Beliefs

The Christian Scriptures are the 66 books of the Bible. They were penned by the prophets, apostles, and those closely affiliated with them while directed by Holy Spirit. This means that all things recorded in the Bible are infallible and without error when understood in the original meaning of the authors. Believers are to strive to interpret Scripture according to the authors’ intent.

There is only one God who exists as three persons—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—known as the Trinity. He created all things, both visible and invisible, from nothing. God governs and oversees all things in accordance with his will. He has all the attributes of divinity, including omnipotence (all power), omnipresence (all present), omnibenevolence (all loving), and omniscience (all knowing) among many others.

Jesus Christ is truly divine and truly man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the virgin Mary. He was without sin. Jesus died upon the cross, was buried, and was raised bodily from the dead on the third day, thereby conquering sin and death. He is the one and only sacrifice for sin by which we must be saved. He now sits at the right hand of the Father where he reigns until he visibly returns to judge the living and the dead.

The Holy Spirit is fully divine and the third person of the Trinity. His work includes convicting men of their sin and need of salvation through Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit also regenerates, or makes born again, the sinner. He then indwells the believer, helping him to overcome sin. The Spirit also helps believers to understand and come to the knowledge of divine truth and the knowledge of God. The Spirit intercedes on behalf of believers in prayer. The Spirit also equips believers for service through the bestowing of gifts.

Man was uniquely created in the image of God as male/man and female/woman. As bearing the image of God, every human life is sacred from conception to natural death. Each person’s biological sex is also an intrinsic, unchanging aspect of his or her nature and identity. The first created man and woman, Adam and Eve, were created in a state of marriage, a lifelong covenantal relationship between one man and one woman in which sexual intimacy is reserved for. Any sexual behavior outside the marital relationship is sin. Mankind was also created perfectly morally good, but they freely chose to sin. Because of this, every person is born into a world of sin and at least a bent to sin, and they eventually commit personal sins. Once a person is capable of being held accountable, he becomes a condemned sinner before God and must rely upon the grace of God for salvation.

Salvation from sin, death, and corruption of human nature is found in no one else but Jesus Christ. Sinners are justified (saved) by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ. It is not in accordance with works so no one may boast. Man’s salvation is assured and protected by the power of God, the Holy Spirit given as a seal and guarantee of this salvation. Salvation is not attained or kept by the power of man but is received in faith as proclaimed in confessing Jesus as Lord and Savior, repentance, and baptism by immersion.

One of the primary reasons God saves sinners is so that they will do good works, or become holy. God desires all who are born again to live a life that honors him, not because they are saved or kept saved by doing good deeds, but because they are grateful to God for salvation and are enabled to live a more holy life through the power of the Holy Spirit. Believers are not to sin so that grace may increase. The primary work which believers are to practice is to love God and one’s neighbor. As such, when a Christian has conflict with another believer, he is to follow church discipline as outlined in Scripture. Although holiness is an important part of the Christian life, complete holiness is impossible this side of eternity. Believers will become perfect (glorified) at the second coming of Christ when they are resurrected.

The church is the called out, or saved, people of God. She is the body of Christ and He is the head. She is composed of those who have responded to the gospel in faith, repentance, confession, and baptism by immersion. God has given the church the mission to proclaim the gospel and make disciples. The Church is to come together at least every Lord’s Day (Sunday) to worship God through preaching of the Word, prayer, the Lord’s Supper, and fellowship of the saints. The local church is governed by pastors and qualified elders who shepherd the church and is directed by deacons to minister to believers’ needs. The leadership roles of elder and pastor are to be filled only by men as taught in Scripture. Women, however, are permitted to minister (as deaconesses or otherwise) in accordance with their gifts and calling in accordance with biblical teaching. Every member of the church is to be active, using his or her gifts for ministry, loving one another, bearing with one another, accepting one another, and forgiving one another. They are to seek unity and peace, encouraging one another, praying for one another, and supporting the church and one another financially, materially, and otherwise.

Before Jesus ascended back into heaven after his resurrection, he promised that he would return. No one knows the exact time he will return, but every Christian is to be prepared and working until his coming.

When Christ returns, he will judge the living and the dead. Some will be resurrected to life while others to condemnation. Those who are resurrected to life will be given new bodies and will dwell in the new heavens and new earth in which righteousness dwells. Those who are resurrected to condemnation will live eternally in a literal hell to suffer punishment for rejecting God.