DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
The Word of God
We believe in the verbal-plenary inspiration of the Scriptures in the original writings. The Bible, comprising 66 books, is the supreme and final authority in faith, life, and godliness. It is the inerrant and infallible Word of God [1]. It is sufficient and fully equips believers for all godly living and service [2]. The one true intended meaning, revealed by the Holy Spirit, is discerned through grammatical-historical exegesis within the community of faith [3].
[1] 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Matthew 5:18
[2] 2 Peter 1:3; Ps 19:7-11; Isaiah 40:8; Ephesians 4:11-16
[3] Luke 24:27, 44; 2 Peter 1:20-21; John 16:13; 1 Cor 2:10-13; Nehemiah 8:8; Acts 8:30-31; 2 Timothy 2:15
The Triune God
We believe in God, who is omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, immutable, creator and sustainer of all things, governing all by His perfect wisdom and providence [1]. The one God exists eternally in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—who are of one substance, power, and glory, each truly God, equal in divine perfection, yet distinct in their roles in creation, providence, and redemption [2].
[1] Deuteronomy 6:4; Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrew 1:3; Malachi 3:6; Romans 11:33; Psalm 147:5
[2] Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; John 1:1, 14, 18; John 10:30; John 14:9-11, 16-17; Ephesians 4:4-6
God The Father
We believe in God the Father who is spirit, infinite, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, justice, and love [1]. He sovereignly rules over creation, accomplishing His will in perfect righteousness [2]. His sovereignty neither eliminates nor minimizes our personal responsibility [3]. God the Father executes justice with holiness and wrath against sin, yet abounds in mercy and grace, granting salvation through Jesus Christ to all who believe [4].
[1] John 4:24; Psalm 119:137; Isaiah 6:1-7
[2] Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 32:4; Isaiah 45:7; Psalm 103:19; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrew 1:3; Daniel 4:35; Isaiah 46:9–10; Ephesians 1:11
[3] Romans 1:18; Philippians 2:12–13; Acts 2:23; Romans 9:19–21
[4] Romans 1:18; John 3:36; Psalm 116:5; Ephesians 2:4-7; John 3:16; Romans 5:8-11; Acts 11:18; Philippians 1:29; John 6:65; 2 Timothy 1:9
Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, fully God and fully man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin, Mary [1]. He lived a sinless life, died as a substitutionary atonement for sin [2], rose bodily from the dead [3], ascended to heaven [4], intercedes for believers, and will return visibly to reign in glory [5].
[1] John 1:1, 14; Luke 1:31-35; Colossians 2:9; Hebrew 1:3; Philippians 2:6–8
[2] 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 2:2; Isaiah 53:4-6; Romans 3:23-26; Hebrew 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22-24
[3] 1 Corinthians 15:3-5; Acts 2:22-36; Matthew 28:1-10; Romans 6:4-5
[4] Acts 1:9; John 20:17; Hebrew 4:14; Ephesians 1:20-23
[5] Hebbrew 7:25; Matthew 26:64; Acts 1:11; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 19:11-16; Revelation 1:7
Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit, fully God, and sent from the Father and the Son [1]. He convicts the world of sin, regenerates and sanctifies, indwells the believer at the moment of the new birth, sealing them for redemption, baptizing them into the body, and empowers them for holy living and service. He distributes spiritual gifts as He wills, conforms believers into Christ’s image, and commissions them for ministry and mission according to His sovereign will [2]. No gift signifies His baptism or filling, nor does any gift provide authoritative revelation beyond what has already been revealed in the Holy Scriptures [3]. Life in the Spirit includes trials and does not guarantee physical health, material wealth, nor confirming outward signs [4].
[1] John 15:26; Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19; 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 14:26
[2] John 16:8-11; Titus 3:5; Romans 8:9,29; 2 Corinthians 3:6,18; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Corinthians 12:7, 11,13; Acts 1:8, 13:2-4, 20:28; Ephesians 1:13-14;
[3] 1 Corinthians 12:13, 13:8-10; Hebrew 2:1-4; Ephesians 1:13-14; Hebrew 1:1-2
[4] 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Philippians 1:29; 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 4:12-14; John 16:33; Philippians 4:11-13
Humanity
We believe that God created humanity in His image, male and female, free from sin [1]. Through Adam’s fall, all people became sinners by nature and choice, spiritually separated from God, and unable to save themselves [2]. Sin is disobedience against God as defined in Scripture, not by human opinion or cultural norms [3]. Salvation comes through repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ, both made possible by God’s grace [4]. Human life is sacred and should be protected from conception to death [5].
[1] Genesis 1:26–27; Genesis 2:7, 18–25; Genesis 1:31; Ecclesiastes 7:29
[2] Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:21–22; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10–12, 23; John 6:44-45; 12:32 Romans 8:7–8; Revelation 20:14
[3] Isaiah 5:20; James 4:17; 1 John 3:4; Romans 7:7; Prov 14:12; Romans 1:18-32; Revelation 21:8; Galatians 5:19-21
[4] Acts 3:19, 20:21; Romans 3:21-26; Titus 3:3-7; Mark 1:!5; Luke 24:46-47; 2 Corinthians 7:10; Philippians 1:29; 2 Timothy 2:25
[5] Psalm 139:13-16; Matthew 19:4-5; Exodus 20:13; Genesis 9:6; Psalm 127:3
Family
We believe that marriage is a sacred lifelong covenant between a male and a female, and the only rightful context for sexual intimacy [1]. Gender is divinely assigned and corresponds to biological sex [2]. The father is the head of the family and is ordained by God to lead, especially in matters of spiritual nurture and direction. Husbands should love their wives, and wives should submit to their husbands. Parents should raise their children in the Lord, and children should honor their parents [3]. Solo parents and their children are considered a family unit[4].
[1] Genesis 2:24–25; Matthew 19:4–5; 1 Corinthians 7:1–9; Hebrew 13:4
[2] Genesis 1:26–27; Psalm 51:5; Psalm 139:13-14; Matthew 19:4
[3] Deuteronomy 6:6–7; Ephesians 6:1–4; Proverbs 22:6; Exodus 20:12; Colossians 3:20; Ephesians 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 11:3; Colossians 3:18-19
[4] James 1:27; Ps 127:1; Psalm 68:5
Salvation
We believe that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, apart from works [1]. It was purchased by Christ through His atoning death and is applied by the Holy Spirit [2]. True faith is accompanied by repentance and results in a transformed life [3]. Believers will rejoice eternally with God, while unbelievers face eternal destruction [4].
[1] Ephesians 2:8–10; Acts 4:12; Titus 3:5; Romans 3:21–22; Romans 4:4–5; Galatians 2:16
[2] Colossians 1:19–20; 1 John 2:1–2; Titus 3:5-6; Romans 8:1; Isaiah 53:4-6; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Corinthians 6:11
[3] Mark 1:15; Luke 24:46–47; Acts 20:21; Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Peter 3:9; Ephesians 2:8-10
[4] John 3:16; John 14:2-3; Revelation 21:3-4; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; John 3:36
Church
We believe that the Universal Church is the Body of Christ, composed of all regenerated believers, brought into union with Christ through the grace of the New Covenant [1]. The Universal Church is expressed in local assemblies devoted to worship, discipleship, fellowship, evangelism, and service [2]. As a denomination, we believe in the inter-dependence of autonomous local churches [3]. Christ commands the Church to observe believers’ baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper [4]. The Church submits to Christ’s authority and is to be led by biblically qualified male pastors and elders [5].
[1] 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Romans 12:4–5; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:4–5; Colossians 1:18; Hebrew 9:15; Luke 22:20
[2] Acts 2:42–47; Matthew 28:19–20; Hebrew 10:24–25; Ephesians 4:11-13; Galatians 6:10; Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Revelation 1:11
[3] Acts 11:27–30; Romans 15:25–27; 2 Corinthians 8:1–4; Colossians 4:16; Galatians 1:2; 1 Corinthians 16:1–3
[4] Matthew 28:19; Acts 8:36–39; Romans 6:3–4; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; Colossians 2:12
[5] 1 Timothy 2:12; 1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–7; 1 Peter 5:1–3
Church and State
We believe that each local church is free from control by any ecclesiastical or political authority [1]. God ordains human government for peace, order, and justice [2]. Believers are to submit to and honor governing authorities, yet they must obey God above human laws when they conflict [3]. Every person is accountable to God in matters of faith and should have the freedom to worship according to conscience, yet bound by Scripture [4].
[1] Matthew 22:15–22; John 18:36; Acts 4:19-20
[2] Romans 13:1–7; 1 Peter 2:13-14; Daniel 2:21
[3] Romans 13:1-2; Titus 3:1; Acts 5:29; Exodus 1:17; Daniel 3:16–18; Daniel 6:10
[4] Romans 14:12; Ezekiel 18:20; Galatians 6:5
Christian Living
We believe that believers are called to glorify God, to walk in a manner worthy of their calling in all areas of life, living blamelessly before the world [1]. They are to be faithful stewards of their time, talent, and treasures, and use them for God's purposes [2]. Believers must grow in spiritual maturity, stand firm in sound doctrine, and avoid false teaching [3].
[1] Matthew 5:16; Ephesians 4:1; Philippians 2:15; 1 Corinthians 10:31
[2] Proverb 3:9; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7; 1 Peter 4:10; Colossians 3:23-24
[3] Ephesians 4:14; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrew 5:14; 2 Peter 3:17-18; 1 John 2:22-24
Creation Care
We believe that God created the heavens and the earth, [1] and that all things were made through Jesus Christ and for Him.[2] While we look forward to the fulfillment of the promise of a new heaven and a new earth, [3] as His image-bearers, we are to care for His creation in the present as stewards. God mandated humanity to take dominion, cultivate, and protect His creation, that the earth might nourish human life according to His design.[4]
[1] Genesis 1:26-29; Psalm 24:1; 8:1-9; Psalm 104:24-25
[2] Colossians 1:16-17; John 1:3; Hebrew 1:2,10; Romans 11:36; 1 Corinthians 8:6
[3] Revelations 21:1-4; Isaiah 65:17; 66:2; 2 Peter 2:13
[4] Genesis 1:26-30; 2:15-16; 9:3; Romans 8:19-23; Psalm 8:6-8; James 3:7
Last Things
We believe in the future visible, glorious bodily return of Christ to judge the living and the dead and establish His kingdom [1]. Those who repented and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ will be resurrected to eternal life with God and receive their just rewards [2]. But the unrepentant and unbelieving will be raised and cast into the Lake of Fire for eternal conscious punishment [3]. We await the fulfillment of God’s promises and eternal plan in the new heavens and new earth [4].
[1] Luke 13:3; Luke 24:47; Acts 17:31; 2 Timothy 4:1; Matthew 24:30; Titus 2:13; 2 Peter 3:9
[2] Mark 1:15; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; Revelations 21:1–4; 2 Corinthians 5:10; John 5:28–29; Romans 2:6–7
[3] Revelation 20:14–15; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 14:10–11; 2 Thessalonians 1:9
[4] Daniel 12:2; Philippians 3:20–21; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 22:1–5