We believe the Bible, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, to be inspired by God,[i] the Holy Spirit,[ii] and is His personal errorless word[iii] in their original writing. As such the Bible is the final authority for what we believe, and it is sufficient [iv] under the illumination of the Holy Spirit[v] to lead us to salvation and to guide us in living lives pleasing to the Lord.[vi]

We believe in one God[vii] who exists eternally in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,[viii] equal in power and glory uniquely sharing the one divine substance.[ix] God has revealed Himself in His works of creation,[x] providence,[xi] and redemption.[xii] In doing so, He has displayed both the perfect unity of the Godhead, as when Jesus said, I and the Father are one,[xiii] as well as a subordination in the Godhead for the sake of His works as the Father who purposes,[xiv] the Son who redeems,[xv] and the Spirit who sanctifies.[xvi] Eternally the Godhead exists equally in power and glory.[xvii]

We believe that God created all things from nothing through His Son[xviii] pronouncing all of His creation to be very good.[xix] The apex of His creation was man, Adam, whom He created in His own image, perfect, holy, and upright.[xx] From the man the woman, Eve, was created also in the image of God;[xxi] God from the beginning instituted and sanctified marriage as the union of one man to one woman for life.[xxii] As the first man, Adam served as the representative head of the human race, and the consequences of his sin accordingly fell upon all of his offspring: death, condemnation, and a sinful nature.[xxiii] This depravity rendered mankind unable to love God, obey His laws, understand the Gospel, repent of sins, or trust in God’s coming Messiah.[xxiv]

We believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ or Messiah of God,[xxv] promised by the Old Testament prophets.[xxvi] He eternally is the only-begotten Son of God, the eternal Word, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten not made, of one substance with the Father.[xxvii] He took on our flesh, being born in the likeness of men, being conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin, Mary.[xxviii] As such He existed as both fully God and fully man, Son of God and Son of Man, having the nature of man and the nature of God unmixed in one divine person.[xxix]

We believe that Jesus Christ lived a perfect sinless life before the Law of God, being truly the righteous man. Thereby, He won righteousness and imputed it to His people.[xxx] He died as the substitute for His people, bearing the guilt of their sins, and enduring the resulting wrath of God in their place, becoming their propitiation. He physically rose from the dead on the third day and forty days later ascended to the right hand of God, the Father, as King of kings and Lord of lords to reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.[xxxi] In addition, He reigns as Head of His Church and as our Great High Priest performing the ministry of heavenly intercession for His people.[xxxii] He shall come again, personally and visibly, to deliver His people into His kingdom, to judge the living and the dead, and complete the redemptive plan of God.[xxxiii]

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead,[xxxiv] who proceeds from the Father and the Son.[xxxv] His ministry is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ through His Church,[xxxvi] applying the benefits of Christ’s work to His elect in regeneration,[xxxvii] justification,[xxxviii] adoption,[xxxix] sanctification,[xl] and glorification,[xli] and to convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.[xlii] His indwelling presence in every true believer establishes union with Christ,[xliii] Christ’s strengthening presence,[xliv] and God’s down payment and first fruits of eternal life.[xlv]

We believe that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.[xlvi] One sin makes the sinner, and no amount of good works can atone for or deliver from one’s sins.[xlvii] Consequently, everyone is universally under God’s condemnation of death for the wages of sin is death.[xlviii] This state of death, under God’s condemnation, means to be utterly lost, separated from God, and under His eternal wrath.[xlix] This state necessitates a Savior. Jesus Christ alone can save from this state of death and condemnation. Thus, we are saved by Christ alone, because of grace alone, and through faith alone, consequently we can never boast of any merit or deserving in ourselves for our salvation and standing before God. We can only boast and glory in the great love, grace, and mercy of God our heavenly Father and in Christ our Savior and Lord.[l] We believe that by trusting in Christ’s righteousness and substitutionary death on the cross, the saving benefits of Christ are imputed to the believer. Baptism, immersion in water, after a confession of faith is the sign and seal of this salvation and the mark of being a disciple of Christ and union with Christ.[li]

We believe that a true believer is sanctified in Christ in three specific ways: first, decisively and definitely at his or her conversion and union with Christ;[lii] second, progressively, experientially, and cooperatively being conformed to the likeness of Christ by the Holy Spirit;[liii] and third, ultimately and completely when we are glorified both body and soul at the resurrection and coming of Christ.[liv]

We believe that the true Church is made up of the elect of Christ[lv] who have been born of the Spirit (regenerated),[lvi] have personally confessed their faith in Christ as their Savior and Lord receiving the grace of salvation and eternal life. They have, by virtue of their confessed faith,[lvii] been baptized (immersed) into Christ,[lviii] and faithfully and consistently receive the Lord’s Supper in the assembly of the saints.[lix] The Church has been given the keys to the kingdom to open the kingdom by proclaiming the Gospel and to excommunicate the incorrigible sinner by the faithful practice of Church discipline.[lx] The Church is the priesthood of Christ equipped by the Holy Spirit to minister the love of Christ to one another, holding forth the Gospel to the world, gratefully devoted to good works for His glory, and faithfully waiting for the return of Christ.[lxi]

We believe that our Lord Jesus will come again physically and visibly[lxii] to save His Church and judge His enemies.[lxiii] At His coming He will resurrect and glorify His Church and establish His Kingdom on earth.[lxiv] He will resurrect the lost before the final judgment who will be eternally condemned to hell, and He will recreate the heavens and earth into the new heaven and earth.[lxv]

[i] 2 Tim. 3:15-17; 1 Thess. 2:13; cf. Ex. 14:1, 15, 26; 17:14; Jer. 11:1; Hosea 1:1; 1 Cor. 14:37; 1 Jn. 5:10; 2 Pet. 3:2
[ii] 2 Pet. 1:3-4, 21; Jn. 14:26; 16:12-15
[iii] Ps. 19:7-14; 119:86, 138, 142, 151, 160; Rom. 7:12; Heb. 6:18; Jn. 10:34-35; 17:12, 17; Mt. 5:18
[iv] Is. 55:10-11; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Ps. 19:7-14; Heb. 4:12; Eph. 5:25-26; Mt. 4:4; 1 Cor. 2:10-16; 1 Pet. 1:3-4
[v] 1 Cor. 2:10-16; 2 Cor. 3:14-16; 4:6; Eph. 1:17-18; 3:18-19; 6:17; Col. 1:9; Lu. 24:25; 1 Jn. 2:20; 5:20; 16:13; Heb. 6:4; 10:32
[vi] 2 Pet. 1:3-4; 1 Pet. 1:23-25; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Eph. 5:26-27; Lu. 11:28; Mt. 4:4; Col. 3:16
[vii] Dt. 6:4; Mk. 12:29; Is. 42:8; Zech. 14:9; Jn. 17:3; 1 Cor. 8:4, 6; Eph. 4:6
[viii] Mt. 3:15-17; 28:19; Jn. 1:1; 15:26; 2 Cor. 3:17; 13:14; Col. 1:15-20; Rom. 9:5; Titus 2:13; Acts 5:3-4
[ix] Jn. 10:30; 14:8-11; Phil. 2:6; Col. 2:9; Heb. 1:3
[x] Gen. 1:1-2; Jn. 1:3, 10; Col. 1:15-17; Heb. 1:2
[xi] Col. 1:15-17; Phil. 2:13; Eph. 1:11
[xii] Titus 2:11-14; Gal. 3:13; 4:5; Rom 3;24; Eph. 1:7; 4:30; Heb. 9:12
[xiii] Jn. 17:21-23; 14:11; 10:30; Rom. 8:9-11; Dt. 6:4; Mk. 12:29
[xiv] Eph. 1:11; 3:11; Rom. 8:28; 1 Pet. 1:2
[xv] Titus 2:11-14; Gal. 3:13; 4:5; Rom 3;24; Eph. 1:7; 4:30; Heb. 9:12
[xvi] 1 Pet. 1:2; 2 Thess. 2:13; Rom. 15:16
[xvii] Jn. 1:1; 17:5; Rev. 3:21
[xviii] Gen. 1:1-2; Pss. 33:6, 9; 104; 148:5; Acts 17:25, 28; Rom. 1:19-20; Col. 1:16-17; Jn. 1:2-5; Heb. 1:2; 11:3
[xix] Gen. 1:31
[xx] Gen. 1: 26-27; 5:1; 9:6; Eccl. 7:29;1 Cor. 11:7; Jas. 3:9; Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10
[xxi] Gen. 1:26-28; 1 Cor. 11:3, 7-12
[xxii] Gen. 2:18-25; Mt. 19:4-6; Rom. 7:2-3; Heb. 13:4; 1 Tim. 2:13-14
[xxiii] Gen. 3; Rom. 1:18-32; 5:12-19; 2 Cor. 11:3; 1 Tim. 2:13-14
[xxiv] Mt. 7:11; 15:17-20; Jn. 2:24; 3:3, 19-20; Rom. 3:9-18, 23; 5:12-19; 6:23; 7:21-23; 8:3-8; 1 Cor. 2:14-16; 15:21-22, 45-49; Gal. 5:17-21; Eph. 2:1-3; 4:17-24; Titus 1:12-13, 15-16; 3:3; 1 Pet. 2:25;Pss. 51:5; 58:1-5; Is. 59:1-15; Jer. 17:9-10
[xxv] Mt. 1:18, 25; 16:15-17; Lk. 2:11;
[xxvi] Mt. 1:22-23; 2:15,23; 4:14; Mk. 14:49; Rom. 1:2-4; 3:21; 16:25-27; 1 Cor. 15:3-4
[xxvii] Jn. 1:1-2, 14, 18; 20: 20:28; Rom. 9:5; Phil. 2:6-11; Col. 1:15-20; Titus 2:13; Heb. 1:2-3; Is. 7:14
[xxviii] Mt. 1:18-25; Lu. 1:26-38; 2:4-7; Rom. 8:3; Phil. 2:7; Jn. 1:14.
[xxix] Rom. 9:5; Phil. 2:6-11; Col. 1:15-20; Titus 2:13; Heb. 1:2-3; Is. 7:14; 1 Tim. 2:5; Mt. 3:17; 8:20
[xxx] Jn. 8:46; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:14-16; 7:22-28; 1 Pet. 2:21-25; 1 Jn. 3:5; Rom. 8:2-4
[xxxi] 1 Cor. 15:3-9, 17, 20-28; Lu. 24:13-53; Acts 1:1-11; 2:24-35; 3:15; 4:10; 5:30-32; 7:56; 13:33-39; Eph. 1:22-23; Phil. 2:5-11; Rom. 14:7-12; Is. 45:23; Pss. 2; 110
[xxxii] Mt. 28:18-20; Jn. 5:28-29; Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:15-20; Heb.1:1-4; 4:14-16; 7:24-25; 1 Pet. 3:22; Rev. 1:12-18
[xxxiii] Mt. 25:31-46; 2Thess. 1:5-10; Titus 2:11-14; Heb. 9:26-28;   Rev. 19:11-21; 20:11-15
[xxxiv] Mt. 3:13-17; 28:19; Jn. 15:26; Acts 5:3-4; Rom. 8:9-11; 2 Cor. 13:14; Rev. 1:4-6; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6
[xxxv] Jn. 15:26; Rom. 8:9-11; Acts 16:7; Gen. 1:2; Gal. 6:4; Phil. 1:19
[xxxvi] Jn. 15:26; 16:7-15; Rom. 8:15-17; Gal. 4:6
[xxxvii] Jn. 1:12-13; 3:1-8; Rom. 6:4; 2 Cor. 4:6; Eph. 2:5-6; Titus 3:5;1 Jn. 3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 18
[xxxviii] Gal. 3:2-9; Rom. 5:1-2, 5; 1 Cor. 6:11
[xxxix] Rom. 8:15-17; Gal. 3:26; 4:4-7; Jn. 1:12;-13
[xl] 1 Pet. 1:2; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; 2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Cor. 6:11
[xli] Rom. 8:30; Jn. 17:22-23; Col. 3:3-4
[xlii] Jn. 14:16-17; 16:7-11
[xliii] Rom. 6:1-5; 8:1-6, 9-11, 15-16;Mt. 25:34-40; Jn. 14:15-20; 15:1-11; 16:7; Acts 9:1-2, 5; 2Cor. 3:17-18; Eph. 1:3-14; 3:14-19; Col. 1:27
[xliv] Mt. 18:20; 28:18-20; Jn. 14:15-20; 16:12-15; Acts 18:9-10; Eph. 3:14-19; Phil. 4:13; Col. 1:27-29; 1 Tim. 1:12; 2 Tim. 2:1; Heb. 13:5-6, 8
[xlv] 2 Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:13; 4:30
[xlvi] Rom. 3:23
[xlvii] Jas. 2:10; Eph. 2:8-9; 1 Jn. 1:8, 10; Gal. 3:5
[xlviii] Gen. 2:17; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:1; Col. 2:13; Rev. 20:6, 11-15
[xlix] Is. 59:2, Mt. 25:26-30, 31-46; 2 Thess. 1:6-9
[l] Acts 4:12; 10:43; 15:11; Eph. 2:5, 8; Jn. 14:6; Rom. 3:21-30; 4:4-5; 5:20; 10:9-10; 11:6; 1 Cor. 1:26-31; 15:10;; Titus 3:7
[li] Mt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:26-39; 22:16; Rom. 6:3-5; Gal. 3:26-27; Col. 2:11-12; 1 Pet. 3:21
[lii] 1 Cor. 1:30; 3:16-17; Rom. 8:30
[liii] 2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Pet. 1:14-16
[liv] Col. 3:4; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; Eph. 1:4; 1 Jn. 3:2
[lv] Eph. 1:3; Titus 1:1-3; 1 Pet. 1:1-2
[lvi] Jn. 3:3-8; Eph. 2:5; Titus 3:5; 2 Cor. 4:3-6
[lvii] Acts 8:35-40; Rom. 10:9-10; Mt. 10:32; 16:15-17
[lviii] Mt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:16; Acts 2;38; Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:3-4
[lix] Acts 2:42, 46; 20:7; Mt. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 10:15-17; 11:17-34; Heb. 10:24-25
[lx] Mt. 16:19; 18:15-18; Jn. 20:23; 1 Cor. 5:1-5; 1 Tim.1:20; 5:20; Gal. 2:11-14; 6:1-4; 2 Thess. 3:6, 14-15; Titus 1:10-16; Heb. 13:17
[lxi] 1 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:5-6; 5:10; 20:6; 1 Cor. 12:4-11, 18; Jn. 13:34-35; 1 Jn. 4:7-11; Mt. 28:18-20; 2 Cor. 5:18-21; Titus 2:11-3:2; Mt. 5:16; 1 Cor. 1:4-9; 1 Pet. 1 3-9; Phil. 3:20-21
[lxii] Mt. 24-25; Mk. 13; 2 Thess. 1:5-2:17; Titus 2:11-15; Acts 1:1-12; 17:22-31
[lxiii] Heb. 9:24-28; 1 Thess. 4:13-5:11; 2 Pet. 3:1-13; Rom. 5:6-11; Rev. 7:9-17;
[lxiv] Jn. 5:25-30; 1 Cor. 15:20-58; Phil. 3:17-21; Rev. 20:4-6
[lxv] Rev. 20:11-21:5; 2 Thess. 1:5-10; 2 Pet. 3:10-13