What We Believe

We Believe

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God

We affirm the Nicene Creed including its view of the Trinity, believing in one God, eternally existing in three co-equal Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14, John 1:1-3, John 10:30).

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” – 1 John 5:7. The Father is the Ontological ground of being from which the Son has been eternally begotten and from which the Spirit proceeds from the Father through the Son.

Jesus Christ

We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son (John 3:16, Matthew 1:18-23, John 1:14, 1 Peter 2:22, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” – John 1:1. We believe that He took on our humanity in order to live the life we should have lived and die the death we deserved to die.

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit’s indwelling empowers Christians to live a godly life (John 14:16-17, Acts 1:8, Romans 8:9-11, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Ephesians 1:13-14). “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things…” (John 14:26). He also empowers Christians for service. He bestows spiritual gifts for the building up of the church body (1 Corinthians 12:7-11), strengthens the believer in their inner being (Ephesians 3:16), and helps them to bear fruit that glorifies God (Galatians 5:22-23).

Salvation

Salvation is received only through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Ephesians 2:8-9). “

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast,” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The Atonement

We affirm the doctrine of penal substitutionary atonement – that Jesus, in His death on the cross, took upon Himself the penalty for our sins, providing forgiveness and reconciliation with God.

However, we do not interpret this to mean Jesus suffered the wrath of the Father, but rather, He endured the consequences and curse of the law on our behalf, so we might be freed from its bondage (Galatians 3:13, Isaiah 53:4-6, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 3:24-26, 1 Peter 2:24). We broke the Law of God, Christ paid the penalty for our sin which is the curse of death.

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.'” – Galatians 3:13.

Scripture

The Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are God’s inspired Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21, Hebrews 4:12, Proverbs 30:5, Matthew 24:35).

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,” 2 Timothy 3:16.

The Church

Scripture testifies that a true saving faith shows itself through a connection with a body of believers in order to honor and worship God together (Hebrews 10:25), and to serve each other as the Spirit leads (Act 4:32-35).

The leadership model of eldership is affirmed, with one person appointed as the lead elder (Acts 14:23, Titus 1:5, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, 1 Peter 5:1-5, James 5:14).

“The elders which are among you I exhort… Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof…” (1 Peter 5:1-2).

Apostasy

We believe in the assurance of salvation and the mercy of God, but also recognize that through persistent, unrepentant sin, hardening of the heart, and the ultimate denial of Christ, one may tragically fall away from the faith, severing their relationship with Christ. This is not a mere possibility, but a perilous risk underscored by the devastating power of sin to destroy faith, harden the heart to resist the Holy Spirit, and deny the salvific work of Christ (Hebrews 3:12-13, Hebrews 10:26-29, 2 Peter 2:20-22, Luke 12:9).

Baptism of the Holy Spirit

We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit as distinct from the new birth, given by God to believers to empower them in service. This experience can be evidenced by speaking in tongues and other spiritual gifts as the Spirit wills (Acts 2:1-4, Acts 8:14-17, Acts 10:44-48, Acts 19:1-6, Luke 24:49).

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth,” (Acts 1:8.)

Spiritual Gifts

We believe that the Holy Spirit manifests Himself through gifts including prophecy and tongues. These are available for every believer to edify the church and serve the purpose of God in this generation (1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Acts 2:17-18, Romans 12:6-8, Ephesians 4:11-12, 1 Peter 4:10-11). “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” – 1 Corinthians 12:7.

Sacraments

We believe that water baptism and Communion are the two sacraments to be observed by the Church (Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:38, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Luke 22:19-20, Acts 8:36-38). By this, we mean that they are acts of obedience and faith that are blessed by the Presence of the Holy Spirit.

The Second Coming

We hold an open view on Eschatology, with a firm belief in the bodily return of Christ (Acts 1:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).