What We Believe

Doctrinal Statement

 

We believe that the Bible is God's Word, that it is divinely and uniquely inspired, absolutely trustworthy and has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.

We believe in God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth, perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, measureless in power. We rejoice that He is merciful toward sinful people, that He hears and answers prayer and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.

We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, sinless in His life, making atonement for the sin of the world by His death on the cross. We believe in His bodily resurrection, His ascension into heaven, His high priestly intercession for His people and His personal, visible return to the world according to His promise.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, who came forth from God to convince the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify and comfort those who believe in Jesus Christ.

We believe that all are sinners by nature and by choice, but that "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." We believe, therefore, that those who accept Christ as their Lord and Savior will rejoice forever in God's presence and those who refuse to accept Christ as Lord and Savior will be forever separated from God.

We believe in the Church—a living, spiritual body of which Christ is the Head and of which all regenerated people are members. We believe that a visible church is a company of believers in Jesus Christ, buried with Him in baptism and associated for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that to these visible churches were committed for observance “until He comes,” the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper; and that God has laid upon these churches the task of persuading a lost world to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and to enthrone Him as Lord and Master.

We believe that righteous living, good works and proper social concern are essential products of the gospel.

We believe that every human being is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith.

We believe that each church is independent and autonomous and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that, therefore, Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from the dictation or patronage of the other.