Our Beliefs

The Scripture

The Bible is the revelation of God, written by men inspired by the Holy Spirit. God is its ultimate author, and human authors, the prophets, were His instruments. The Bible tells the story of God’s redemptive history for humanity, with Jesus Christ and His cross at the very center. It is the infallible Word of God and serves as the standard and authority for all believers to know God and discern His will.

God

God is one God. He exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God is eternal and holy. He is the Creator and the Redeemer of the world.

  • God the Father is the Father of all creation and the One who reigns over the world. By His perfect love and wisdom, the world exists and is sustained.

  • God the Son, Jesus Christ, is eternal and fully God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, taking on human flesh. He died on the cross to save humanity and rose again on the third day. He ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of the Father, interceding for all who believe in Him. One day, He will return to bring believers to the Father and to judge those who do not believe.

  • God the Holy Spirit is the holy Spirit of God, who reveals and fulfills the will of God. Through the Holy Spirit, people experience God’s grace, come to faith in Jesus Christ, bear the fruit that pleases God, and receive salvation. He helps, comforts, and intercedes for us, forming within us the likeness of Jesus Christ.

man

Human beings are special creations made in the image of God, created as male and female. They were given the mission to rule over and cultivate God’s creation in fruitfulness. In the beginning, humans were without sin, but through the free will God had given them and the temptation of Satan, Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, committing sin and falling under eternal judgment. Since then, humanity has become incapable of knowing or believing in God on its own. Yet, through the grace of Jesus Christ, people can be freed from sin and judgment by faith, and through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, they are enabled to live according to the will of God.

salvation

Salvation is the gift of God. It is the way opened through Jesus Christ for those who have turned away from God’s will and are heading toward judgment and eternal destruction to return to the Father. The heart of salvation is the restoration of a relationship with God the Father, so that one may dwell and live in His presence. Salvation consists of four stages: regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification.

  • Regeneration means being born anew in the Holy Spirit—dying with Christ and being raised with Him—so that one will not face the second death, that is, judgment, but will live eternally with God.

  • Justification means that those who believe in Jesus Christ are clothed with His righteousness and can come boldly before God.

  • Sanctification refers to the work of the Holy Spirit dwelling within believers, enabling them to live according to God’s will and to be conformed to His image.

  • Glorification is the completion of salvation—the blessed state in which believers can no longer sin and give perfect glory to God forever.

the church

The Church is the gathering of believers who are the body of Jesus Christ—a local, independent community of baptized disciples. The Church is the pillar of truth and exists as the instrument through which the gospel of the Kingdom of God is proclaimed and His Kingdom is advanced. The Church experiences and enjoys the Kingdom of God through fellowship that reflects the unity of the Triune God—loving, serving, and supporting one another in the gospel.

  • The Church observes two ordinances: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These are commands given by Jesus that all churches are to keep until He returns. They serve as the primary means through which believers remember what Christ has done for them and share in His grace within the community of faith.

  • There are two offices within the Church: elders and deacons. Elders—also referred to as pastors or overseers—are recognized leaders who possess the gift of teaching and bear the responsibility to lead, protect, and nurture God’s church. Deacons serve by carrying out the ministries of the church and meeting the needs of the congregation.

baptism and the lord’s supper

Baptism is a public confession of faith that signifies becoming part of the family of God. It is performed in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, symbolizing that through faith the believer has died and been raised with Jesus Christ.

The Lord’s Supper signifies participation in eternal life through partaking of the body and blood of Jesus. It also symbolizes the future hope of sitting at the table with the Lord when He returns.