Beliefs

We believe scripture is the Word of God, complete and authoritative. Paul writes, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching… so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped.” All the words of men and angels must align with it. Peter explains that prophecy never came by human will, but “men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” God spoke “in the past… through the prophets… but in these last days… by his Son.” It is likened unto a two-edged sword, “dividing even the thoughts and intents of the heart.” It convicts the sinner and nourishes and corrects the saint. Those who “abide” in it will become Jesus’ disciples, indeed. The Bible was written with continuity nothing short of divine, by approximately 40 men over a period of more than 1500 years, in three languages and in strange bedfellow nations, including Israel, Babylon, Persia, and the Roman Empire; and with more than 2000 prophecies already fulfilled, it is undeniably the Word of God for all humanity for all time.

Scripture References: 2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:21; Hebrews 1:1–2; Hebrews 4:12; John 8:31

We believe the Bible teaches that there is only one God, and He is in three distinct, coequal Persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Israel is told, “The LORD our God, the LORD is one,” affirming monotheism. Yet Jesus commands baptism “in the name [singular] of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” placing the three together under one divine Name. At Jesus’ baptism, the Son is in the water, the Spirit descends as a dove, and the Father speaks from heaven, revealing distinct Persons acting in perfect unity and holiness. There are many other passages that prove that God is three in One.

Scripture References: Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; Matthew 3:16–17; Genesis 1:26; 2 Corinthians 13:14; John 14:16–17; Luke 1:35; 1 Peter 1:2; Ephesians 4:4–6

We believe God created all things, and they were good. The Father is the ultimate source of all His works. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”; He planned, created, and sustains all things “by the word of His power” and through His Son. The Father promised His plan of redemption immediately after humanity fell. Nothing happens without His permission. He subjected the world in futility that it may be redeemed in hope through His Son. He “rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,” revealing His loving role in redemption. The Father is perfectly righteous and holy, never unjust, and He calls, receives, and disciplines His children in love. He purposes our sanctification, conforming believers to the image of His Son.

Scripture References: Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:16–17; Genesis 3:15; Romans 8:20; Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 12:5–10; Romans 8:28–29

We believe God the Son, Jesus Christ, is fully divine, sharing the Father’s nature and glory. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, was tempted in all points as we are, and yielded Himself up to die on a cross, bearing the sins of all humanity, effectual for all who believe. He rose from the grave the third day, ascended to heaven forty days later, and sits at the right hand of His Father interceding for the saints. He did not come to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved; and He will not deny anyone who comes to Him. He will return to the earth one day and rule the world in righteousness for one thousand years. He will redeem all things to Himself and present His kingdom to His Father when all enemies have been put under His feet. “Through Him all things were made”; in Him “all things were created,” so He is the divine agent in creation. The Father “brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins,” showing Christ’s central role in redemption. As the sinless Lamb of God, He was and is perfect, and He sanctifies His people by His blood and by His Word.

Scripture References: Matthew 1:23; Hebrews 4:15; John 10:17–18; Matthew 28:6; Acts 1:9; Hebrews 1:3; John 3:17; John 6:37; Acts 1:11; Revelation 20:6; 1 Corinthians 15:24–28; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16; Colossians 1:13–14; Hebrews 4:15; John 17:17–19

We believe the Holy Spirit is a distinct divine Person who shares fully in God’s work. He is as active in the world today as we will allow Him to be. We can grieve and even quench Him, which we do all too often, but thankfully, He moves at His own will and does not limit Himself to our belief and practice. At creation, “the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters,” active in bringing order and life. He “convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.” One must be born of the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God. In redemption, believers are “saved… through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,” whom God pours out through Jesus Christ. In sanctification, the Spirit indwells and transforms believers, producing holiness and spiritual fruit, displaying His perfectly holy, sinless character, mortifying the deeds of the flesh.

Scripture References: 1 Thessalonians 5:19; Ephesians 4:30; John 3:8; Genesis 1:2; Psalm 104:30; John 16:8–11; John 3:3; Titus 3:5–6; Romans 8:9–14; Galatians 5:22–23; Romans 8:13

We believe humanity was created in God’s likeness and image, without sin. By their own free will, Adam and Eve, the first beings God created, chose to disobey God, bringing sin and death into the world. All their offspring would be born with their fallen nature. Every human ever born or that ever will be struggles under the bondage of their sin-nature until delivered by the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and the power of His Holy Spirit. God offers redemption from the curse through the righteous obedience and atoning death of Jesus Christ, received by God’s gift of grace and our faith in Him alone. Those who trust in Christ’s righteousness are promised eternal life.

Scripture References: Genesis 1:26–31; Genesis 2:16–17; Genesis 3:1–19; Romans 5:12; Romans 3:10–12, 23; Romans 8:18–23; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:13–14; Titus 3:5; Romans 5:17–19; Galatians 3:13; Ephesians 2:8–9; John 3:16; John 5:24; Romans 6:23

We believe obedience to God is a sign of one’s salvation, not something that can in any way earn or add to one’s salvation. A continuing, intentional effort toward full obedience proves one’s love for God. The Bible teaches that everyone will give an account to God one day, even everyone who is saved. Believers, however, will not be condemned with the world, but will be judged for works good or bad that determine rewards or losses in our positions in eternal life with Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul received revelation that, as the bride of Christ, our bridal gown will be made according to “the righteous acts of the saints.”

Scripture References: James 2:14–24; John 15:10; John 14:21; 1 John 5:3; 1 Peter 4:5; Hebrews 4:13; Romans 4:11; Romans 14:10–12; 2 Corinthians 5:9–11; Matthew 12:36; Luke 6:22–23; 1 Corinthians 3:12–15; 1 Corinthians 9:25; 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 2 Timothy 4:8; James 1:12; 1 Peter 5:4; Matthew 16:27; Revelation 22:12; Revelation 19:7–8

We believe the Church is made up of the collective people whom God has called out of the world to Himself through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Foundation and the Builder of His Church. All over the world believers gather as local churches, each one autonomous to God through Jesus Christ, who is the Head of the Church at large and locally, and we are His body. Each local body (church) is made of many members, and each member is needful in action for building up the whole body into the full image of Jesus Christ. Growth into Christ’s likeness is attained through time and experience together, and the mutual ministry of one another. Every believer has received at least one spiritual gift for the edification of all. While Jesus said that in the world we will have “tribulation,” the Bible also says that His faithful Church is not appointed to endure His wrath, but to be saved from the wrath of God that is coming upon the whole world at the end of this age.

Scripture References: 1 Peter 2:9–10; John 15:19; 1 Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 2:20; Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:22–23; Colossians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Corinthians 12:12–13; Ephesians 4:4; 1 Corinthians 12:14–27; Ephesians 4:7–16; Ephesians 4:11–16; Colossians 1:28; Romans 12:4–8; 1 Corinthians 12:4–7; 1 Peter 4:10–11; John 16:33; Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9

We believe the Last Days began at Pentecost with the outpouring promise of the Holy Spirit fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection from the grave, and it continues throughout the entire Church Age. We hold a premillennial view, with the rapture of the Church, taught by Jesus and the Apostle Paul, occurring after tribulation tests that purify the Church as a bride made ready – so “that He might present her to Himself [when He comes] a glorious church without spot, or wrinkle, or blemish, or any such thing.” We do not believe the Bible says that all the seal judgments of Revelation are judgments, and not all are “the wrath of God.” The first four seals are tribulation judgments, albeit worse than any other time in world history. The fifth seal reveals martyred saints in the presence of God and foretells those who will be martyred during this seal. The sixth brings cosmic terror as the lost dread the “wrath of the Lamb.” The Church escapes God’s “wrath” before the seventh seal trumpet-judgements. Even though we cannot possibly know the day or hour of the rapture, the Bible always speaks about being ready for His coming for His bride during times of great trial, further indicating that it will be when the world is under duress of tribulations that He will come.

Scripture References: Acts 2:16–17; Hebrews 1:2; 1 John 2:18; Matthew 24:29–31; 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17; 2 Thessalonians 2:1–3; Ephesians 5:25–27; Revelation 3:10; Revelation 19:7–8; Matthew 24:4–14; Matthew 24:21–22; Revelation 6:1–8; Revelation 6:9–11; Revelation 6:12–17; Revelation 8:1–6; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; Matthew 24:36; Matthew 24:4–8; Matthew 24:32–33; 1 Peter 4:12–13

We believe hell is a real place of eternal torment, a “lake of fire.” Our Lord warned of the unquenchable fire where “their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched,” and He described it as outer darkness with weeping and gnashing of teeth, forever separated from God’s presence. This punishment awaits those whose names are not written in “the Lamb’s book of life.” Yet God “is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance,” so He sent His Son as the only way of redemption and salvation for forgiveness of all sin and eternal life.

Scripture References: Matthew 13:42, 50; Matthew 25:41, 46; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10, 14–15; Revelation 21:8; Mark 9:43–48; Matthew 25:30; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Luke 13:27; Revelation 17:8; Revelation 20:10, 15; 2 Peter 3:9; John 3:16–18; 1 Timothy 2:4–6

We believe Heaven is a place of eternal glory, life, and peace, where all who have believed on Jesus Christ with saving faith dwell forever with the Father and the Son. Revelation 21–22 describes its splendor as a new heaven and new earth, with a Holy City called the New Jerusalem. It descends as a bride and is glorious. There will be no more death there, no mourning, crying, or pain. God will wipe away every tear, and He will dwell among His people forever. Its walls are of jasper, a city of pure gold like glass, gates of pearls, streets of gold, and God will light it with His glory. No night will be there, and no sun needed. A river of life flows from the throne of God, with the Tree of Life bearing fruit for the healing of the nations.

Scripture References: John 14:2–3; Revelation 21:1–2; Revelation 21:3–4; Revelation 21:11, 18–23; Revelation 22:1–2