WHAT WE BELIEVE

We seek to grow in our understanding of who we believe God has revealed Himself to be. Our doctrine is the expressed beliefs our community accepts as authoritative to determine our practice.

The Bible	The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament Scriptures alone constitute the verbally inspired Word of God. It is utterly authoritative and without error in its original writings, complete in its revelation of God’s will for salvation, sufficient for all that God requires us to believe and do, and final in its authority over every domain of knowledge to which it speaks.
The Trinity	There is one God existing in three distinct Persons–the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit–co-equal and co-eternal. He is the Creator of all things, visible and invisible.
Humanity	All humanity is created in the image of God and possess intrinsic dignity and worth. Through Adam’s sin, humans fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God. Humanity is totally depraved and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition.
Salvation	Salvation is the gift of God brought to humankind by grace alone and received by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone, whose precious blood was shed on the cross for the forgiveness of sins.
Jesus	Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified, arose bodily from the dead, and ascended into heaven. Jesus acted as our representative and substitute, bearing the full penalty of our sins and reconciling to God all those who believe.
Holy Spirit	The Holy Spirit is present with and in God’s people. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and he regenerates spiritually dead sinners, baptizing them into the body of Christ and sealing them until the day of redemption. He comforts us in our pain, counsels us in our trials, and guides us to live in all truth.
The Church	The church is the body of Christ sent into the world to shine forth the glory of God. God gives spiritual gifts to those in the church for the building up of the body. We recognize baptism and the Lord’s Supper as scriptural means of testimony for the church.
Christ’s Return	Jesus will return, bodily and visibly, to judge all humankind and to consummate his kingdom.