Our Beliefs

We believe that there is only one God (Deut. 6:4), who exists eternally in three persons: the Father (Eph. 4:6), the Son (Jn. 1:1; 8:24), and the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4). He alone is the Creator of all things, the Savior of His people, and is sovereign over His creation (Eph. 1:11).

We believe that Jesus Christ is the virgin-born, sinless, and only begotten Son of God (Mt. 1:23; Heb. 4:15; Jn. 1:18), truly God and truly man (Col. 2:9; Phil. 2:6-7), who came into the world to save sinners from hell by His penal-substitutionary death (Mt. 1:21; 1 Peter 2:24; Isa. 53:4-6). In triumph, He arose from the dead and is seated at the right hand of God. (Eph. 1:20).

We believe that all men and women are by nature spiritually dead in their trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1-3), and are totally unable to do any good in the sight of God, being wholly inclined towards sin (Rom. 3:10-12; 8:5-8). As a depraved sinner by nature, they are without any ability whatsoever to come to saving faith on their own (Jn. 6:44; 1 Cor. 2:14).

We believe that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and not by works (Eph. 2:8-9), because our righteousness is like a “polluted garment” to God (Isa. 64:6). We believe that salvation is a work of God whereby the Father graciously elects whom He will save (Jn. 6:37, 39; Eph. 1:4), the Son redeems those given to Him by the Father (Mt. 1:21; Jn. 10:11; Eph. 5:25), and the Holy Spirit applies this salvation to the heart of the elect by effectual calling and regenerating them, that their “opened hearts” (Acts 16:14) will believe in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins (Jn. 6:44, 63; Rom. 8:30; 1 Cor. 2:12, 12:3; Jer. 24:7). Therefore, saving faith is a gift of God (Acts 11:18; 2 Cor. 4:6; Phil. 1:29; Eph. 2:8-9). We also affirm that it is the responsibility of the church to preach the gospel to the world as it is the means by which God draws His people to Himself (Rom. 10:13-15; Mt. 28:18-20; Acts 17:30).

We believe in the doctrine and necessity of repentance. Repentance is an act of God in the heart of man that results in a radical turning from sin unto Christ for salvation. Yet repentance is more than just a change of mind about sin, it is a changed heart and behavior. Whereas “there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins,” and the best of men may, through the power and deceitfulness of corruption dwelling in them, with the prevalence of temptation, fall into great sins and provocations, God has mercifully provided that believers so sinning and falling be renewed through repentance unto salvation (Eccl. 7:20; Lk. 22:31,32).

This saving repentance is a grace, whereby a person, being made sensible by the HolySpirit of the many evils of one’s sin, does, by faith in Christ, humble himself for it with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrence, praying for pardon and strength of grace, with purpose and endeavor, by supplies of the Spirit, to walk before God unto all well-pleasing in all things (Zech. 12:10; Acts 11:18; Ez. 36:21; 2 Cor. 7:11; Ps. 119:6, 128). As repentance is to be continued through the whole course of our lives, on account of the body of death, and the motions thereof, so it is every person’s duty to repent of particular known sins (Lk. 19:8; 1 Tim. 1:13,15). Repentance leads one to the Lamb of God, Christ our High Priest, through whom provision is made by His blood for renewal and restoration to our fellowship with God.

We believe that all who possess true saving faith are eternally secure in Christ and unable to lose their salvation (Jn. 6:37-40; 1 Thess. 5:23-24; Jn. 6:37-40; Mt. 7:16-18; Phil. 1:6, 2:13; 1 Jn. 3:9, 5:18). We believe that true believers are in a spiritual warfare and due to our indwelling sin may fall into grievous sins. However, those who profess faith in Christ but continue to live in sin and disobedience without repentance, and who fail to progress in any form of sanctification have no biblical basis for being born again (Tit. 1:16; Heb. 12:14; Jas. 2:14-26; 1 Jn. 2:4, 29, 3:9-10).

We believe that sanctification is a sovereign work of God whereby He gradually renews the believer into His own image (Phil. 1:6; Col. 3:10). In this work of renewal, God uses various means of grace which each believer should diligently pursue: the study of Scripture, prayer, godly fellowship, the fruit of the Spirit, the Lord’s supper, good works, etc., (2 Pet. 1:5-11). Although sanctification is imperfect in this life due to indwelling sin, it will be completed and perfect in heaven (Col. 1:22).

We believe that the Old Testament moral law is eternal and has been incorporated into the law of Christ (1 Cor. 7:19; Gal. 5:14, 6:2; Rom. 13:8-10). The moral law has two primary functions: (1) to reveal sin (Rom. 3:20, 7:7; 1 Jn. 3:4) and, (2) to set forth the paths of righteousness which only the redeemed, by the power of the Holy Spirit, are able to obey (Rom. 8:4; 1 Jn. 2:3, 29; Gal. 5:16). The ceremonial and civil laws of the Old Testament have expired due to their temporary and typical nature. However, the ceremonial laws are valuable to study in that they point forward to Christ and His church, and the civil law still provides principles relevant to the church (1 Cor. 5:1-13; 1 Cor. 9:9-10; 2 Cor. 13:1).

We believe that every believer is gifted by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:4-31), and should use his or her gift for “the building up and edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:12; Rom. 12:3-8).

We believe in the unity of God’s people throughout the ages. We believe that Christ inaugurated the New Covenant by His death on the cross (Lk. 22:20; 1 Cor. 11:25; Heb. 8:7-13). We understand that this New Covenant transformed O.T. Israel into a spiritual and believing body (Jer. 31:31-34; Ez. 36:26-27), consisting of believing Jews and Gentiles (Eph. 2:15, 3:6). Thus, believing Gentiles are now grafted into the “olive tree” of the Israel of God (Rom. 11:17), are called the “seed of Abraham” (Gal. 3:29), and are circumcised of heart as “true Jews” (Rom. 2:26-29).

We believe that there are two church offices: Elders and Deacons. We affirm that there is only one Head of the church, the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 5:23), and that each local church should have a plurality of elders, as God raises up men to fill these positions, who function as under-shepherds, pastors and overseers (Acts 14:23). They should be qualified men (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-9), who are able to guard the truth (Acts 20:28-32), and lead with a godly example (1 Pet. 5:1-3), and a servant’s heart (Jn. 13:14-15). Deacons are also to be qualified men (1 Tim. 3:8-13) who serve, assist, and help in the various ministries of the church.

We believe that the ordinances of baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper are for those who profess faith in Christ (Acts 16:31-34; 18:8; 1 Cor. 11:23-34). The Lord’s Supper, commemorated by God’s people in remembrance of Him, and baptism are ordinances of Christ, to be continued till His coming.

We believe in the importance of church discipline, which is the process of correcting sin in the life of the congregation and its members. This can mean correcting sin through a private word of admonition. It can also mean correcting sin by formally removing an individual from membership. Church discipline can be done in any number of ways, but the goal is always to correct transgressions of God’s law among God’s people.(Mt.18:15-17).

We believe the Scriptures teach that Satan is a spiritual creature, cast out of heaven, the adversary of God and man, reserved for the last judgment when he shall be cast into the lake of fire prepared for him and his angels (Ez. 28:11-19; Is. 14:12-15; Lk. 10:18; 1 Pet. 5:8; 2 Cor. 11:14,15; Eph.6:10-13; Rev. 12:7-11; 20:10).

We believe in the future coming again of the Lord Jesus Christ, and as in His Ascension so shall His second coming be – bodily and visible (Jn. 14:3; Acts 1:11; Titus 2:13; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-57; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Jn. 3:1-2).

We believe in the resurrection of the body, both of the just and the unjust (Acts 24:15; John 5:28-29); that the just (saved) shall be raised up in glory and honor (Mt. 24:31; 25:31-40) and be openly acknowledged and fully acquitted in the judgment day, before angels, devils, and sinners, and made fully and eternally blessed both in body and soul, and that the wicked shall be raised up to be condemned, body and soul, to the unspeakable torments of the lake of fire forever and ever (Is. 26:19; Dan. 12:2; Mt. 25:31-46; Jn. 5:28-29; Acts 23:6; Rom. 6:23; 8:11, 23; 14:10-12; 1 Cor. 15:52; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:12-15).