We believe and enthusiastically promote the following 12 essential Christian principles:
The Bible is God’s Word to all people. As the authoritative Word of God, it alone is the final authority in determining doctrinal truths. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because it was inspired by God, the Bible is supreme truth without any mixture of error and is completely relevant to our daily lives. In its original writing, the Bible is inspired, infallible, and inerrant.
There is one God. God has existed in relationship with Himself for all eternity. He exists as one substance in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Although each member of the Trinity serves distinct functions, they each possess equal power and authority. The three are co-equal and are one God in perfect unity and harmony.
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. The Holy Spirit’s presence makes us aware of our need for Jesus and assures us of our relationship with Christ. He guides believers into all truth and exalts Christ. He convicts people of their sin, God’s righteousness, and the coming judgment. He comforts us, gives us spiritual gifts, and makes us more like Christ. He provides all Christians with power for living, understanding spiritual truth, and guidance into doing what is right in God’s eyes. He gives every Believer spiritual gifts when they are saved (born again); as Christians, we seek to live in relationship and under His control every day.
Man was created to exist forever. He will exist either eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is Heaven. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence..
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. God is great: He is all powerful, all knowing, ever present, unchanging, completely worthy of our trust, and above all, Holy. It is in Him that we live, move, and exist. God is good. He is our Father. He is loving, compassionate, and faithful to His people and His promises.
Man is made in the image of God – to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of His creation. Man was created to have fellowship with God but became separated in that relationship through sinful disobedience. As a result, man cannot attain a right relationship with God through his own effort. Every human personality is uniquely created, with tremendous potential for good, possesses dignity, and is worthy of respect and Christian love.
The blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, provides the only way of salvation through the forgiveness of sin. We could never make up for our sins by self-improvement or our own good works. Salvation occurs when people place their faith in the death and resurrection of Christ as sufficient payment for their sins. Salvation is a free gift from God, and it cannot be earned through our own efforts. Eternal life begins when we put our complete faith and trust in Jesus Christ – willfully submit our will to His.
Isaiah 1:18, 53:5-6, 55:7; Matthew 1:21, 27:22-66, 28:1-6; Luke 1:68-69, 2:28-32; John 1:2, 12, 3:16, 36, 14:6; 5:24; Acts 2:21, 4:12, 16:30-31; Romans 1:16-18, 3:23-25, 5:1, 8-10, 6:23, 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20, 3:13, 26; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 9:24-28; Revelation 3:20.
The Church is a local community of baptized believers unified through faith in Christ. It is not a building or conglomeration of programs – it is people! It is committed to the teachings of Christ and obeying all His commands, and it seeks to bring the Gospel to the world. The Church works together in love and unity, intent on the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ and expanding God’s Kingdom on earth (per the Great Commission mandate).
Jesus is co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. On earth, Jesus Christ was completely human but, at the same time, completely God. He is the only plan for bringing people who are far from God back into a right relationship with God. He was born of a virgin, lived a perfect, sinless human life, so that He could be a substitution for us in satisfying God’s demands for perfection. He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of ALL people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after 3 days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He defeated death in His resurrection so that we can have eternal life. He ascended into heaven and will return in the future to reign as King in power and glory.
Isaiah 7:14, 53, 9:6;
Matthew 1:18-25, 3:17, 8:29, 14:33, 16:16, 28:5-6;
Luke 1:27-35, 22:70, 24:46-47;
John 1:1-5, 14, 14:10-30, 10:30, 11:25-27, 17:1-5;
Acts 1:9-11, 2:22-24, 7:55-56;
Romans 1:3-4, 3:23-26, 8:1-3, 10:4;
1 Corinthians 8:6, 15:3-4;
2 Corinthians 5:19-21;
Galatians 4:4-5;
Philippians 2:5-11;
Colossians 1:15, 2:9;
Hebrews 4:14-15;
1 Timothy 2:5-6, 3:16, 6:14-15;
Titus 2:13
Full-emersion water baptism is symbolic of the death, burial, and resurrection Of Christ. Once we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, water baptism is the way for us to publicly declare our new life in Christ. It is the first step of obedience based on God’s commands, and it enables us to follow the example of Jesus, who submitted Himself to water baptism to “fulfill all righteousness.”
The Lord’s Supper, consisting of the bread and fruit of the vine, is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ, a memorial of his suffering and death, and a prophecy of His second coming. All Believers are instructed to regularly share in the communion remembrance “until Jesus returns.”
When persons accept Christ, the Holy Spirit begins a great work in their lives. The Spirit convicts them of sin, convinces them of righteousness, and dwells within them. No one becomes a Christian without this gracious work of the Holy Spirit. However, there is an additional and distinct ministry of the Holy Spirit called the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The Baptism is an empowering gift from God the Father that is promised to every believer. It helps the Christian to live a holy life and also brings a new devotional attachment to Jesus Christ, making Him very real and precious. The primary purpose of the Baptism is to give greater power for witnessing. Other benefits include a greater joy in spiritual service and a heightened sense of one’s mission to the world. Although the Bible does not say the baptism in the Spirit is required for salvation, it does tell us that Christ commanded His first followers to wait for the Holy Spirit to come upon them. The Bible commands us to “be filled with the Spirit”. This personal encounter with the Holy Spirit should be sought and cherished by every believer. With it comes a new and fuller dimension of spiritual understanding and a flow of spiritual gifts.