Key Beliefs | Doctrinal Summary
The Scriptures
The 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament were written by men inspired by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the Bible in its original writings is the inerrant Word of God. The Bible is our guide for understanding who God is, who we are, and how God wants us to live.
God
There is only one God, who exists in three co-equal persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is the Creator of all things. God has eternally existed, is all-present, all-knowing, all-powerful, and unchanging. God is perfectly holy, loving, and wise. God alone is worthy of our worship.
Humanity
God created humanity in His image as an act of His love. Humans are immortal beings. The first humans, Adam and Eve, enjoyed a perfect relationship with God until they sinned. From that point forward, humans have been sinners by nature and by choice. Their destiny because of their sin is eternal separation from God.
Salvation
Jesus Christ is humanity’s only hope to be rescued from sin, reconciled to God, and renewed. In His death on the cross, Jesus paid the penalty for our sin. In His resurrection from the dead, Jesus conquered death. When people place their faith in Jesus and repent of their sins they are forgiven, adopted into God’s family, restored to a relationship with God, and promised eternal life with Him.
The Church
When people profess faith in Christ, they become members of His church and are joined with all believers throughout all time. Scripture also calls this the body of Christ and the bride of Christ. The church began at Pentecost. Each member is given gifts by the Holy Spirit that are to be used to build up members of the church in order to glorify Christ. The church exists to facilitate the worship of God, to help members spiritually grow, and to reach the world with the life-saving gospel of Jesus Christ. While elders help to shepherd God’s people to grow spiritually, Jesus Christ is the head of the church.
The Return of Christ
The resurrected Jesus ascended into heaven, but He will return to earth at a time of God’s choosing. Everyone who has ever lived will be raised bodily. Believers will join Christ and be united with God in a new heaven and new earth together forever. Those who are not believers will be consigned to eternal, conscious punishment in hell for their sin.
Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality
God created humanity and designated people as man or woman; male or female and they are made in God’s image. God established marriage as a relationship between one man and one woman, designed to last until death. Sexual intimacy is designed by God to happen only in a marriage between one man and one woman. We believe that every person is worthy of respect, love, kindness, and dignity.
The Sanctity of Human Life
We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life.