Our core beliefs are intended to be a basis of fellowship. There will always be peripheral doctrines that committed Christians disagree upon, but the core beliefs of Christianity are non-negotiable.
The Scriptures Inspired
The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).
The One True God
The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent “I AM,” the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed Himself as one God existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, distinguishable but indivisible (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10-11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22).
The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare:
- His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31; Luke 1:35)
- His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22)
- His miracles (Acts 2:22, 10:38)
- His substitutionary work on the cross (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
- His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:4)
- His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9, 1:11, 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3)
The Fall of Man
Man was created good and upright, for God said, “Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness.” However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God (Genesis 1:26-27, 2:17, 3:6; Romans 5:12-19).
The Salvation of Man
Man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God, according to the hope of eternal life (Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; Titus 3:5-7).
The Ordinances of the Church
Baptism in Water
The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded by the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. Thus they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47-48; Romans 6:4).
Holy Communion
The Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements—bread and the fruit of the vine—is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4), a memorial of His suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26), and a prophecy of His second coming (1 Corinthians 11:26), and is enjoined on all believers “Till He come!”
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit and the Continued Refilling of the Spirit
To each believer there is available an endowment of power for life and service, which creates a greater fullness of God’s Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 8:1; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31). This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the new birth (Acts 8:12-17, 10:44-46, 11:14-16, 15:7-9). It is received just as new birth is received, through faith and trust in the Word of God (Luke 11:13). With the baptism in the Holy Spirit come experiences such as deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Hebrews 12:28), speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance (Acts 19:1-7; 2:4; 10:44-46), and a greater boldness in witness (Acts 4:31).
Sanctification
Sanctification initially occurs at salvation and is not only a declaration that a believer is holy, but also a progressive lifelong process of separating from evil as believers continually draw closer to God and become more Christlike (1 Thessalonians 5:23; Ephesians 5:26; Philippians 2:12-13).
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
God has given gifts of His Spirit to the New Testament church for the common good. They are divine impartations expressed through human beings. All gifts operate within the law of love under the authority and truth of the Bible (1 Corinthians 12 and 13, Ephesians 4:11-16; Romans 13:3-8).
The Church
The Church is the body of Christ and the habitation of God through the Spirit and is called to fulfill a divine command to worship God (the Great Commandment) and make disciples (the Great Commission) together. We believe the church is the body of Christ and consists of the people who, throughout time, have accepted God's offer of redemption through the sacrificial death of His Son, Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23, 2:22).
Divine Healing
Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from and recovery from sickness is provided for all believers in the atonement (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17; James 5:14-16).
The Second Coming of Jesus
Jesus shall make a visible return to earth with His saints to reign on the earth (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 30; Revelation 1:7, 22:12).
