GOD

We believe in the one living and true God, perfect in wisdom, sovereignty, holiness, justice, mercy and love (1 Timothy 1:17; Psalm 86:15; Deuteronomy 32:3-4).  He exists eternally in three coequal persons who act together in creation, providence and redemption (Genesis 1:26; 1 Peter 1:2; Hebrews 1:1-3).

THE FATHER

The Father reigns with providential care over all life and history in the created universe; He hears and answers prayer (1 Chronicles 29:11-13; Matthew 7:11).  He initiated salvation by sending His Son, and He is Father to those who by faith accept His Son as Lord and Saviour (1 John 4:9-10; John 3:16; John 1:12; Acts 16:31).

THE SON

The Son became man, Jesus Christ, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary (John 1:14; Matthew 1:18).  Being fully God and fully man, he revealed God through His sinless life, miracles and teaching (John 14:9; Hebrews 4:15; Matthew 4:23-24).  He provided salvation through His atoning death in our place and by His bodily resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; II Corinthians 5:21; Romans 4:23-25).  He ascended into heaven where He rules over all creation (Philippians 2:5-11).  He interceded for all believers and dwells in them as their ever-present Lord (Romans 8:34; John 14:23).

THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit inspired men to write the Scriptures (II Peter 1:21).  Through His Word, He convicts individuals of their sinfulness and of the righteousness of Christ, draws them to the Saviour, and bears witness to their new birth (James 1:18; John 16:7-11; I Thessalonians 1:5-6; Romans 8:16).  At regeneration and conversion, the believer is baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13).  The Spirit indwells, seals and gives spiritual gifts to all believers for ministry in the church and society (Romans 8:9-11; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 12:5-8; I Peter 4:10).  He empowers, guides, teaches, fills, sanctifies and produces the fruit of Christlikeness in all who yield to Him (Acts 4:31; Romans 8:14; I Corinthians 2:10-13; Ephesians 5:18; II Thessalonians 2:13; Galatians 5:16, 22-23).

ANGELS

We believe God created an order of spiritual beings called angels to serve Him and do His will (Psalms 148:1-5; Colossians 1:16).  The holy angels are obedient spirits ministering to the heirs of salvation and glorifying God (Hebrews 1:6-7, 13-14).  Certain angels, called demons, Satan being their chief, through deliberate choice, revolted and fell from their exalted position (Revelation 12:7-9).  They now tempt individuals to rebel against God (1 Timothy 4:1; I Peter 5:8).  Their destiny in hell has been sealed by Christ’s victory over sin and death (Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 20:10).

MAN

We believe God created man in His own image to have fellowship with Himself and to be steward over His creation (Genesis 1:26-28).  As a result, each person is unique, possesses dignity and is worthy of respect (Psalms 139:13-17).  Through the temptation of Satan, Adam chose to disobey God; this brought sin and death to the human race and suffering to all creation (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12-21; 8:22).  Therefore, everyone is born with a sinful nature and needs to be reconciled to God (Romans 3:9-18, 23).  Satan tempts people to rebel against God, even those who love Him (Ephesians 4:27; II Corinthians 2:11); Matthew 16:23).  Nonetheless, everyone is personally responsible to God for thoughts, actions and beliefs and has the right to approach Him directly through Jesus Christ, the only mediator (Romans 14:12; I Timothy 2:5).

SALVATION

We believe salvation is redemption by Christ of the whole person from sin and death (II Timothy 1:9-10; 1 Thessalonians 5:23).  It is offered as a free gift by God to all and must be received personally through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ (I Timothy 2:4; Ephesians 2:8-9; Acts 20:21).  An individual is united to Christ by the regeneration of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:27).  As a child of God, the believer is acquitted of all guilt and brought into a new relationship of peace (Romans 5:1).  Christians grow as the Holy Spirit enables them to understand and obey the Word of God (II Peter 3:18; Ephesians 4:15; I Thessalonians 3:12).

ASSOCIATIONS

To express unity in Christ, local churches form associations and a conference for mutual counsel, fellowship and a more effective fulfillment of Christ’s commission (Acts 15: I Corinthians 6:1-3).

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

We believe religious liberty, rooted in Scripture, is the inalienable right of all individuals to freedom of conscience with ultimate accountability to God (Genesis 1:27; John 8:32; II Corinthians 3:17; Romans 8:21; Acts 5:29).  Church and state exist by the will of God.  Each has distinctive concerns and responsibility, free from control by the other (Matthew 22:21).  Christians should pray for civil leaders, and obey and support government in matters not contrary to Scripture (I Timothy 2:1-4; Romans 13:1-7; I Peter 2:13-16).  The state should guarantee religious liberty to all persons and groups regardless of their religious preference; consistent with the common good.

CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITY

We believe Christians, individually and collectively, are salt and light in society (Matthew 5:13-16).  In a Christ like spirit, they oppose greed, selfishness and vice; they promote truth, justice and peace; they give aid to the needy and preserve the dignity of people of all races and conditions (Hebrews 13:5; Luke 9:23; Titus 2:12; Philippians 4:8-9; 1 John 3:13-17; James 2:1-4).

We affirm the family as the basic unit of society and seek to preserve its integrity and stability (Genesis 2:21-25; Ephesians 6:1-4).

LAST THINGS

We believe God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring all things to their appropriate end and establish the new heaven and the new earth (Ephesians 1:9-10; Revelation 21:1).  The certain hope of the Christian is that Jesus Christ will return to the earth suddenly, personally and visibly in glory according to His promise (Titus 2:13; Revelation 1:7, 3:11; John 14:1-3).  The dead will be raised, and Christ will judge mankind in His righteousness (John 5:28-29).  The unrighteous will be consigned to the everlasting punishment prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41), 46; Revelation 20:10).  The righteous, in their resurrected and glorified bodies, will receive their reward and dwell forever with the Lord (Philippians 3:20-21; II Corinthians 5:10; I Thessalonians 4:13-18).

MARRIAGE

We believe the Bible teaches marriage refers to the covenant relationship exclusively between one man and one woman, as instituted by God in the beginning (Genesis 2:7, 18-23).