WHAT WE BELIEVE

We affirm our belief in the one true living God, who is Spirit, creator, and sustainer of all things, eternally self-existing in three persons – Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. God is distinguishable and yet indivisible in nature, essence, and being. His incommunicable attributes include being immutable, omniscient, and omnipresent.
(Genesis 1:1-31; Isaiah 48:16; 61:1; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; John 4:24; Ephesians 4:4-6; Colossians 1:15-17; 1 John 5:7-8)

We affirm that the Father is the first person of the Trinity and the source of all that God is and does. From Him the Son is eternally begotten and from the Father and Son the Spirit eternally proceeds. He is the designer of creation, the speaker of revelation, the author of redemption, the sovereign authority of history, and the source of all knowledge.
(John 1:14; 3:16; 14:28; 16:28; Ephesians 4:6)

We affirm the deity of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who was born of the Virgin Mary through a miracle of the Holy Spirit and is therefore both human and divine. He is one indivisible person with two natures – wholly God and wholly man. He lived a sinless life, performed miracles, died an atoning death on the cross, and was resurrected. After having appeared to many after His resurrection, He ascended into heaven and is now seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding on our behalf. He will come again in power and glory to judge both the living and the dead.
(Matthew 24:36-39; John 1:1-14; Acts 1:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15; Philippians 3:20; Colossians 2:9-15; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 1:3; Revelation 1:7-8; 22:12-13)

We affirm the deity and present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life. He came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, to regenerate, sanctify, comfort, and seal those who believe in Jesus Christ, and to empower them to use spiritual gifts for the carrying out of the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
(John 14:15-17, 26; 16:7-14; Acts 2:4; Romans 15:13; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; Galatians 5:16-26; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 9:14)

We affirm that the Bible is the inerrant and infallible Word of God (in its original autographs) that directs and tests our every step. It is free from errors and contradictions and is the final authority for all matters of faith and conduct; it is absolute truth and the only objective,sufficient basis for faith and practice. Our lives should clearly reflect a biblical worldview that impacts society.
(Psalm 119:160; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:21)

We affirm that mankind is made in the image of God with intrinsic value from conception to death. He created them male and female with dominion over creation, commanding that they be fruitful and multiply. Man chose to disobey God’s direct command in the Garden of Eden, condemning all of mankind to be born into sin. However, this did not negate God’s purpose or plan for mankind: to walk in a right relationship with Him. The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.
(Genesis 1-3, 9:1; Isaiah 66:23; John 15:16; Acts 6:1,7; Romans 8:28-29; Colossians 1:10; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:4-5)

We affirm that all people are sinners by nature and choice, falling short of God’s standard and deserving of everlasting punishment for our total sinfulness. Therefore, we have a need for salvation by grace alone and for complete regeneration, which only comes by the work of the Holy Spirit. We all must acknowledge and repent of our sin and have faith in the perfect, complete, and atoning work of Christ on the cross. By doing so, we accept Jesus as both our Lord and Savior, recognizing that Jesus is the only name by which we can be saved. Through salvation, we submit our whole lives to Him and walk in daily, vibrant relationships with Him.
(Mark 1:15; John 14:6; Acts 2:14-47; Romans 5, 10:9; Ephesians 2:8-9)

We affirm that there is a literal heaven and a literal hell. All those who place their faith, hope, and trust in Jesus Christ will spend eternity in heaven with the Lord. Those who reject Jesus’ free gift of salvation will spend eternity separated from the Lord in hell, which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.
(Psalm 9:17; Matthew 5:3, 5:22, 18:8-9, 25:31-34; Mark 9:42-49; Luke 12:5; 16:19-31; John 3:18; Hebrews 12:23; 1 Peter 1:4; Revelation 14:10-11, 20:10-15)

We affirm that water baptism is a symbol of death to our sinful nature and new life through Christ. It is a public declaration of both the inner work of receiving Christ as Lord and Savior and the identification of belonging to Christ and His Church. The sharing of communion represents our covenant relationship with the Lord Jesus and with one another in the Body of Christ. We do this in remembrance of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, which were broken and poured out for our atonement.
(Mark 16:16; Luke 22:14-20; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32)

We affirm that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the promise of the Father is available to all believers as a distinct experience, given to imbue the believer with power from God, to offer an inspired witness for Christ, to lead the believer in a life of holiness, and to equip for a Spirit-filled life of service. This wonderful experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth.
(Luke 11:13; 24:49; Acts 1:4-5; 10:44-46a; 11:15-17; 15:7-9;
1 Corinthians 12:1-31; Hebrews 2:3-4)

We affirm that man is designed to walk in relationship with God, to know Him, and to love being with Him. Scripture instructs us from the creation account that we were created to be a people of His presence and to walk with Him. The people of God are called to worship in Spirit and Truth and to love Him with their whole heart and life. The presence of God in our midst must prompt a biblical response of believers to God as is witnessed throughout Scripture. This response includes expressions seen throughout the Psalms and other passages of the Bible. Worship should also be found in our daily lives as we walk with and honor God.
(Exodus 33:12-16; Psalms 150; Matthew 22:37-40; Mark 12:28-31; Romans 12:1-2)

We affirm that discipleship is a requirement for every believer. Everyone is called to both become a disciple and to help make disciples, teaching them to put into practice for the rest of their lives everything that Jesus commanded. The cost of discipleship is that we daily deny self-centered living, take up our cross to follow Jesus, and walk with mature leaders within a local church family. This is what it means to be a Christian.
(Matthew 16:24; Matthew 28:19; Luke 14:26-32; 1 Corinthians 11:1; Ephesians 5:1-2; 1 Timothy 4:6-10)

We affirm that the Kingdom of God is a relational family under God’s authority. God is relational, as seen in the triune nature of the Godhead, and we should be as well. Further, biblical relationships are an essential measurement and means to maturity. We will continually pursue a multigenerational, multicultural vision of the Kingdom. 
(Genesis 12:3; Psalm 68:5-6; Mark 12:28-34; John 13:34; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 12:12-18; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Ephesians 2:14-22, 3:14-21; Revelation 7:9; 14:6-7)

We affirm that the church is to be a family of believers - past, present, and future - who gather regularly for the hearing of the Word, fellowship, worship, prayer, and the breaking of bread. We are to be joined together on God’s mission. We strive to allow the fruit of the Holy Spirit to operate through our lives by proclaiming the gospel, promoting justice and love, and carrying out signs, wonders, and spiritual gifts, using those gifts to serve the local church and community.
(Matthew 10:8, 16:17-19; Mark 16:20; Acts 2:42-47; Romans 10:14-17, 12:3-8; Galatians 5:22-24; Ephesians 3:10-11; 4:16; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; 1 Corinthians 14:1-33)

We affirm that spiritual authority - demonstrated first by the Lordship of Jesus Christ over His Church and over all mankind as every knee will eventually bow to Him - is a reality woven into every aspect of creation. Jesus Christ delegates this authority so that it can be demonstrated relationally in every home through the lives of families (fathers, mothers, and children), in mutual submission of fellow believers one to another,  in the community as displayed by civil government, and in the local church, which is governed by a God-appointed eldership team. This team is plural, governed by team principles, includes apostolic involvement, and is not a democratic system.
(Acts 15:22; Romans 13:1-2, 14:11; Ephesians 4:11-16; 6:1-3; Colossians 3:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:12; 1 Timothy 2:1-3, 5:17; Titus 2:15; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:3)

We affirm that Jesus will return – personally and visibly – to rule and reign. He will raise all people to judgment, giving eternal life to those who have received salvation through repentance and eternal damnation to those who reject Jesus' free gift of salvation. He will establish a new heaven and a new earth.
 (Matthew 25:1-13; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:10‑11; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:1-2; 22:12,20)

We affirm that God created mankind and that He created them male and female. As such, He created them differently so as to complement one another. God instituted monogamous marriage between male and female as the foundation of the family and the only biblically-authorized means for sexual fulfillment, pleasure, and procreation. It is the basic structure of human society. Therefore, we perform marriages in accordance with the Bible consistent in both the Old and New Testament.
(Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 5:11, 6:9-11,18-20, 7:1-3,8-11; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-7; 1 Timothy 1:9-11)