Our Beliefs

Following is a brief overview of the core beliefs we believe to be true, based solely upon the foundation of God’s Word, the Bible. These statements and Scripture references are not exhaustive of God’s Word or our full doctrinal statement. Explore God’s Word for yourself by looking up each Bible reference below.

The Bible

The entire Bible, in its original form, is verbally inspired of God and is the ultimate authority of absolute truth (II Timothy 3:16-17, II
Peter 1:21).

The Godhead

There is one God, who always has and always will exist in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Deut. 6:4; I Tim. 2:5; Eph. 4:4-6;
Mt. 28:19).

The Person of Christ

Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He is fully God and fully man (Luke 1:35; Phil. 2:6-9).

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead. He convicts the world of sin and makes alive, identifies (baptizes), lives within, gives understanding (enlightens), and empowers believers (John 16:8; Titus 3:5; I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:13, 17-18; 3:16).

Total Depravity

All men are, by nature, spiritually dead in their sins. Spiritual death means being separated from God. Eternal punishment is what man deserves because of sin. All men are therefore unable on their own to do anything pleasing of God (Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 3:9-12; I Cor. 1:3-4).

Salvation

Although man’s sin earns spiritual death, God’s heart yearns for all men to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sin by dying on the cross. God offers salvation (eternity in Heaven) as a free gift to all mankind. It is not by our own works (merit). We must simply accept this free gift by believing (trusting) in what Christ has done for us on the cross (Eph. 2:8-9; John 3:16; 1 Tim. 2:3-6).

Eternal Security

All who are saved are eternally secure in Christ, the Beloved of God (Col. 3:1-4; Phil. 1:6; Rom. 8:1, 8:29-34, 8:38-39; Eph. 1:13-14).

The Church

We are currently in the “dispensation (age) of grace.” While God is always the same, He does change how He deals with mankind. In this age of grace, we are no longer under the (Old Testament) Law, for our salvation or our daily walk. There is one true Church, which is called the Body of Christ. The Church began with the Apostle Paul before he wrote his first letter (I Cor. 12:13; 12:27; Eph. 1:22-23, 3:1-6).

Baptism

All believers are made members of the Body of Christ by the baptism of the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:13), by which also they are identified with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-4).

Gifts

The gifts necessary for the working (ministry) of the Body of Christ are those that are listed in Ephesians 4:7-16. Of these, only the gifts of evangelists and pastors/teachers are in operation today. All the sign gifts used in the past, such as tongues, prophecy and healing (I Cor. 12:1-31), were temporary in character. They are no longer in use since the Bible is now complete (I Cor. 13:8-11).

Resurrection

Jesus Christ’s body was raised up (resurrected) from the dead (Luke 24:39-43), therefore, all of mankind’s bodies will also be resurrected (Acts 24:15), the saved to everlasting glory and the unsaved to everlasting punishment (John 5:29; Rev. 20:11-15).

The Rapture

The rapture of the Church, the Body of Christ (see above), will happen before the Tribulation. Christ will come to receive the members of His Body to Himself (I Thess. 4:13-18; Phil. 3:20-21; I Cor. 15:51-53; Tit. 2:13).

The Second Coming of Christ

The second coming of Christ to earth will occur before the Millennial Kingdom of God, when He will reign over all the earth (Zech. 14:4,9; Acts 1:10-11; Rev. 19:11-16; Rev. 20:4-6).