LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE, MAKE DISCIPLES

    We believe God reveals Himself to humanity, who could not otherwise know Him apart from His self-disclosure (Matt. 16:17; Gal. 1:11–12). He does so through general revelation, seen in creation and conscience (Ps. 19:1; Rom. 1:18–20), and special revelation, given through Scripture, mighty acts, and ultimately in Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 3:16–17; Heb. 1:1–3). General revelation reveals God as Creator and moral Lawgiver. General revelation itself, however, is not sufficient to bring someone to salvation. Special revelation reveals God’s redemptive plan in Christ so that one may understand and know how to be made right with God.

   We believe the Bible, consisting of 66 books, is verbally inspired by the Holy Spirit and is the authoritative Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16–17; 2 Pet. 1:20–21). It is inerrant in the original manuscripts, sufficient for salvation and godly living, and clear in its essential message and therefore to be believed and obeyed (Ps. 19:7–11; John 17:17). Scripture is illumined by the Holy Spirit for believers (1 Cor. 2:14). The canon is closed and recognized by the Church as God’s completed revelation (Rev. 22:18–19).

   We believe God eternally exists as one essence and three distinct persons - God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit - equal in essence yet distinct in role (Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14). He possesses incommunicable attributes such as eternality, immutability, omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence (Mal. 3:6; Ps. 139:7–10), and communicable attributes such as love, holiness, justice, and truth (1 John 4:8; Isa. 6:3). God is Creator and Sustainer of all things (Gen. 1:1; Col. 1:16–17). He sovereignly governs history and redemption for His glory and the good of His people (Isa. 46:10; Rom. 8:28).

   We believe Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, the second person of the Trinity who took on human flesh through the virgin birth (John 1:1, 14; Phil. 2:6–7; Matt. 1:18). He lived a sinless life, died as a substitutionary atonement for sin, and rose bodily from the grave (2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 6:9–10). He ascended to the Father’s right hand where He now reigns (Heb. 1:3). He will return to judge and to consummate His kingdom (Heb. 9:28; Rev. 22:12).

   We believe the Holy Spirit is fully God and active in creation, revelation, and redemption (Gen. 1:2; Acts 1:8). He regenerates, indwells, seals, and sanctifies believers (Titus 3:5; Eph. 1:13–14; Rom. 8:29). The Spirit empowers the Church for witness and service and distributes spiritual gifts for edification (1 Cor. 12:4–11).

   We believe humanity, created male and female in God’s image, reflects His character and possesses inherent dignity (Gen. 1:26–27). Humans were created as body and soul and given dominion over creation (Gen. 2:7; Ps. 8:5–6). Though equal in worth, men and women have distinct roles within God’s created order (Eph. 5:22–33; 1 Tim. 2:12–13). Adam and Eve were created to complement one another in a one-flesh covenant union of marriage (Gen. 2:24). This covenant establishes God’s ordained design for marriage and reflects Christ’s relationship with His Church (Eph. 5:32).

   We believe sin entered creation through Adam and Eve’s disobedience, bringing corruption and death to all humanity (Gen. 3; Rom. 5:12). Sin affects every aspect of human nature, rendering people unable to justify themselves before God (Rom. 3:23; Isa. 64:6). All stand guilty under God’s righteous judgment (Eph. 2:3). Redemption from sin is possible only through Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Eph. 1:7).

   We believe salvation is God’s gracious deliverance from sin through the atoning work of Christ, applied by the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:12; Titus 3:5). Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (Rom. 5:1, Eph. 2:8-9). Those who put their faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ and receive the Lord Jesus Christ through faith are declared righteous by God and become children of God (Heb. 10:19-25). The Holy Spirit imparts a new nature to which a believer becomes a new creation in Christ in which the dominion of sin is broken and the desire to serve God is given. (2 Cor. 5:17, Gal. 2:20). True believers are sealed by the Spirit, sanctified by the Spirit’s work, and will persevere to the end (John 10:28–29; Rom. 8:38–39; 15:16).

   We believe the Church is the body of Christ sent into the world as witnesses to the glory of God. The universal Church consists of all believers united to Christ as His body (Eph. 1:22–23; 1 Cor. 12:13). The local church gathers for preaching, sacraments, discipline, discipleship, and mission (Acts 2:42; Matt. 28:18–20). Christ rules His Church through biblically qualified elders (1 Tim. 3:1–13). Baptism and Communion are ordinances for believers that visibly proclaim the gospel (Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 11:23–26). Water baptism is only for those who have genuinely put their trust and faith in Christ. Water baptism symbolizes a person’s union with Christ in the likeness of his death and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-4). Communion is for genuine followers of Christ. This ordinance symbolizes the breaking of Christ’s body and the shedding of His blood on our behalf (1 Cor. 11:17-34).

   We believe in Jesus Christ’s imminent return in which He will judge the living and the dead (Jas. 5:8; 2 Tim. 4:1). Jesus will return to consummate the Kingdom of God (1 Cor. 15:24-28). He will raise the dead and judge the just and the unjust. He will establish the new heavens and the new earth (2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21:1-4). Satan, his fallen angels, and all those who reject Christ will be permanently separated from God enduring eternal punishment (Rev. 20:7-15). Those found in Christ will be given glorified bodies and will live and reign with Christ forever (Phil. 3:21; Rev. 22:3-5).