Basic Beliefs

Although our church affirms specific views on these matters, we do not expect nor do we require our entire membership to hold the same views. We acknowledge the diversity of beliefs among all our members and further recognize the pain that many of these distinct views have caused many faithful followers within the church. Without dismissing these views and experiences, we do ask that members of our church respect these frameworks of specific beliefs as a basis for how we hope to function in love and truth. (Matt. 28:19-20).

We believe in the one, holy God, sovereign over all created things, who is eternally living as three persons: the Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. While each person is distinct, they are all equal in nature, and therefore, each fully God. (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14).

The Father
The first person of the trinity, Creator of the Universe; reigning with providential care over all of his creation (1 Cor. 8:6a).

The Son
The second person of the trinity, eternally begotten of God; although, without a beginning; took on human nature by becoming the incarnate Jesus Christ (Jn. 20:31; Heb. 1:5-6; Jn 1:1).

The Holy Spirit
The third person of the trinity, eternally proceeding from God, giver of power and truth for the sovereign purpose of glorifying Christ and mediating his presence (Acts 5:3-4; Jn 16:13-14; Lk. 1:34-35).

We believe that Jesus is the manifestation of the eternal Son becoming flesh, joining the exact perfect nature of God with the entirety of human nature, without confusion or mixture. Therefore, he is the fullest revelation of who God is to the world.

We believe he is the living Word of God before all things, through which all things were created, who lived on Earth for the glory of the Father and through the power of the Spirit. We believe he lived a perfect life but willingly chose to suffer, die, and be buried to cement our status as the Beloved of God through the atonement of sin for all who believe in him. Thus he is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah (Christ) of humankind.

We believe in the corporeal, historical resurrection of Jesus after his death, providing the precedent and power of both our spiritual and bodily redemption by the grace of God through
faith in Christ. We believe in the physical and visible return of Jesus for the judgment of all humankind, the absolute conquering of sin and Satan, and the complete fulfillment of his kingdom in heaven and earth.
(Matt. 16:16; Heb. 2:14; Phil. 2:6-8; Col. 1:16-17; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Lk. 24:39-43; Tit. 2:13; Acts 1:11; 2 Tim. 4:1; Rev. 12:9-10)

We believe that the Bible, the 66 books of the Old and New Testament, is the divinely inspired Word of God. It reveals the truth and nature of God and is the infallible, complete authority in matters of faith and practice.

We believe that the Bible is actively used by God as sufficient means to bring people to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone, functioning as the complete standard by which all human conduct should be assessed. (Ps. 12:6; 2 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 4:12)

We believe that every man and woman is the sacred creation of God, set apart in his image as the beloved, pinnacle of his creation in the world, called to oversee the providential care of this world as representatives of God to nature. (Gen. 1:27; Gen. 2:7; Gen. 2:15).

We believe in the complete equality of men and women in dignity and value, yet distinct in their expression as image bearers of God. In his sovereignty, God determined an order by which he uniquely calls all of humanity to glorify him, including as males and females.

We believe that Satan deceived Adam and Eve, who were chosen as the historical archetypal parents of humanity, to disobey the Word of God, thus condemning all of humanity to possess a depravity that is in opposition to God from birth.

We believe that all acts of humanity are plagued by sin, leaving humankind completely incapable of obtaining righteousness and, therefore, communion with God independent of a savior. (Gen. 3:13; Rom. 5:12; Isa. 64:6; Eph. 2:1-3).

We believe that everyone is able to enter an eternal communion with God as his beloved through faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ alone.

We believe that, by grace, God freely choose to pardon the sins of humanity, through Jesus, because of his unconditional love for us. We believe that the Holy Spirit is an instrument of sanctification in all who believe; a mark of new life, blameless and holy before God through Christ; and a seal that ensures the promise we will live in joy and peace with God forever. (Rom. 3:21-22; Rom. 3:24-25; Col. 1:14; Tit. 3:5-7; 2 Cor. 1:21-22)

We believe in the universal Church, united by the Spirit through the saving faith in Christ Jesus, who serves as its Head. Thus its ultimate purpose is to bring glory to God throughout the world, multiplying his disciples in every nation. We believe in the local expression of the Church, communal bodies who are governed by the law of Christ, consisting of a congregation of baptized believers. We believe in the elected scriptural officers of the church, ministers who are called to instruct and serve the congregation, accountable to the Lord for the state of their souls. (Eph. 1:22; Eph. 3:10; Eph. 4:11-12; Heb. 13:17).

We believe, as distinct expressions of His image, God has called men and women to unique, yet complementary roles within the church, not to maximize our differences, but for the more complete display of the breadth and depth of God's character--within his mysterious order in creation. The clearest expression of this distinctive call is the office of Eldership, reserved for qualified men, transformed by the Spirit of God.

We believe in the institution of two ordinances within the church, practices set apart as demonstrations of our faith in Christ.

We believe the first one is baptism in water, in the name of the father son and holy spirit, as a profession of faith in Christ and symbolizing our new life through the death of our old self, plagued by sin, and newfound union with God.

We believe in full-immersion, adult baptism as the greatest expression of the death, burial, and resurrection we have in Christ by faith. We believe that Jesus and the apostles affirm this act as the most accurate outward portrayal of our inner transformation through the Spirit.