"All Scripture is breathed out by God" — 2 Timothy 3:16
We believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God, inerrant in its original documents, and it is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice and without error in all that it affirms (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 4:2-4; 2 Peter 1:19-21).1
We believe that the heavens and the earth were created by the triune God out of nothing in six literal 24-hour days. Therefore, all things that exist had a beginning, except God Himself (Genesis 1:26; Exodus 20:11; Psalm 90:1-2; Colossians 1:16-17).
We believe there is one God, existing from eternity past to eternity future in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; Ephesians 4:4-6). God is sovereign over all things, and all things will be for His glory (Daniel 4:34-35; Romans 8:28; Ephesians 1:11; Colossians 1:17).
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ is truly God and truly human, born of a virgin and without sin. His substitutionary death was voluntary and was made for the forgiveness of every person who would ever believe. He rose bodily from the dead and ascended to His Father's right hand, where He now ministers as the believer's Great High Priest (Matthew 1:23-25; John 10:15; Acts 2:22-23; Romans 5:8; 1 Peter 2:24-25).
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Person, the third Person of the Godhead. He convicts the world of sin, and indwells, seals, and places into the body of Christ all believers at conversion (John 3:8; 14:16-17; 16:8; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:30).
We believe that Adam and Eve were created perfect in the image of God, but when Adam sinned, it brought both physical and spiritual death to all mankind. Therefore, man is totally depraved and is subject to the wrath of God (Genesis 1:26; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 1:18; 3:10-18, 23; 5:12-14, Ephesians 4:18).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins through the shedding of His blood on the cross. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone and not based on human merit. Only those who repent and trust Christ as their personal Saviour and Lord are born again and have eternal life (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9). We also believe that those who are truly born again have been elected by God and will persevere in their faith to the end (John 10:27-29; Acts 4:12; 13:48; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:1-2).
We believe that the church began on the Day of Pentecost and is the Bride of Christ (Acts 2:37-47; Ephesians 5:25-27). We also believe that all those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ become part of the church. The local church is the gathering of believers for worship, prayer, edification, and witness. Government and discipline are divinely given responsibilities to the local church, under the leadership of elders. The Lord Jesus Christ is the giver of spiritual gifts for ministry in the church, such as evangelists, pastors, teachers, etc. These gifts are given so that the believers may be equipped for His service and that the church may be built up (1 Corinthians 12:4-27; Ephesians 4:11-16; Hebrews 10:24-25).
We believe there are two Christian ordinances, believers' baptism and the Lord's Supper. Baptism signifies that the believer, having died with Christ, is buried with Him and is also risen with Christ to walk in the newness of life (Matthew 28:19-20; Colossians 2:12). The Lord Himself instituted the Lord's Supper, and in the observance of this supper, believers retell the message of the Lord's death until His return. We celebrate the breaking of bread each Lord's Day (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the just and the unjust. Those saved are eternally blessed in Heaven, while the lost experience everlasting, conscious, eternal punishment in Hell (Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:41).2
We believe that all people are accountable before God. The Christian will desire to live for God's glory by faithful stewardship, maturing in Christ, growing in grace, and reflecting God's light to the world (Matthew 5:13-16; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Romans 12:1-3; Ephesians 4:1-3; Colossians 1:9-10; 1 Peter 3:15; 2 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:3-6).
We believe that God created man and woman as male and female. God instituted marriage between a man and a woman as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society. For this reason, we believe that marriage is a life-long covenant and exclusively the union of one male and one female (Genesis 1:27; 2:24; Matthew 19:4-9; Romans 1:26-28; Ephesians 5:31).
We believe that God uniquely created male and female as complementary expressions of His image. Endowed with equal value in Christ, men and women have been similarly gifted by the Holy Spirit and yet assigned distinct roles within the church and the home. Scripture places upon men the responsibility of authority and leadership as husbands and fathers (Ephesians 5:22-33), and in the church, including the offices of elder and deacon (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9). Women have an invaluable ministry both within the home and in essential ministries within the local church (Proverbs 31:25-26; Titus 2:3-5). Humbly serving Christ and His church in these complementary ways, both men and women magnify the wisdom and glory of God.
We believe that life is a gift from God and that all life is precious from conception to natural death. Therefore, abortion, suicide, murder, and euthanasia oppose the desire of God. Since each person is made in the image of God, we grieve and oppose such practices (Deuteronomy 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:6; Psalm 139:13-18; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20).