What We Believe
This congregation accepts no creed but Christ, the Bible as the final authority for all matters of faith, and no extra-congregational human authority. The members of the congregation will be known as Christians; not claiming to be the only Christians, but Christians only. This congregation is obligated to follow the express commands of the New Testament and apostolic examples. On opinions or actions about which the New Testament is silent, liberty is followed. For the purpose of maintaining general unity, the Church adopts these Statements of Fundamental Truths and Doctrine.
SCRIPTURE
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, a revelation from God to man, the infallible rule of faith and conduct, and is superior to conscience and reason (2 Tim. 3:15-17; 1 Peter 1:23-25; Heb. 4:12).
TRINITY
The triune Godhead is comprised of three separate and distinct personalities: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. They are eternally self-existent, self-revealed and function as one entity. Jesus Christ, who is God manifested in the flesh, is the second member of the Godhead, co-equal and co-eternal with The Father and The Holy Spirit.
COMMUNION
In obedience to the Word, we partake in The Lords Supper as our reminder of the great sacrifice Jesus endured for us and that we rely on Him and His sacrifice for our salvation. We take part in the eating of bread and the drinking of the cup to remember the body and blood that was shed for us, thus creating the new covenant by which we are saved. (1 Corinthians 11:23-29, John 6:50-56, Luke 22:19-20)
SALVATION OF MAN
1. Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. On the cross Jesus Christ became sin providing salvation for all mankind, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. For by grace we are saved through faith. (Romans 3:24; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 10:8-10).
2. Faith & Works: Salvation is by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone and not by human works; however, we are told that in order to abide in the love of God, we must obey His commands. We are created to do good works (Romans 10:1-9 and 2 Corinthians 5:10, John 15, 1 John 3, Ephesians 2:10).
3. Repentance: Repentance is not just feeling sorry for our sins but turning away from our sin and turning to God through Jesus Christ. "Repent and return that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord." (Acts 3:19).
BAPTISM IN WATER
The command of baptism by a symbolic burial with Christ should be observed as commanded in the Scriptures by all who have really repented and in their hearts have truly believed in Christ as Savior and Lord. In so doing, they declare to the world that they are dying with Jesus and that they are raised with Him to walk in newness of life. Baptism signifies the forgiveness of our sins, of the death to our old self, the start of our new life in Christ, and the promise of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38; Acts 10:47, 48; Romans 6:4).
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
We believe the Bible is the final authority on all manners of faith, spiritual conduct, and Christian living. God has prepared good works for every believer to do. All believers should conform more to the image of Christ and less to the image of the world as they mature in faith and spiritual knowledge. We are called to, “Be holy, because I am holy” Leviticus 11:44 and 1 Peter 1:16.
- Personal Ethics (Matthew 7:12; John 13:34-35; 1 Corinthians 6:12)
- Obedience to the Local Laws (Romans 13:1-2)
- Family; Household (Ephesians 5:22-31, 33-6:4)
- Self-Control (2 Peter 2;10; Romans 15:2-3)
- Addiction; Drunkenness (Ephesians 5:18; Proverbs 20:1; Titus 2:3; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Romans 13:13)
- Adultery; Sexual Immorality; Homosexuality (Exodus 20:14; 2 Peter 2:14; Matthew 5:27-28; Romans 13:13; 1 Corinthians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-29; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH
The purpose of this church shall be, as revealed in the New Testament (Matthew 28:18-20 and others), to win people to faith in Jesus Christ, commit them to the fellowship and purpose of the church, to help them grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ that increasingly they may know and do His will and to work for the unity of all Christians and with them engage in the common task of building the Kingdom of God.
To put it succinctly: We want to share all of Jesus with all people through all aspects of our lives.
