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What We Believe We believe that "all Scripture is God-breathed"; that in its entirety, the Bible is God's Word, without error in its original manuscripts and the final authority in all matters of faith and practice (2 Tim. 3:16,17; 2 Pet. 1:21). We believe that the one living and true God eternally exists in three distinct persons--Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and that these three possess the same nature, attributes and glory (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; John 1:1,14; 10:30; Acts 5:3,4). We believe that man was created directly by God, but that by disobedience he fell into sin. Therefore, he is liable to eternal punishment and cannot save himself (Gen. 1:26; 2:17; Rom. 3:23; Heb. 9:27; Eph. 2:1-3; Rev. 20:11-15). We believe that Jesus Christ is God the Son, and that through His virgin birth; true humanity and undiminished deity were united in one person forever (John 1:1,14; 1 Tim. 2:5,6; Heb. 1:1-3). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died upon the cross as a full and perfect substitutionary sacrifice for sins, and that His bodily resurrection and ascension to heaven marks Him as Lord of all (Matt. 20:28; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:24; 3:18; Phil. 2:9-11; 1 Cor.15:3-4). We believe that salvation is entirely of God's grace, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. The believer is forgiven, regenerated, given eternal life and unfailingly kept by the power of God to salvation on the sole basis of faith in Christ as personal Savior (Eph. 2:8,9; Rom. 3:24,25; John 10:27-30; 1 Pet. 1:5; John 5:24). We believe that God the Holy Spirit has united every believer to Christ by Spirit baptism and that He indwells every believer to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and to empower and instruct the believer in godly living. (1 Cor. 12:13; John 7:37-39; 14:16-18; Acts 1:8; Rom. 8:9; Eph. 1:13,14; 4:30; 5:18) We believe that the Church is composed of all true believers and that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only head of His church (1 Cor. 6:19,20; 12:13; Eph. 1:13,14; 4:30). We believe that a local church is under the direct authority of the Lord Jesus Christ through His Word, and that in obedience to Him, it is to practice believer's baptism and the Lord's Supper as ordinances. Elders are raised up by the Chief Shepherd to shepherd God's people (Eph. 1:22,23; Matt. 28:18-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-34; Acts 20:28). We believe in the personal, imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ for His church, His return in glory to reign upon the earth and the eternal blessing of heaven for those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation (1 Thess. 4:13-18; Tit. 2:13; Rev. 19:11-20:6; John 14:1-6). We believe that believers live in the world under the mandate of the Great Commission, which calls us to bear witness to the Lord Jesus Christ in all the world (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). In essential beliefs — we have unity. “There is one Body and one Spirit...there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of us all...” Eph. 4:4-6 In non-essential beliefs — we have liberty. “Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters... Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls... So then each of us will give an account of himself to God... So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.” Romans 14:1,4,12,22 In all our beliefs — we show charity. “...If I hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but also the very secrets of God, and if I have the faith that can move mountains — but have no love, I amount to nothing at all.” 1 Cor. 13:2 (Ph)
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