26, 4:25; 1 Corinthians 3:5-7, 15:1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 1:1-8, 4:14, 7:25, 9:13-15, 12:25-29; 1 John 3:23, 4:10; Revelation 22:17

We believe that sanctification is the process by which God frees believers from slavery to sin and makes them more like Christ in their lives. This is a progressive work that begins in regeneration and is carried on in the hearts and lives of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit until they see Christ. While this growth in holiness is a gift of grace, it also requires a believer to actively, intentionally, and persistently fight sin through means such as prayer, reading and hearing God’s word, and the mutual edification of Christian community. Faith and repentance are necessary responses to Christ that mark a believer’s life from the moment of conversion until Christ calls us to be with Him.

John 17:17; Romans 6:5-6, 6:11-19; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 6:11; 2 Corinthians 3:18, 7:1; Galatians 2:20, 5:16-24; Ephesians 4:20-24; Philippians 3:13-14; Colossians 3:5-10; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 4:14, 10:24-25, 12:1, 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15; 1 John 3:9; Revelation 3:19

We believe that all those who are truly born again will be kept by God’s power, and that they will, by His grace, persevere in active trust and obedience to Christ until they see Him face to face. The grand mark of those who receive salvation is that they have an enduring attachment to Christ as their Lord and Savior. This enduring faith of believers distinguishes them from those who renounce Christ and prove not to be His. A persevering faith is evidence of God’s election and love which gives sure hope of eternal life with Christ.

Matthew 5:13, 24:13; John 6:38-40, 8:31, 10:27-29, 15:6; Romans 8:30, 11:22; 1 Corinthians 9:27, 10:12, 15:1; Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30; Philippians 1:6; Colossians 1:22-23; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 2:12; Hebrews 1:14, 3:12-14, 4:11, 6:12, 9:15; 1 Peter 1:4-5; 2 Peter 1:10; 1 John 2:19; 2 John 1:9; Jude 20; Revelation 2-3, 14:12, 21:7

We believe the Church is the Body of Christ, drawn from every tribe, language, people, and nation throughout all the ages. . The one true Church is composed of all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Wherever God’s people meet regularly, there is the local expression of the church. Under the watchful care of elders and other supportive leaders, its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the ultimate purpose of bringing glory to God. Scripture commands all believers to be an active part of a local church body, devoting themselves to worship, prayer, and the teaching of God’s Word. Participation in a local body also includes the observance of believer’s baptism and communion as the sacramental ordinances established by Jesus Christ, fellowship, service to the body, and outreach to the world, thereby glorifying Christ and furthering His purposes. The mission of the church is to be a corporate display of God’s glory to the world by preaching the gospel and making disciples.

Matthew 6:18, 28:18-20, Acts 2:41, Romans 12:4-9, Eph. 1:22- 23, 1 Thess.1:1, Eph. 3:10, 4:11-13, 1 Cor. 12:7, 12-13, I Timothy 3:1-13, 1 Peter 4:10, Colossians 1:18, Revelation 5:9

The Bible sets forth two ordinances, the Lord’s Supper and water baptism. The Lord’s Supper is to be celebrated regularly in remembrance of Christ’s death on the cross and in expectation of His return. Water baptism is an outward testimony of a person’s belief in Christ. Baptism is to be done by immersion, into the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit; to show forth our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior in a solemn and beautiful symbol. Baptism symbolizes our death to sin and resurrection to a new life and is a response to the command of Christ.

Matt. 28:19,20; Mark 16:15,16; Acts 8:12,36-38; 9:18; 10:47; I Cor. 11:23-26

We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of society. Families are composed of people related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption. Marriage is exclusively the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. Husband and wife are both made in God’s image and have equal value before God; while at the same time possessing distinct roles in the marriage. The husband is to gently lead and sacrificially love his wife as Christ loved the church and the wife is to graciously submit herself to her husband as the church willingly submits to Christ.

We believe that children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and inheritance from the Lord. Parents are to patiently lead their children in the ways of Christ by intentional instruction, gracious discipline, and consistent example based on biblical truth. Children are to honor and obey their parents for the glory of God and their ultimate good.

Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:26-28; Psalms 51:5; 78:1-8; 127; 128; 139:13-16; Proverbs 1:8; 5:15-20; 6:20-22; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 24:3; 29:15,17; 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 9:9; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Timothy 5:8,14; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7