The following statement summarizes the essential doctrines we affirm and proclaim to the glory of God.
- We believe that the Holy Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word of God, given by divine revelation and preserved by His providence. It is the final authority in all matters of faith and life, being profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Matthew 5:18; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Psalm 19:7-11).
- We believe in one true and living God, who is eternal, infinite, unchanging, and sovereign over all things. He exists in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each of whom is fully God, equal in power and glory, and of one divine essence. From all eternity, God has declared the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.” He works all things according to the counsel of His will, for His glory and the good of His people (Deuteronomy 6:4; Malachi 3:6; 1 Timothy 1:17; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; John 10:30; Ephesians 1:11; Romans 8:28; Isaiah 46:9-10).
- We believe that God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them by the power of His Word in six literal days, each consisting of evening and morning, and that He saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. The creation of mankind was the pinnacle of His creative work, as God made man in His own image, male and female He created them, endowing them with dignity, reason, and an immortal soul. Jesus confirmed this when He said, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female’?” God instituted marriage as a sacred covenant between one man and one woman, ordained for companionship, procreation, and as a reflection of Christ’s relationship with His Church (Genesis 1:1-31; Exodus 20:11; Hebrews 11:3; Genesis 1:26-27; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Matthew 19:4-6; Genesis 2:24; Ephesians 5:22-33).
- We believe that Adam, as the federal head of humanity, was created righteous and in covenant with God, yet through his disobedience, he transgressed God’s command and fell into sin. By his fall, all his descendants are imputed with guilt, inherit a corrupt nature, and are alienated from God, being wholly incapable of saving themselves (Genesis 2:16-17; Genesis 3:1-19; Romans 5:12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22; Ephesians 2:1-3).
- We believe that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, took upon Himself true human nature, being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, yet without sin. He is fully God and fully man, the only Mediator between God and men. He lived a perfect life in obedience to the law, suffered and died on the cross as a substitutionary atonement for the sins of His people, was buried, and rose again bodily on the third day for our justification. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, from where He shall return to judge the living and the dead (John 1:1, 14; Matthew 1:18-23; Hebrews 4:15; Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 4:25; Acts 1:9-11; Hebrews 1:3; Revelation 20:11-15).
- We believe that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone. Those whom God has elected from eternity are effectually called by the Holy Spirit, regenerated, granted the gift of faith and repentance, and justified by the imputed righteousness of Christ. Having been adopted into God’s family, they are sanctified by the Spirit and preserved so that they will never finally fall away but will persevere to the end (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:28; John 6:37, 44; Titus 3:5; Romans 8:29-30; Philippians 1:6; John 10:27-29).
- We believe that the Church, which consists of all true believers in every age, is the body of Christ, with Christ alone as its Head. The visible Church is composed of congregations where the Word is rightly preached, the sacraments are rightly administered, and discipline is faithfully exercised (Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18; Acts 2:42; Matthew 18:15-17).
- We believe that the two sacraments instituted by Christ for the Church are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which are signs and seals of the Covenant of Grace. Baptism signifies union with Christ, cleansing from sin, and initiation into the visible Church. We acknowledge the differing convictions regarding paedobaptism (infant baptism) and credobaptism (believer’s baptism) and extend grace toward those who hold either view. The Lord’s Supper is a means of grace in which believers partake of the bread and wine as a spiritual communion with Christ, who is truly present to nourish their faith, though not in a corporeal manner (Romans 4:11; Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:3-4; Acts 2:38-39; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
- We believe that the moral law of God, as summarized in the Ten Commandments, remains a guide for Christian life, not as a means of salvation but as the standard of righteousness to which believers are called. The Lord’s Day, the first day of the week, is to be observed as a day of rest and worship, commemorating the resurrection of Christ (Exodus 20:1-17; Matthew 5:17-19; 1 John 5:3; Genesis 2:3; Exodus 20:8-11; Acts 20:7; Revelation 1:10).
- We believe that marriage is an exclusive covenant between one man and one woman for life. Divorce is permitted only in cases of adultery or willful desertion by an unbelieving spouse, yet it is never to be pursued lightly. Those who divorce for reasons other than those sanctioned by Scripture and remarry commit adultery (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5-6; Matthew 5:31-32; 1 Corinthians 7:12-15; Mark 10:11-12).
- We believe that the Church is commanded to fulfill the Great Commission by making disciples of all nations, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey all that Christ has commanded. The Church must also demonstrate Christ’s love through acts of mercy, caring for the poor, the widowed, and the orphaned (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Romans 10:14-15; James 1:27; Proverbs 14:31; Galatians 6:10).
- We believe that civil government is ordained by God for the maintenance of justice and order. Christians are to honor and obey lawful authorities unless they require disobedience to God’s commands, as ultimate allegiance belongs to Christ (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17; Acts 5:29).
- We reject modern errors of ecumenism that seek unity at the expense of doctrinal truth. We also reject the errors of liberal theology, the prosperity gospel, feminism in the Church, and unbiblical social ideologies (2 Corinthians 6:14-17; Jude 3; 2 Timothy 4:3-4; Galatians 1:6-9).
- We believe that Jesus Christ will return bodily and visibly at the end of the age to judge the world in righteousness. The wicked will be cast into eternal punishment, and the righteous will dwell with God in the new heavens and the new earth, enjoying Him forever (Matthew 25:31-46; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21:1-4).
We uphold these truths with unwavering conviction, seeking to glorify God in all that we believe, teach, and practice (1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17).