The Bible

The Holy Scriptures in their entirety are the inspired, infallible, written Word of God. They alone contain the will of God as far as it is necessary for us to know it for our salvation, so that whatever is not contained in it, nor can be proved by it, shall not be held as an article of faith or as a doctrine essential for salvation.  By the Holy Scriptures we mean the 66 canonical books of the Old and New Testament.

In both the Old and New Testament we find the story of God’s redemptive work, as through His grace He offers everlasting life to mankind through Jesus Christ.  The whole of scripture is relevant and applicable to the believer’s life.  Even though Christians are not bound by the ceremonies and rites of the Old Testament they are nevertheless not exempt from keeping the moral laws of God taught there.

(II Timothy 3:15-17, II Peter 1:19-21, Galatians 1:8-9, Revelation 22:18-19, Proverbs 30:5-6, Mathew 22: 37-40)

God

The Bible declares that there is only one true and living God, an eternal being without a body, ever-present, all-knowing and all-powerful.  He is the Creator and Preserver of all things visible and invisible.  He rules with gracious regard for the well-being and salvation of all people, to the glory of His name.  God exists in a Trinity of one substance and power, without beginning or end, and relates to His creation as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

(Genesis 1:1, Exodus 3:14, Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:19, John 8:58, II Corinthians 13:14, I Timothy 1:17)

Jesus

The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is truly God and truly man, in whom the divine and human natures are perfectly and inseparably united.  He is the eternal Word made flesh, the only begotten Son of the Father who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. As a ministering servant, He lived, suffered and died on the cross.

He was buried, rose from the dead and ascended bodily into heaven to be with the Father, from whence He will return.  He is the eternal Savior and Mediator, who intercedes for us, and by Him all men will be judged.  Scriptures teach that Christ will return to the earth and will cause the fulfillment of all prophecies concerning His final and complete triumph over evil.

(Matthew 1:21-23, John 1:1-3,14, Acts 7:56, 17:3, Colossians 2:9, I Thessalonians 4:14-18, Titus 2:13, Hebrews 9:27-28)

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit proceeds from and is one with the Father and the Son.  He convicts the world of sin, of righteousness and judgment. He leads men, through faithful response to the gospel, into the fellowship of the church.  He comforts, sustains, empowers and purifies believers, and guides them into all truth.  The Holy Spirit cultivates those qualities of character in us that reflect the image of Christ.  Through the Holy Spirit’s presence we are able to deny our self-centered nature, love God will all our hearts and pursue holiness.

(John 14:16-17, 15:26-27, 16:13-15, Acts 15:9, Galatians 5:16-25, Romans 8:9-11,  I Thessalonians 4:7-8, II Timothy 1:14)

The Human Condition

The scriptures teach that through the sin of Adam all of mankind is fallen from original righteousness and apart from the grace of God in Jesus Christ, is not only entirely destitute of righteousness but is inclined to evil, and except a person be born again, they cannot see the Kingdom of God.  Man in his own strength, without divine grace, cannot do good works pleasing and acceptable to God and cannot earn salvation.

We believe that man has free will and that he is responsible for his eternal destiny by the choices he makes.  Man influenced and empowered by the Holy Spirit and due to the grace of God is enabled to respond to God’s offer of salvation and use his will for good and to the glory of God.

God was in Christ drawing the world back to Himself.  The offering of Christ freely made on the cross through the shedding of His blood is the perfect and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the world. We are never accounted righteous before God through our works or merit, but those who truly repent of their sins and put their faith in Jesus Christ are forgiven and justified – counted righteous before God through faith. Salvation brings spiritual renewal – a new birth into a new life.  By this new birth the believer becomes a child of God, receives the Holy Spirit, and is made an heir to the Kingdom of Heaven.

(Romans 3:9-12, 23, 5:12-21, John 3:3-7,16-17, Acts 4:12 Ephesians 2:1-9, Titus 2:11)

Eternal Destiny

The Bible teaches that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. All men stand under the righteous judgment of God, both now and in that day.  The scriptures also teach an eternal state of rewards in which the righteous live in endless life in heaven and the wicked in endless punishment in hell.

(Matthew 25:31-46, John 5:21-27, 11:25, II Corinthians 5:10, Revelation 20:11-15) 

The Church

The Church is the community of (born again) believers under the Lordship of Christ.  It is a fellowship of the redeemed, who being many members are part of one Body.  Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit the Church exists for worship, the edification of believers and the redemption of the world.

(Acts 2:41-47, Romans 12:4-8, I Corinthians 12:12-27, Ephesians 4:4-6)