What We Believe [Doctrinal Statement ] PDF Print E-mail

 

When asked, “What are your beliefs?” we always start with the right source: God’s Word. We believe that the Bible is God’s Word and is to be interpreted by the literal method, where the rules of grammar, literature, history and culture are consistently applied. In this way, we can accurately understand the author’s meaning and properly apply the Bible’s principles.

We have 7 basic areas of belief:

 

1.    The Bible

 

We believe… the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men and the Divine and final authority for Christian faith and life.

 

2.    God

 

Trinity: We believe… one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

 

Person of Christ: We believe… that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He died on the cross, a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Further, He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He is now our High Priest and Advocate.

 

Holy Spirit: We believe… that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and, during this age, to convict men, regenerate the believing sinner, and indwell, guide, instruct and empower the believer for godly living and service.

 

3.    Man

 

We believe… that man was created in the image of God but fell into sin and is, therefore, lost, and only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life be obtained.

 

4.    Salvation

 

We believe… that the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His Resurrection provide the only ground for justification and salvation for all who believe, and only such as receive Jesus Christ are born of the Holy Spirit and, thus become children of God.

 

5.    Ordinances

 

We believe… that water baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances to be observed by the Church during the present age. They are, however, not to be regarded as means of salvation.

 

Baptism: Baptism is the essential “first step” for those who believe in Christ for salvation and desire to walk as His disciple. It is a clear injunction of the Bible which outwardly expresses the inward reality of new life in Christ.

 

Lord’s Supper: Communion is a memorial of Christ and His redemptive death. It is also an expression of our fellowship with one another.

 

6.    The Church

 

We believe… that the true Church is composed of all such persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the Body of Christ of which He is the Head. That only those who are, thus, members of the true Church shall be eligible for membership in the local church. That Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church and that every local church has the right, under Christ, to decide and govern its own affairs.

 

7.    The Future

 

We believe… in the personal and imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and that this "Blessed Hope" has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer. In the bodily resurrection of the dead; of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord; of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting conscious punishment.

 

Last Updated on Thursday, March 04 2010 15:56