What We Believe

The Essentials we Believe:

I. The Scriptures
We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the inspired word of God without any mixture of error and, therefore, the final authority for faith and life.  The Bible is an essential and infallible record of God’s self-disclosure to mankind.  All the words of Scripture are God’s words in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God.  Church doctrine, theology and practice must be put to the test of the full counsel of God in Holy Scripture. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; Proverbs 30:5, Joshua 1:8, James 1:22)

II. God the Father
We believe there is but one God who exists eternally as three persons– Father, Son, and Holy Spirit– each with distinct personal attributes but without division of nature, essence or being.  We believe that by His Word and for His glory, God is the Creator, Preserver and Ruler of all things, having in and of Himself all perfections, and being infinite in them all. God is faithful, working all things together for good to those who love Him and offering unfathomable grace in His Son Jesus Christ.  He has made all things for the praise of His glory and intends for man, in particular, to live in fellowship with Him. (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Romans 3:24, 8:28, Ephesians 1:12)

III. The Person and Work of Christ
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, is the only Son of God.  He took upon Himself human nature, becoming fully God and fully man.  Through Him all things came into being.  He was before all things, and in Him all things hold together.  Jesus is perfect in nature, teaching and obedience. Jesus is the only Savior—the only one who can reconcile sinful man to God.  Having shed His blood on the cross for our sins, Jesus was buried and literally rose again on the third day, victorious over death and the powers of darkness.  After appearing to over 500 witnesses during a 40-day period, the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He makes intercession for His people and rules as Lord over all who are awaiting His return.  (Matthew 1:22, 23; John 1:1-5; Hebrews 1:3, 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-7; Acts 1:9-11; Ephesians 1:7-14)

IV. The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin and judgment, thereby making men aware of their need for Jesus.  The Holy Spirit is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, which changes the heart, enlightens the mind, and renews the nature of man so that believers desire to bring glory to the name of Christ. The Holy Spirit unites believers in faith and will lead the church into a right understanding and application of the truth of God’s Word.  (John 16:7-11; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:9-11; Titus 3:5)

V. Man
We believe God created man in His own likeness but through Adam’s sin, man inherited a sinful nature resulting in rebellion and total opposition to God, and, thus, became the subject of divine wrath.  Man is inwardly depraved, utterly unable to remedy his fallen condition and incapable of returning to God on his own. Fallen, sinful people are lost and without hope apart from salvation in Christ alone. (Genesis 1:26-27; Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 3:22-23, 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12)

VI. The Gospel
We believe that the good news of Jesus Christ is revealed in His birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension.  Christ’s death is a substitutionary atonement and a propitiatory sacrifice to God for our sins.  God’s holy justice is satisfied and His holy wrath is appeased because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. This demonstrates God’s love and reveals His grace. Jesus Christ is the gospel; there is no other name by which men must be saved.  (1John 2:2; Romans 5:9; John 3:16; Acts 4:12)

VII. Salvation
We believe that salvation is the free gift of God provided by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone, for the glory of God alone. Salvation is received by a proper response to the gospel, which includes personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and visible biblical repentance.  Neither repentance nor works can save. Unless a person is willing to deny himself, take up his cross and follow Christ, he cannot become His disciple.  We believe that all true believers are secure in Christ forever, being kept by God’s grace and power, not by any effort of their own. (Romans 1:16, 6:23; Ephesians 1:7, 2:8-10; Titus 3:5; Mark 8:34; John 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Romans 8:38-39)

VIII. The Church
The church is not a religious institution or denomination; rather, the church is made up of those who are genuine followers of Jesus Christ, who is the Head of the church.  Therefore, we believe the church exists to worship and glorify God.  It also exists to serve Him by faithfully doing His will on the earth.  This involves a commitment to see the gospel preached and to make disciples. We believe those transformed by the gospel should devote themselves to believer’s baptism, teaching, fellowship, prayer, and the Lord’s Supper.  God has given gifts to the church (including prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers) for the equipping of Christ’s body that it might mature. Therefore, all members of the church are to be nurtured and equipped for the work of ministry.  In the context of the local church, God’s people have the opportunity and responsibility to employ their God-given gifts in His service in relation to one another and to the world. (Matthew 28:19-20; Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:11-16; Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14)

Last Things
We believe God, in His own time, will bring the present age to an end. Jesus Christ will return; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The present heavens and the present earth will be created anew. (Rev. 22:12-13; John 14:1-3; 2 Peter 3:1)

In addition to these articles of faith we willingly subscribe to and agree with the doctrinal statements of “The Baptist Faith & Message” as adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention.