God created humankind in the Divine image. In the first book of the bible, Genesis, we see that through Adam’s fall all became sinful, lost, and condemned. Each human being is born with a sin nature and by deliberate choice participates in sin and is in need of Redemption through Christ.
(Gen. 1:26-30; Eph. 2:1-22; Rom. 1:19-32; Rom. 5:12-21)
We believe in the Eternal Godhead who has revealed Himself as one God existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; distinguishable but indivisible
(Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14).
We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, fully God and fully man, fully divine and fully human, the eternal and pre-existent Word. By His death Christ made full atonement for our sins, and by his resurrection showed Himself to be the Lord and giver of life to all who believe.
(Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:26-35; John 1:18; Heb. 1:1-3; Heb. 4:14-15; John 1:1-3,14; Luke 1:34-35)
God is present in the world today in the person of the Holy Spirit who draws us to faith in Jesus and who bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. We believe that upon faith in Christ Jesus the believer is filled with the Holy Spirit and is enabled through empowering grace to live a life of obedience to God and overcome sin. He gives spiritual gifts to the church for our mutual edification.
(John 16:7-15; Rom. 8:16; Eph. 4:7; 1 Cor. 12:7)
We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a distinct aspect of the Christian foundational experience. The most common biblical evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament is speaking in a heavenly language.
(Acts 2:1-4; 8:14-17; 19:6)
God offers forgiveness of sin and justification through faith in Christ Jesus apart from works. Such Redemption is received by human individuals as God’s gift upon repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ. Through Jesus, the believer becomes a new creation whose mind and will are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.
(Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Eph. 2:8-22; 1 John 1:6-2:11; Matt. 22:37-38)
The Bible, composed of the Old and New Testaments, is the divinely inspired Word of God, the final and trustworthy authority for faith and practice. It is to be interpreted responsibly under the guidance of the Holy Spirit within the community of faith. The Bible clearly reveals the essentials necessary for Salvation and how we are to conduct our lives.
(Deut. 4:1-2; II Tim. 2:15, II Tim. 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21)
The Church is a community of faith consisting of transformed believers with Jesus as Lord. Such believers have a personal relationship to God through Jesus Christ, are filled by the Holy Spirit living a Spirit filled life, follow the Lord in believer’s baptism by immersion, share in the Lord’s Supper, gather regularly for worship, and are in covenant relationship with each other for mutual edification and care-giving.
(Matt. 16:15-19; Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 16:30-33; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Eph. 1:22-23; Heb. 10:23-25; I Cor. 6:19)
The Church is called to proclaim the Good News of Salvation through Jesus Christ by faith through God’s reconciling grace by the power of the Holy Spirit. The church is God’s instrument in the earth, inviting people to receive salvation and follow Christ as His disciples.
(Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Gal. 3:26-28; James 1:27; James 2:8)