Essential Beliefs

Essential Beliefs

These “Essential Beliefs” of the Church are summary statements regarding the basics of Evangelical Christian faith.

About God

God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God. (Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; Psalm 90:2; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

About Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus was both fully God and fully human, was born of a virgin and lived a perfect, sinless human life. He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return someday to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 8:58, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13)

About the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is a divine person, co-equal with the Father and the Son. He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with the power for living enables understanding of Biblical truth and guides them in righteous living. He provides every Christian with spiritual gifts for service. As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily. (2 Corinthians 3:17; John16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13, 5:18; Galatians 5:25)

About the Bible

The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error. (2 Timothy 1:13, 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 119:105, 160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5)

About People

People are the supreme object of God’s creation, originally created in the image and likeness of God. Humanity fell through disobedience, incurring both physical and spiritual death. All people are sinners by nature and sinners by choice and this separates them from the life of God. Only through the atoning work of Jesus Christ can anyone be saved and restore a relationship with God. (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; 51:1-8; Isaiah 53:6, 59:1-2; Romans 3:23; 5:12)

About Salvation

Salvation is by grace through faith. It is God’s free gift to us, but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn in repentance from ourself-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith, we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26, Romans 5:1)

About Eternity

People were created to exist forever in eternity. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation through Jesus Christ. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence. (John 3:16; 17:3; Romans 6:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:15)

About Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

Jesus instructed His disciples to remember His death and resurrection. He gave the Church two visible symbols (called “ordinances”) as reminders. These two ordinances are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. While we respect all acts of spiritual obedience, the Bible teaches that Baptism is to be done by immersion, following salvation, as a one-time act of obedience and identification with Jesus Christ as Lord. The Lord’s Supper is an ongoing symbol remembering our Lord’s death, burial, resurrection and promised return. Each individual must decide his or her own participation in these ordinances. Regardless, we do not regard anyone’s participation in these practices as a means of salvation. (Matthew 28:18-20, 26:26-29; I Corinthians 11:23-32; Colossians 2:12)

About The Church

The Church consists of all those who have been saved through faith in Jesus Christ. Christ is the Head the Church, whose members have been commissioned by Him to go into all the world as a witness, preaching the gospel to all nations. The local church is an autonomous, local body of believers in Christ who are joined together for the worship of God, for teaching of the Word of God, for prayer, fellowship and the proclamation of the Gospel, and for observance of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The local church is governed by the principles found in Scripture. (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:41-47; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 10:25)

About The Church the Eternal Security

We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 8:1, 38-39; I Corinthians 1:4-8; I Peter 1:4-5) We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh. (Romans 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11-15)

About The Second Coming of Jesus Christ

We believe in that “blessed hope,” the personal, imminent return of Christ Who will rapture His Church prior to the seven-year tribulation period. At the end of the Tribulation, Christ will personally and visibly return with His saints to establish His earthly Messianic Kingdom which was promised to the nation of Israel. (Psalm 89:3-4; Daniel 2:31-45; Zechariah 14:4-11; I Thessalonians 1:10; 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Revelation 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6)