SALVATION
We believe that Jesus came down to die on a cross to forgive us of our sins and arose from the grave, showing that death has been defeated. We believe that a person can only be relieved from sin by having a relationship with Jesus Christ. The salvation of man is wholly a work of God's free grace, not the result, in whole or in part, of human works in goodness, and must be personally appropriated by repentance and faith.
Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord."
Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us."
Romans 10:9 "That if you confess with your mouth that 'Jesus is Lord, ' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved."
Romans 10:13 "For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
BAPTISM
Jesus Christ left all believers the command and example to be baptized. It is a uniquely Christian ordinance and should be practiced by all who are followers of Christ. (Mark 3:13-16)
Acts 2:38 "Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins."
Acts 2:41 "Those who accepted his message were baptized and about three thousand were added to their number that day."
Acts 8:12 "But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women."
Acts 18:8 "Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord, and many of the Corinthians who heard believed and were baptized."
Christ commanded all believers to be baptized.
Matthew 28:19 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
Baptism is your public identification with Christ.
Romans 6:3 "Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the father, we too may live a new life."
Baptism is your identification with other believers worldwide.
I Corinthians 12:13 "For we were all baptized by one spirit into one body, whether Jews of Greeks, slave or free, and we were all give the one Spirit to drink."
COMMUNION
Jesus also directed his followers to participate together in the Lord's Supper as a remembrance of His suffering, death, and resurrection. (Luke 22:19-20)
GOD
There is but one true God, infinite in power, wisdom, justice, goodness and love, the Creator of the Universe, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He has since the beginning of time concerned himself mercifully in the affairs of men, he hears and answers prayers, and he saves from sin and death, granting eternal life to those who come to him through Jesus Christ.
JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate his power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven's glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily.
THE BIBLE
The Bible (the 66 books of the Old and New Testament) is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures are unique, the full and final authority on all matters of faith and practice, and there are no other writings similarly inspired by God.
MAN
God created man in his own image and, as originally created, was innocent before God. But man chose to sin by disobeying God and therefore was separated from and condemned by his Creator. Since then all human beings have been born with a sinful nature and without a spiritual life, and are totally incapable of pleasing God in and of themselves.
We want our core beliefs to be centered in Christ and his message as found in and supported by the clearest passages of scripture. Other doctrines or teachings with less support are left to individuals to sort out on their own. We take no official position in these areas.
