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What We Believe

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  • The Bible is the uniquely inspired Word of God. It is entirely reliable and is the final authority in all matters of faith and life. (2 Timothy 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:21)

 

  • God created the universe, earth, and all life with mankind in six 24 hour days (Genesis 1, 2). The land and sea that exist today are primarily the result of the worldwide flood of Genesis 6-9.

 

  • We worship one God who manifests Himself as three co-equal, co-eternal persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

 

  • The Son of God (the Lord Jesus Christ) took upon Himself human form, being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He was the only man whose life was absolutely sinless. (John 1:1; Matthew 1:18-23; 1 John 3:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21)

 

  • All people are sinful by nature and by practice (Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:9-23; 5:12-19) and are therefore separated from God (Isaiah 59:2). It is impossible for a person to be made right before God by his own works or religious observances (Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; Romans 4:5)

 

  • At the cross, Christ suffered God’s punishment for our sin (Romans 3:25, 26; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Christ’s substitutionary death has provided the only way of salvation for sinful people (Romans 5:6-8). Any person who confesses his sin, repents (Romans 10:9,10) and decides to depend solely on Christ’s finished work (John 19:30) immediately has his sins forgiven and is assured of eternal life in heaven and cannot lose his salvation (John 5:25; 10:27-30).

 

  • Any person who dies without Christ is consigned to a lost eternity in hell (Luke 16:19-31; John 5:28, 29; 8:24; Revelation 20:11-15).

 

  • Christ arose bodily from the dead and ascended to heaven where He presently intercedes for believers as High Priest and Advocate (1 Corinthians 15:4; Luke 24:50, 51; Hebrews 4:14, 15; 7:25, 26; 1 John 2:1, 2).

 

  • The Holy Spirit of God lives in every believer in Christ (Romans 8:9-11). His ministries for the believer involve:

• guiding him into all truth (John 16:13)

• enabling him to live a life that is pleasing to God (Galatians 5:16)

• bearing witness within that he is now a child of God (Romans 8:14-17)

• guiding in the worship and service of the church (John 16:14; 1Corinthians 12:4-11)

 

  • There is one church made up of all who have put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

 

  • The church is a living organism, known as the Body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22, 23; 1 Corinthians 12:12-26).

 

  • Christ is the Head over His Body, the church, and, as such, sets the pattern for headship in marriage and the church (1 Corinthians 11:2-16; Ephesians 5:21-33). Believing men and women enjoy an equal standing before God (1 Peter 2:5; Galatians 3:26-28) — but have different roles in the church (1 Corinthians 11:2-16; 14:33-35; 1 Timothy 2:11-15; 3:2).

 

  • As a local gathering of this one church, we also believe in:

• The priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:5,9)

• Plurality of elders (Acts 14:23; 1 Peter 5:1-4)

• Autonomous church government (Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:1-4)

 

  • Christ, our risen Head, is the giver of spiritual gifts, which are given “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry and for the edifying of the Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:7-12; Romans 12). Gifts of miracles, healings, tongues, and interpretation of tongues were given to the early Christian church to authenticate genuine messengers of God (Hebrews 2:3, 4). When the Word of God was given in final written form (2 Timothy 3:16, 17), the need for these “sign” gifts largely ended. Any indication of the use of sign gifts today should be examined in the light of the Bible.

 

  • There are two ordinances for the church:

• The baptism of believers in water as an outward public testimony of an inward                                  conversion (Matthew 28:19; Acts 8:35-38; Romans 6:1-5).

• The Lord’s Supper for believers which is a remembrance of the Lord’s death for                               us. We celebrate this each Lord’s Day (Sunday) as did the early church                                           (Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Acts 20:7).

 

  • The church is looking for the imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ in the sky to remove all believers from the world, both those alive at that time as well as those who have died (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Their lives and work will be reviewed and rewarded at that time (2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10-12).

 

  • At a later date, Christ will return to set up His Kingdom (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10) in which He will personally, literally reign over this earth for a thousand years (1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Revelation 19:11-20:6).