His life, death & resurrection

God sent His Son into the world to save His people from their sins. Conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, Jesus was and is both God and man. He was tempted in all things yet without sin, living the perfect life of righteousness on behalf of His people. (Isa. 42:1; Acts 3:22; Ps. 2:6; Luke 1:33; Eph. 5:23; Heb. 1:2; 2:14; 5:5; 7:26; 1 Tim. 2:5; John 1:1; Luke 1:27; Gal. 4:4; Luke 1:35; Col. 1:19)

Christ died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for sin, forever finishing the substitutionary work of atonement for His people. (Phil. 2:8; Acts 2:23; John 15:3; 20:25; Mark 16:19; Rom. 5:19; 8:34; 14:9; Hebrews 9:24; 12:2; Gen. 3:15)

On the third day, Jesus rose bodily from the grave. The resurrection affirms the deity and authority of Christ and assures believers of their future bodily resurrection. (Matt. 28:1-20; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-53; John 20:1-21:25; Acts 1:8-11; 1Cor.15:4-9; Heb. 4:14-16; John 21:12-13; Acts 2:24; 10:41; Rom. 6:4; 1 Cor. 6:14)

What we believe about the scriptures.

The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God. Therefore, all scripture is authoritative, infallible and inerrant. The Scriptures are the only sufficient rule for faith and practice. (Psalm 19:7; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 3:16; 1 Timothy 5:18; Luke 24:25-27; Deut. 18:19; 1 Sam. 10:8; 13:13-14; 15:3; 19, 23; 1 Kings 20:35, 36)

The Father, Son & Holy Spirit

There is one true and living God who exists in three eternally distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one in being, united in purpose, and equally worthy of glory and adoration. God is invisible, eternal, omni-present, almighty, all-knowing-his perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of his free creatures, unchanging, dependent upon none, sovereign, righteous, holy, just, gracious, loving, merciful, patient, and good. (Deut. 6:4; Ps. 145:3; John 1:3; 1 Cor. 8:4-6; 1 Tim. 1:17; Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14)

The origin of mankind and the nature of sin.

God created all that now exists in six days and from nothing, and it was all very good. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit acted together in the work of creation. Out of all living things, only man was created in God's image. God granted him dominion over all lesser forms of life and over the earth itself. (John 1:2, 3; Heb. 1:2; Job 26:13; Rom. 1:20; Col. 1:16; Gen 1:26-27, 31; Gen 2:7; Gen.3:6; Ecc. 7:29)

God originally created Man in His own image, and free from sin; but, through the temptation of Satan, Adam transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity inherit a nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law. As a result they are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors. (Gen. 1:26-27; 3:1-7; Rom. 5:12-19; Eph. 2:1-3; Eccl. 7:29; 2 Cor. 11:3; 1 Tim. 2:14; Psalm 51:5)

Rebirth, repentance and perseverance

Our personal relationship with Christ begins with rebirth, or regeneration. Regeneration is a change of heart, brought about by the Holy Spirit, who gives life to those dead in trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the word of God, and renewing their whole nature, so that they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God's free and special grace alone. (Ezek. 36:26-27; John 1:13; 3:3-8; Acts 16:14; 2 Cor. 5:17; Col. 2:13; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:3;23-25; Eph. 2:1-6; Tit. 3:5; 1 John 5:1)

In response to the conviction of the Holy Spirit a person repents of sin and humbles himself for it with godly sorrow (Acts 2:37-38; 11:18; 2 Cor. 7:10-11). Saving faith is trusting God's authority regarding whatever is revealed in His word concerning Christ; accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification and eternal life. It is wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, and is accompanied by all other saving graces, and leads to a life of holiness. (Rom. 3:27-28; 4:1-5; 4:17-25; 10:14, 17; Phil. 1:29; Eph. 2:8; Jas. 2:14-26)

All those whom God has regenerated will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end; and though they may fall through neglect and temptation, into sin, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the church, and temporal judgments on themselves, yet they shall be renewed again unto repentance, and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. (John 6:37-40; 10:28-29; Rom. 8:28-39; 1 Cor. 1:8-9; Phil. 1:6)

An outward sign of an inward change

Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus and the first step of obedience of every believer. Baptism is immersion in water, symbolizing both the believer's union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection to new life, and his cleansing from sin. Baptism may only be administered to those who demonstrate repentance from sin and make a credible profession of faith in Christ. (Matt. 3:13-17; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; 14:22-26; Luke 3:21-22; 22:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; 20:7; Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:12)

The presence and power of God within believers.

We believe that the Holy Spirit brings glory to the Father and the Son. He applies the work of Christ to believers and distributes spiritual gifts to every believer according to His sovereign good pleasure for the purpose of building up the body of Christ. He is the Comforter, the Spirit of Adoption, the Seal of our Salvation and the Guarantor of our inheritance in Christ. (John 14:16-17; 16:14; Acts 5:3; Rom. 8:14-17; Eph. 1:13-14; Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 12:4-6; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 4:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2; John 14:26; Acts 16:6-7)

Judgement and glory

God has appointed a day, wherein He will judge the world by Jesus Christ, when every one shall receive according to his deeds; the wicked shall go into everlasting and conscious punishment; the righteous, into everlasting life. (Matt. 25:46; John 5:22, 27-29; Acts 17:31; Rom. 2:6-11; 2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Thess. 1:7-10; 2 Tim. 4:8; Rev. 7:13-17; 14:9-11)

The purpose of all things

Christians are to live for God's glory alone through their awareness and enjoyment of His Person, submission to His authority, and reliance upon His goodness. In truth, all things that have or will transpire, serve to glorify God as their highest purpose. For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. (Exodus 14:4; Numbers 14:21; Psalm 19:1; 21:5; 29:2; 57:5; 72:19; 96:7; 104:31; 108:5; 115:1; Isa. 6:3; 42:8; 43:7; 48:11; Jer. 13:16; Ezek. 39:21; Hab. 2:14; Luke 2:14; John 8:50; 11:4; 17:1-5 Acts 12:23; Romans 3:23; 5:2; 9:23; 11:36; 1 Cor.10:31; 2 Cor. 3:18; 4:6; Eph. 1:11-17; Phil. 4:19; Heb. 1:3; Rev. 4:11)