What We Believe
THE TRIUNE GOD
The only true God is eternally triune—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (2 Cor 13:14; Matt 28:19; Mark 1:9-11)—whereby each of the divine persons is co-equal in nature and dignity yet distinct in relations (John 14:9-17). His unity is like no other. Absolute moral perfection sets him apart (Matt 5:48; Isa 6:3). He gives freely of himself and is free to act. God is love and has forever freely chosen to grant unearned favor to mankind through the person and work of Jesus Christ (1 John 4:7-21).
THE TRUTH OF SCRIPTURE
In the inerrant Bible, God reveals himself through the writings of people inspired by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, whatever it asserts is true. Each generation of Jesus’ followers are nourished by its recorded wisdom (1 Cor 2:13; 2 Tim 3:16-17). Additionally, all of Scripture rightfully points to the person and work of Jesus Christ (John 5:39; Luke 24:27)
HUMANITY & SIN
Out of God’s love came the unique creation of humankind (Gen 2:7). Designed to reflect the image of God’s trinitarian nature, both man and woman were made with initial moral perfection (Gen 2:25; 3:7). God’s design of the two complementary sexes/genders is rooted in the created body and is unchanging. However, humankind chose not to align themselves with God’s will and sinned (Gen 3:6-7). This resulted in the spiritual and physical death of every human person (Gen 3:19; 5:3). All of humankind is born into this life apart from the moral perfection that was once enjoyed (Rom 5:12). As such, all are in need of both spiritual and physical regeneration (Rom 5:18-21; 8:11).
SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST ALONE
As both fully God and fully man, Jesus Christ’s death on the cross completely satisfied God’s wrath and ransomed humankind from judgement. Accordingly, all who trust in Jesus’ person and work are declared righteous by God (Rom 5:9). This mercy is granted by Christ alone, and as such, it is neither earned nor lost by man (Exod 33:19; Rom 9:15). Trust in Christ’s death and imperishable, bodily resurrection is sufficient for the guilty human to be forgiven of sin and reconciled to God (Rom 1:16-17; 1 Cor 15:1-4).
THE CHURCH
Any person who genuinely trusts in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection from the dead is adopted as a child of God. As such, all who trust, love, and follow Jesus are united to one another by faith in him (John 1:12). Though one global entity, the Church is realized locally by those who gather for prayer, the Lord’s Table, baptism, and the preaching of Scripture. Every child of God has also been imbued, by the Holy Spirit, with spiritual gifts for the purpose of building up the Church (Rom 12:3-8; Eph 4:11-13).
HOPE IN CHRIST’S RETURN
The person of Jesus Christ is the only hope for all humanity (John 1:1-5). His literal, future, and bodily return means that he will one day come to judge both the living and the dead (2 Tim 4:1; 1 Pet 4:5). When this final judgment comes, Christ will pardon, sustain, and restore all who trust in him. On that day, the faithful will experience the complete fulfillment of God’s promises. Like Christ, all believers will rise to eternal life and bodily dwell with God in the New Heaven and New Earth (Rev 21:1-4).