What We Believe

We believe that the Bible, which contains the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, is the very Word of God. He is its primary subject, and in it, he reveals his being, nature, character, will and purposes. The Bible, in each of its books, also reveals the nature, situation, requirements, and destiny of humankind (2 Tim 3.15–17; Rom 15.4; 1 Cor 10.11).

We believe that the entire Bible, both Old and New Testaments, contains no error whatsoever. This quality is true not only for the spiritual and ethical teachings therein but also in its transmission of historical facts (Pss 12.6; 119.89, 96; Prov 30.5; Matt 24.35). This does not mean the Bible does not make use of certain rhetorical features such as analogy or approximation. It does mean, however, that when Scripture intends to convey facts, it does so without error of any kind.

We believe that only one God has ever eternally existed and will continue to eternally exist (Pss 90.1–4; 102.25–27; Is. 40.28–31; John 5.26; Rev 4.10). He manifests himself to creation in three Persons — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Rom 8; Eph 1.3–14; 2 Thess 2.13–14; 1 Pet 1.2).

We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ was conceived supernaturally by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary (Matt 1.18–25). Jesus was a direct descendant of David (Matt 1.1–17;). The Gospels accurately describe the person of Jesus Christ including his teachings and miracles. He was crucified under Pontius Pilate (Mark 15.1–15). Three days later, God raised the very same body from the dead (Mark 16.1–8). Over the subsequent forty days, Jesus appeared bodily, to many including his disciples (Matt 28.9–20; Luke 24.1–49; John 20.10–31; 1 Cor 15.5–8). Following these appearances, Jesus ascended to heaven (Acts 1.9) and the Father placed him at his right hand in the highest of places above every power and dominion, every name of power, in both this present world and the one to come. All things are subject to him including his Church (Acts 2.34–35; Hebrews 1.13; 10.12; Matt 22.44; 1 Pet 3.22).

We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ, before his incarnation, existed in the full form of God and willingly laid aside his divine glory, taking on human form as a servant (Phil 2.5–11). Before the incarnation, he was with God and was God (John 1.1–14). Jesus possesses all of the qualities of God, and therefore should be worshipped as God by all of creation (Heb 1.6).

We believe that the incarnation of Jesus was complete. Through it, Jesus possessed all of the essential characteristics of Human nature (Matt 4.2, Luke 2.7, 40, 52; John 4.6).

We believe that in his death on the cross, Jesus Christ reconciled God to humankind appeasing the wrath of God against sinners as a perfect atonement for their sin. Jesus himself became a curse to save us from the curse of the law. The only sin Jesus became was ours and the only righteousness we have is his (Mark 10.45; Rom 1.17; 3.21–5.21; Gal 2.15–5.1; 1 Cor 15.45).

We believe that Jesus Christ will return to earth again. This return will be personal, corporeal, and visible to all of humankind. It is in this return that the believer hopes and through it God’s purposes of grace towards all humankind will be consummated (Matt 24.44; Mark 8.38; Acts 1.11; Col 3.4; 2 Tim 4.8; Heb 9.28).

We believe that the Holy Spirit, like the son, possesses all of the qualities of God and is God (Acts 5.3–4; 1 Cor 2.10–11; 3.16). As such, the Spirit is not an “it” but a “who” — the third person of the triune God. We believe that the Holy Spirit actually takes up residence inside the believer to enable him or her to live a powerful Christian life (Acts 1.4–5, 8; 1 Cor 12.13).

We believe that human beings were created in the image of God but all members of humankind fell with Adam in the garden (Gen 1-3). Until they accept Jesus as Lord and savior, all human beings are doomed, ignorant of the grace of God, alienated from God, hardened in their hearts, dead in their sins. They are utterly unable to see the kingdom of God or enter it until they are born again of the Holy Spirit (Acts 17.26; Rom 3.9, 19; 5.17, 21; 1.18–19).

We believe that the only way for human beings to be justified is on the grounds of the redeeming act of Jesus’ death on the cross (John 14.6). The single condition of salvation is faith alone in him who died on the cross and was raised three days later (Eph 2.1–10). We are born again through the renewing work of the Holy Spirit through the instrumentality of the Word of God found only in scripture.

We believe that it is impossible to do anything to earn or merit God’s priceless love; instead, forgiveness comes to us as a gift from God (Eph 2.8–9). We believe that everyone who submits to the lordship of Jesus Christ, confessing him before others receives eternal life, becomes a child of God and a fellow heir with Jesus Christ (Rom 6.23; Eph 1.3, 20; 2.6).

We believe that when believers die, their spirits go to be with Christ in conscious blessedness. When Christ returns the bodies of the believing dead will be raised and transformed to be like the body of His glory. (1 Cor 15.20–23; Phil 3.20–21).

We believe that all who persist in their rejection of Jesus Christ and the salvation found only in him shall be raised from death and be cast into eternal torment and anguish (Matt 8.12; 25.41–46; Jude 7, 13; Rev 20.11–15)

We believe that the Church consists of all those who, in this present dispensation, believe in Jesus and submit to his Lordship. They are the body of Christ, loved by him, and for whom he has given himself (Gal 3.29; Eph 2–3; 1 Pet 2.4–10).