It is vitally important to know what you believe and why you believe it. Listed below are several key topics that we have defined our theological position on and you can see our view by clicking on the key word. You are welcome even if you disagree with any of these doctrines but we do not shy away from the things we believe, even if they are thought to be controversial. As always, we welcome honest questions and civil debate.
What We Believe
About God
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are coequal and are one God.
REFERENCES
- Genesis 1:1, 26-27; 3:22
- Psalm 90:2
- Matthew 28:19
- 1 Peter 1:2
- 2 Corinthians 13:14
About Jesus
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is coequal with the Father and Holy Spirit. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven and will return again someday to earth to reign as King.
REFERENCES
- Matthew 1:22-23
- Isaiah 9:6
- John 1:1-5; 14:10-30
- Hebrews 4:14-15
- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
- Romans 1:3-4
- Acts 1:9-11
- 1 Timothy 6:14-15
- Titus 2:13
About the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is coequal 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 also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer spiritual gifts when they are saved. As Christians we seek to live under His control daily.
REFERENCES
- Acts 1:8
- 1 Corinthians 3:17
- John 16:7-13, 14:16-17
- Galatians 5:25
- 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16
- Ephesians 1:13, 5:18
About the Bible
The Bible is God's Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs about living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without error.
REFERENCES
- 2 Timothy 3:16, 1:13
- 2 Peter 1:20-21
- Psalm 119:105, 160, 12:6
- Proverbs 30:5
About Human Beings
People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God's creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called "sin". Sin separates us from God and causes many problems in our life.
REFERENCES
- Genesis 1:27
- Psalm 8:3-6
- Isaiah 53:6a
- Romans 3:23
- Isaiah 59:1-2
About Salvation
God desires the salvation of all, the Gospel invites all, the Holy Spirit strives with all, and whosoever will may come and take of the water of life freely. In other words, salvation is God's free gift to us but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin's penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
REFERENCES
- Romans 6:23
- Ephesians 2:8-9
- John 14:6, 1:2
- Titus 3:5
- Galatians 3:26
- Romans 5:1, 10:9-10
About Eternity
People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life in Heaven. Heaven and hell are real places of eternal existence.
REFERENCES
- John 3:16, 14:17
- Romans 6:23, 8:17-18
- Revelation 20:15
- 1 Corinthians 2:7-9
About Baptism
Baptism is symbolic of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Once we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, baptism is a way for us to publicly declare our new life in Christ. It is also a step of obedience based on God’s commands and allows us to follow the example of Jesus, who submitted himself to baptism to "fulfill all righteousness."
REFERENCES
- Matthew 3:16-17 , 28:18-20
- Acts 2:41 , 8:12
About Free Will
The human will is free and self-controlled, having power to yield to the influence of the truth and the Spirit, or to resist them and perish.
REFERENCES
- Matthew 10:32
- John 3:16, 18
About Perseverance
All believers in Christ, who through grace persevere in holiness to the end of life, have promise of eternal salvation. All who are truly saved are kept by God's power and as believers are secure in Christ based on their personal, continued faith. It is God who does the saving and the keeping, but He does both on the sole condition of faith.
REFERENCES
- John 10:27-30
- Hebrews 6:4-6
- Hebrews 10:36
- 2 Peter 1:4-10, 2:20-22
About Ordinances
BAPTISM, or the immersion of believers in water, and the LORD'S SUPPER, are ordinances to be perpetuated under the Gospel. FEET WASHING, an ordinance teaching humility, is of universal obligation, and is to be ministered to all true believers.
REFERENCES
- Matthew 28:19-20
- Acts 2:41-42; 18:18
- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
- John 13:3-17
About Creation
We believe that God created the universe in six literal, 24-hour periods. We reject evolution, the Gap Theory, the Day-Age Theory, and Theistic Evolution as unscriptural theories of origin. God’s creation was perfect, but became marred by man’s sin.
REFERENCES
- Genesis 1 & 2
- Exodus 20:11
- Romans 5:12
About Human Sexuality
We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance.
REFERENCES
- Genesis 2:24; 19:5, 13; 26:8-9
- Leviticus 18:1-30
- Romans 1: 26-29
- 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:9
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
- Hebrews 13:4
About Marriage
We also believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman.
REFERENCES
- Genesis 2:24
- Romans 7:2
- 1 Corinthians 7:10
- Ephesians 5:22-23