In non-essential beliefs we have liberty: “Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters . . . Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls . . . . So then each of us will give an account of himself to God . . . . So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.” (Romans 14:1,4,12,22)

In all our beliefs we show love: “. . . If I hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but also the very secrets of God, and if I have the faith that can move mountains – but have no love, I amount to nothing at all.” (I Corinthians 13:2 -Philip’s Trans.)

The Essentials We Believe:

THE BIBLE The Bible is God’s Word to us and is the supreme source of truth for Christian faith and living. The sixty six books of the Old and New Testament were written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Scripture thus at one and the same time speaks with the authority of God and reflects the backgrounds, styles and vocabularies of the human authors. We hold that the Scriptures are infallible, inspired and without any mixture of error in the original writings. They are the unique, full and final authority on all matters of faith and practice. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 2:1, 20, 21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105)

 GOD God is the Creator and Ruler of the Universe. There is one true Holy God, eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and equally possess all the attributes of diety and characteristics of personality. In the beginning God created, out of nothing, the world and all the things therein. By His sovereign power He continues to sustain His creation and to fulfill His redemptive purposes. (Genesis 1:1, 26, 27, 3:22; Ps. 90:2; Matt.28:19; I Peter 1:2; 2 Cor. 13:14)

JESUS CHRIST Jesus Christ is God’s eternal Son. He is co-equal with the Father. He allowed himself to be born of a virgin through a miraculous conception of the Holy Spirit, without ceasing to be God. Being true God and true man, He lived a sinless human life, and voluntarily offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins by dying on a cross as our substitute. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven and will return again to earth some day, personally and visibly, to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. (Matthew 1:22,23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 13:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1Cor.15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1: 9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14, 15; Titus 2:13)

THE HOLY SPIRIT The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He enlightens the minds of sinners, awakens in them a recognition of their need of a Savior, and brings spiritual life to them. At the point of salvation, He permanently indwells every believer to become the source of assurance, strength and wisdom, and uniquely endows each believer with gifts for the building up of the body of Christ – the Church. The Holy Spirit guides believers in understanding and applying the Scriptures. As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily, to exhibit Christ-like character, and to bear fruit to the glory of the Father. (2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13,17; John 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13, 5:17-21; Galatians 5:25)

HUMAN BEINGS Men and women were created in the image and likeness of God but rebelled against God through personal disobedience. This rebellion led to their alienation from God and the corruption of their spiritual nature which renders them incapable of pleasing God on their own merit or saving themselves. The rebellion and fall of man took place at the beginning of human history, and all individuals since have suffered these consequences and are thus in need of the saving grace of God. (Gen. 1:27; Ps. 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1,2)

SALVATION Salvation is God’s free gift to us, but we must accept it. It is offered to all, but individually received by personal faith in Jesus Christ alone, for the forgiveness of our sins. Salvation is wholly a work of God’s free grace, not the result, in whole or in part, of human works or goodness. We can never on our own satisfy God’s righteous demands for salvation. Eternal life and the forgiveness of sins begins the moment one transfers their trust from themselves to Christ for forgiveness of their sins. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of Christians, and when God has begun a saving work in the heart of any person, He promises to continue performing it until the day of its completion. We are involved in this process by choosing to follow Christ, trust Him, and obey Him as our lives are transformed. If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot “lose it.” (Roman 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26)

HUMAN DESTINY People were created by God to exist forever. Death seals the eternal destiny of each person. For all mankind, there will be a bodily resurrection and a judgment that will determine the fate of each individual. Those who have not personally trusted Jesus Christ will be separated from God into everlasting punishment for their rejection of God. Believers will be received into eternal communion with God and will be rewarded for works done in this life. (John 3:16, 2:25, 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Rev.20:15; Hebrews 9:27; Matthew 18:8, 25:44,46)

THE CHURCH The Church is the living Body of Christ on earth and at the point of salvation a person becomes a member of Christ’s Body – the Church. There is one true Church universal, comprised of all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior.

The Scriptures encourage believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, observance of baptism and communion as ordinances established by Jesus Christ for the purpose of fellowship, service to the body through the development and use of talents and gifts, and outreach to the world.

Whenever God’s people meet regularly, there is the local expression the Church. Under the watchful care of elders and the supportive leadership of deacons, its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the one ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ. (Col. 1:18; Ephesians 2:19-22, 5:23-24; Acts 2:41-47; Matt.16:15-18; Col. 3:21; Revelation 4:11; Ephesians 4:11-13; Matt. 22:36-40, 28:19-20; Romans 12:3-16; 1 Cor. 12:4-12; Acts 1:8)

FAITH AND PRACTICE Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. This church recognizes that it cannot bind the conscience of individual members in areas where Scripture is silent. Rather, each believer is to be led in those areas by the Lord, to Whom he or she is ultimately responsible.

We believe the Statement of Faith to be an accurate summary of what Scripture teaches. All members shall refrain from advocating doctrines that are not included in the Statement of Faith in such a way as to cause dissensions.