Our Beliefs

We believe the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments to be the full, plenary (inspired equally in all parts), record of God’s self-disclosure to humankind. Different men, while writing according to their own styles and personalities, were supernaturally moved along by the Holy Spirit to record God’s very words, inerrant in the original writings (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21, John 16:12-13). Scripture, and not man, is fully trustworthy as our final and sufficient authority for all of life. (1 Thess. 2:13, John 10:35, Matt 5:18).

We believe in the one living and true God (Gen 1:1, Deut. 6:4), eternally (Deut. 33:27, Rev 1:4, Psalm 90:2) existing in perfect unity as three equally and fully divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20, Matt 3:16-17). Each member of the Godhead, while executing distinct but complementary roles (John 16:13-14, 1 Cor 15:27-28) in redemptive history, has precisely the same nature, holiness, attributes, and being, and is equally worthy of the same glory and honor and obedience (John 1:1-4; Acts 5:3-4, Rom 9:5, Isaiah 6:3).

We believe God the Father, the first person of the trinity, orders and disposes all things according to his own purpose and grace for the ultimate aim of His glory, according to His sovereign will (Rev 4:11, Rom 11:36, Isaiah 43:7, Isaiah 48:11). God the Father created all things through His Son, Jesus Christ, and through His Holy Spirit (Gen 1:1-2:4, John 1:3, Col 1:16). He upholds all things by the Word of His power and grace, exercising sovereign and free headship over all creation, providence, and redemption (Psalm 115:3, Psalm 103:19, Psalm 145:8-13).

We believe that Jesus Christ, the second person in the trinity, the eternal Son, took on human flesh (John 1:1, 14, 18, Phil 2:5-11). Conceived through the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:31-35). He, being fully God and fully man (Phil 2:5-11, John 14:8-9), lived a sinless life (Heb 4:15) and sacrificially, voluntarily and substitutionally (John 10:15-18, 1 Peter 2:24, 2 Corinthians 5:21) shed His blood and died on the cross in our place accomplishing redemption for all who place their faith in Him (Rom 3:24-26). He arose visibly and bodily from the dead three days later and ascended into heaven (Luke 24:1-7, Acts 1:9-11), where, at the Father’s right hand (Col 3:1), He is now Head of His Body the Church (Eph 4:15, Col 1:18), the only Savior and Mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 3:16), and will return to earth in power and glory to consummate His redemptive mission (Rev 19:11-16, 1 Thess. 2:13, Titus 2:13).

We believe that the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity (John 4:24, John 14:16-17), in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ during this age (John 16:14). He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). He draws the unredeemed to repentance and faith (Acts 10:44-47), and at salvation imparts new spiritual life to the believer (1 Corinthians 6:11), bringing that person into union with Christ and the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). The Holy Spirit sanctifies, equips, and bestows spiritual gifts to the believer for Christ-like living and service (John 13:15; Titus 3:5; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:11-12; Romans 8:9-17; 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 12:4-5, 11-13,; Galatians 5:25; Hebrews 2:1-4; 1 Peter 4:9-11).

We believe that God created humankind—male and female—in His own image and likeness, free of sin, given charge over His creation, to glorify Himself and enjoy His fellowship (Gen 1:26-28, Psalm 16:11). Tempted by Satan, but in the sovereign plan of God, man freely chose to disobey God, bringing sin, death, and condemnation to all humankind (Romans 5:12). All human beings, therefore, are totally depraved by nature and by choice (Eph 2:1-3). Alienated from God without defense or excuse and subject to God’s righteous wrath, all of humankind is in desperate need of the Savior (Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 3:10-19; Romans 1:18, 32).

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures (1 Cor 15:1-3), as the substitutionary, once for all, atonement in our place (Heb 9:11-12, 2 Cor 5:21), and that salvation is found in none other than Jesus Christ (Act 4:12). Jesus Christ’s death on the cross was the sole and complete payment for sins (Heb 10:10,14), fully satisfying God’s righteous wrath, for each person that turns from sin in repentance and places their faith in Christ alone by grace alone (Rom 3:23-26). At salvation, each person is made a new creation by the Holy Spirit (John 3:3,7), justified (declared righteous before God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Rom 4:25), and secured as an adopted child of God forever (Gal 4:1-7, Romans 8:37-39). Genuine faith continues in obedience and love for Jesus Christ with a life eager to glorify God and persevere to the end.

We believe that upon placing one’s faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, the believer is made part of the Body of Christ, the one universal Church, of which Jesus Christ is the Head (1 Cor. 12:12-13; Eph. 1:22; Col. 1:18). The Scriptures command believers to gather locally in order to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, fellowship, the ordinances of baptism and communion, and outreach to the world to make disciples (Ephesians 1:22-23; Acts 2:42-46; Eph. 4:11-13; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Matthew 28:18-20; Heb. 10:24-25). A church’s members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ (Rom. 12:3- 13; Ephesians 4:16).

We believe that Christian baptism is a public declaration of the believer’s salvation in Christ, identifying with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection symbolized by immersion in water. The Lord’s Supper is the united commemoration by believers of Christ’s death until He comes and should be preceded by a careful self- examination (Acts 2:41; Romans 6:3-6; 1 Corinthians 11:20-29).

We believe it is the aim, duty, and privilege of every believer and local church fellowship to glorify God by responding as active participants in the Great Commission call of Jesus Christ to go and make disciples of all nations. We believe the primary focus and priority of this call is centered on efforts that establish, strengthen, and reproduce biblically based churches, which will then plant churches that plant churches for future generations and God’s glory (Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 15:20).

We believe in and expectantly await the glorious, visible, personal, premillennial return of the Lord Jesus Christ. The blessed hope of His return has vital bearing on the personal life, service, and mission of the believer (Titus 2:13; Rev 20:1-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost (Dan 12:2-3; John 5:28-29; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54). The lost will be raised to judgment and experience eternal wrath in hell (Rev 20:11-15). The saved will be raised to eternal joy in the new heaven and new earth in the manifested presence of God (Acts 1:3,9; Rev 21-22).

We believe in the autonomy of the local church — each church is to be led by an Eldership (Pastoral) team with a Lead Elder (Lead Pastor) the first among equals (Acts 14:27; 20:17; 1 Tim. 3:1-3; Titus 1:5-11). Biblically, the church is not to function autocratically nor as a democracy, but rather it is to be led by God with appointed elders who spiritually govern and guide the church with the Word of God. The elders, however, do not lead the church in total isolation but are supported by appointed deacons and the members of the church. The deacons are specifically chosen to serve in key areas of practical ministry. The members also fulfill an important function in the church by using their gifts to serve and edify the body. Together they (elders, deacons and members) are called by God to sacrificially serve and support the mission of the Lord, to make disciples of Jesus Christ. When it comes to major decision-making that affects the church's direction or doctrine, the elders are encouraged to seek wisdom and confirmation from the Lord.

The Elders' (Pastors’) primary role is to provide leadership in the following three areas of church life: Shepherd, Serve and Strengthen.
1. Shepherd - Preach the Word! The pastor’s first responsibility is to preach and teach the Word of God (2 Tim 4:2). A shepherd simply cannot be faithful to his task if he doesn’t feed the sheep. Programs and personalities are dispensable but without good food, sheep die. The pastor is called by God to labor in the Word and in prayer, so that the church may be equipped and established in their faith. (1 Tim 3:2, Acts 6:2-4)
2. Serve - Point to Jesus! In addition to being fed a healthy diet, sheep need to be led (Ps. 23). Pastors are to provide leadership in word and in deed – by communicating vision and by setting the example so that the congregation can joyfully follow (1 Pet 5:1-5). In doing this, the goal of pastoral ministry is to serve in a way that always points people to dependence on Jesus.
3. Strengthen - Protect the Church! A faithful shepherd is also always on the watch against predators who seek to harm the sheep (Jn.10:12-15). Most of these dangers will come from outside the church, in the form of ‘teachers’ who twist the truth (Acts 20:28-31). However, there may be those inside the church who promote unbiblical doctrines and ungodly lifestyles. Therefore, to protect the church against these errors, the elders may need to wisely and lovingly persuade, rebuke, correct and if necessary, apply church discipline to the offender or offensive situation, all to bring about repentance and restoration. (Mat. 18:15-17, 2 Thes. 3:6-15, Tit. 3:9-11). (E.g. suspend membership, prohibit communion, restrict fellowship, and insist on accountability.)