The Bible

The Bible, composed of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is the sole basis of our belief. We believe that Scripture originated in its entirety with God, and that it was given through the instrumentality of chosen men. Thus, Scripture at one and the same time speaks with the authority of God while reflecting the backgrounds, styles and vocabularies of each human author. We hold that the Scriptures are infallible and inerrant in the original manuscripts. They are the unique, full and final authority on all matters of faith and practice. There are no other writings similarly inspired by God.

God

We believe there is one true, holy God, eternally existing in three Persons – Father, Son and  Holy Spirit – each of whom possess equally all the attributes of Deity and the characteristics of personality. In the beginning, God created out of nothing the world and all the things therein, thus manifesting the glory of His power, wisdom and goodness. He continues to sustain His creation through His sovereign power.  By His providence, He operates throughout history to fulfill His redemptive purposes.

Salvation

The central purpose of God’s revelation in Scripture is to invite all people into fellowship with Himself. Originally created to have fellowship with God, man instead defied God, choosing to go his independent way. This now corrupt nature left him alienated from God. The fall took place at the beginning of human history, and all individuals since have suffered these consequences and are thus in need of the saving grace of God.

The salvation of mankind is wholly a work of God’s free grace, not the result in whole or in part of human works or goodness. It may be applied to one’s life only through repentance and faith. When God begins a saving work in the heart of any person, He gives assurance in His Word that He will continue performing it until the day of its full consummation.

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the eternal second Person of the Trinity who was united forever with a true human nature by a miraculous conception and virgin birth.  He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father and voluntarily atoned for the sins of all by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone. He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died. He ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Father where He, the only Mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own. He will come again to earth, personally and visibly, to consummate history and the eternal plan of God.

The Holy Spirit

The essential accompaniment of a genuine saving relationship with Jesus Christ is a life of holiness and obedience, attained by believers as they submit to the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity. He was sent into the world by the Father and Son to apply to mankind the saving work of Christ. He enlightens the minds of sinners, awakens in them a recognition of their need of a Savior and regenerates them. At the point of salvation, He permanently resides in every believer, becoming their source of assurance, strength and wisdom. He also uniquely endows each believer with gifts for the up building of the body. The Holy Sprit guides believers in understanding and applying the Scripture. His power and control are appropriated by faith, making in possible for the believer to lead a life of Christ-like character and to bear fruit to the glory of the Father.

Human Destiny

Death sealed the eternal destiny of each person. For all mankind, there will be a resurrection of the body into the spiritual world, and a judgment that will determine the fate of each individual. Unbelievers will be separated from God into condemnation. God’s judgment will reveal His justice by condemning them to eternal existence in an environment void of any Godly quality. Believers will be received into eternal communion with God and be rewarded for works done in this life.

The Church

To define the church simply as a building is completely inaccurate and inadequate. When one receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, he/she becomes a member of His Body, the Church. There is one true, universal church, comprised of all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The Scripture commands believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, observance of baptism and communion as the sacreamentarian ordinances established by Jesus Christ, fellowship, service to the Body through the development and use of talents and gifts, and Outreach to the world.

Whenever God’s people meet regularly in obedience to this command, there is the local expression of the church. Under the watchful care of elders and other supportive leadership, its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the one ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ.

Faith and Practice

Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. This church recognizes that it cannot bind the conscience of individual members in areas where Scripture is silent. Rather, each believer is to be led in those areas by the Lord, to whom he or she ultimately responsible.