What we believe
We believe humanity was made in the image of God and is the crown of creation. Human beings are now, by reason of the fall, spiritually depraved and alienated from their Creator. Apart from God’s grace, we have no ability to attain our high calling.
The heart of the Christian gospel is that God forgives everyone who asks Him for forgiveness. Indeed, God not only forgives us, He justifies us by His grace, which means God treats us as though we were not guilty.
We believe all God’s people are called to be buried with our Lord Jesus Christ in the waters of baptism and raised to walk in newness of life.
The nature of God is far beyond human comprehension. We are not likely to ever learn how to fully describe God. However, as Peter’s sermon at Pentecost makes clear, “This Jesus, being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, has shed forth this which you both see and hear” (Acts 2:33). We believe in one God who exists in three personae: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe our Lord Jesus Christ was begotten, not created, very God of very God, truly God, truly Man. He was born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, died a vicarious and atoning death for the sins of the world, resurrected bodily for our justification, and now reigns in glory until all things be put under His feet.
We believe the Holy Spirit indwells all believers, conforming them to the image of Jesus Christ.
We believe baptism in the Holy Spirit is an endowment of power, given by God to anoint the believer for sanctification and evangelism. According to Scripture, the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit are active within the body of Christ until the coming of the Lord.
We believe in the Holy Christian Church, imperfectly represented on earth by the various Christian institutions. Her unity is spiritual, her culture diverse and transitional, and her mission eternal.
We believe in the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, which were given by the Holy Spirit through the agency of human writers and were subsequently gathered and established as canon by the early Christian Church. We believe the Church has no authority to enforce any doctrine or practice contrary to these Scriptures.
We believe that the calling of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher are functional within the Body of Christ until the Lord’s return. Furthermore, these ministries are gifts to the Church for the purpose of equipping the saints for the work of ministry, that the Body of Christ be edified.
We believe the identity of the Body of Christ on earth is primarily perceived through the local church. While encouraging the voluntary association of local churches and recognizing the need of consensus on matters of fundamental doctrine and conduct, we view the local church as a sovereign entity in all matters relating to the management of its material resources and the exercise of its local polity.
We believe that all people born of God have equal status before and direct access to our Lord.
We believe in the spiritual unity of all who are born of God. We confess even those with whom we disagree, those who do not confess us, and others whom we exclude because of our unwillful ignorance.
We believe that those who are called by the name of Christ should depart from iniquity. Understanding that salvation from the penalty of sin only begins the process of redemption, we acknowledge the work of the Holy Spirit to create in us the character of Christ.
We believe in the literal second coming of our Lord, the literal rule of Christ upon the earth, the resurrection of the regenerate to eternal life and the unregenerate to eternal damnation, and the ultimate victory of the eternal Kingdom of God.