The Bible – 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books – is God’s written Word, fully and verbally inspired, and therefore without error in all it affirms.  It alone is the final, sufficient authority for Christian belief and practice, to be interpreted in context and obeyed, and all doctrine must be tested by its whole counsel. (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20-21; II Timothy 1:13; Psalm 12:6 & 119:105, 160; Proverbs 30:5, II Peter 1:20-21)

God is the Creator and Sovereign Ruler and Sustainer of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal, co-eternal, and are one God. (Genesis 1:1, 26-27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; I Peter 1:2; II Corinthians 13:14)

The Father created all things by His Word for His glory, continually sustains His creation, and sovereignly rules over all.  Faithful to His promises, He works all things for the good of those who love Him and gave His Son for our redemption so that creation might praise His glory. (John 3:16; Galatians 3:26; 2 Corinthians 1:3; Ephesians 4:6-7)

Jesus Christ is the eternal Son made flesh – fully God and fully man – born of the virgin Mary, perfect in character and obedience.  Through His substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, and ascension, He saves sinners, reigns as Lord, intercedes for His people, and is the Head of the Church worthy of all worship and obedience. (Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5 & 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; I Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; I Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13)

The Holy Spirit is the Lord and Giver of life who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, brings new birth, and indwells all genuine believers.  He unites us to Christ, glorifies the Son, leads the Church into truth, and is to be honored and worshipped as true God. The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make humanity aware of their need for Jesus Christ and to convict the world of sin. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth and guidance in doing what is right. The Christ-follower seeks to live under His control daily. (II Corinthians 3:17; John 14:16-17 & 16:7-13; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 2:12 & 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18)

God created humanity – male and female – in His image to know Him and glorify Him, intrinsically carrying worth and value.  Mankind rebelled and fell into sin.  Apart from God’s gracious intervention, people are spiritually dead, separated from God, under God’s just wrath, enslaved to sin, and without hope outside of Christ. (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2)

Jesus Christ is the Gospel. The good news is revealed in His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Christ’s crucifixion is the heart of the gospel, His resurrection is the power of the gospel, and His ascension is the glory of the gospel. Christ’s death is a substitutionary and propitiatory sacrifice to God for our sins. It satisfies the demands of God’s holy justice and appeases His holy wrath. It also demonstrates His mysterious love and reveals His amazing grace. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man. There is no other name by which men must be saved. At the heart of all sound doctrine is the cross of Jesus Christ and the infinite privilege that redeemed sinners have of glorifying God because of what He has accomplished on our behalf- in our place condemned He stood. Therefore, we want all that takes place in our hearts, church, and ministries to proceed from and be related to the cross. (Genesis 3:15; Deuteronomy 30:1-10; Zephaniah 3:17-18; Luke 23-24; John 3:16-21; 5:19-46; 10:1-18; 14:6; 20:30-31; Romans 1:16-18; 3:21-26; 5:1-21; 6:1-23; 8:1-39; 9:1-29; 10:9- 10; 1 Corinthians 15:1-28, 50-58; 2 Corinthians 3:12-5:21; Galatians 3:13; Ephesians 1:3-14; 2:1-10; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; 2:5; 3:14-16; 2 Timothy 1:3-18; Hebrews 9; Jude 24-25; Revelation 19-22)

God saves according to His own purpose and grace, not human merit, yet the Gospel is effectual only to those who repent and believe in Christ.  True repentance produces a transformed life, and genuine faith is evidenced by obedience and discipleship as we deny ourselves and follow Jesus. (Deuteronomy 30:1-10; Isaiah 55:6-7; Matthew 11:28-29; Luke 9:23-27; 13:1-5; 24:46-47; Mark 1:15; John 3:16-21; 5:19-46; 10:1-18; 15-17; Acts 2:37-38; 3:19; 5:31; 17:30; 20:21; Romans 2:4; 3:21-26; 5:1-21; 6:1-23; 8:1-39; 10:9-10; 2Corinthians 7:10; Galatians 2:20; 5:16-25; Colossians 3:1-17; Hebrews 6:1; 1John 1:1-10; 2:7-15; 3:11-4:6; 5:1-21; Revelation 3:19; 5:6-14; 19:1-10)

Salvation is God’s free gift by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone.  Believers are justified by God, clothed in Christ’s righteousness, adopted as His children, reconciled to the Father, forgiven, freed by the Spirit from the dominion of sin and death, and have assurance of salvation.  (Matthew 25:31-46; John 3:16-21; 5:39-40; 11:17-27; 14:1-31; 20:30-31; Romans 3:21-26; 5:1-11; 8:1-39; 1Corinthians 15; 2Corinthians 5:11-21; Galatians 4:1-7; 5:1-25; Ephesians 1:3-23; 2:1-10; Colossians 1:3-14; 2:6-15; 3:18-24; Philippians 3:12-4:1; 1Thessalonians 1:2-10; Hebrews 4:11-5:10; 10:19-25; 1Peter 1:3-12; 1John 2:28-3:24)

The Holy Spirit sanctifies believers, renewing their minds and conforming them to Christ so that they joyfully keep His commands and display His fruit.  Though sin remains, Christians are called to persevere by means of grace – Scripture, prayer, worship, confession of sin – resting ultimately in God’s sure promise to preserve His people. (John 15:1-17; 17:17; Romans 6:1-14; 12:1-2; 1Corinthians 2:1-16; 13:1-13; 15:50-58; 2Corinthians 3:12-4:17; 5:11-21; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 3:14-21; 4:15-24; 5:1-33; Philippians 1:3-11; 1:27-2:18; 3:12-4:1; Colossians 1:3-14, 1:24-2:5; 3:1-17; 1Thessalonians 1:2-10; 4:1-12; 2Thessalonians 2:13-17; Titus 2:11-14; 3:1-11; Hebrews 12:1-11; 13:20-21; James 1:2-4; 4:1-12; 5:7-11; 1Peter 1:22-25; 2Peter 1:3-15; 1John 3:2-3; Jude 24-25; Revelation 21:1-8)

Beyond new birth and sanctification, the Spirit empowers believers for witness and service and desires to fill them continually for life and mission.  He distributes gifts, which remain active for the Church’s edification and the advance of the Gospel in the world. (Ezekiel 36:26-27; 37:1-14; Joel 2:28-32; Luke 24:49; John 3:1-15; 6:44, 63; 14:15-31; 16:4-15; Acts 1:1-8; 2:1-47; 21:1-11; Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians12-14; 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:17; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2:20-22; 3:14-21; 6:10-20; 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:3-18; 1 Peter 1:2; 2:1-12; 4:1-11; 1 John 4:1-6; Jude 17-25)

By His Word and Spirit, God calls a people to Himself as the Church, a redeemed community that worships, obeys, and proclaims Christ to the nations.  Every believer should belong to a local church devoted to teaching the Word, fellowship, the Lord’s Supper, prayer, and mission, where qualified shepherd-leaders equip the saints for ministry.  (Deuteronomy 4:10; Matthew 18:15-20; 28:18-20; John 10:16; 17:21; Romans 16:5; Acts 2:1-13; 2:42-47; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 10; 12:28; 16:19; 2 Corinthians 1:1; 6:14-17; Ephesians 1:12, 22-23; 2:14-22; 3:6; 4:12-16; 5:16-32; Philippians 1:27-2:18; Colossians 1:28; 2:19; 3:16; 4:2-6; 1 Timothy 3:1-7, 3:15; 2 Timothy 2:19; Titus 1:6-9; Hebrews 3:3-6, 12-14; 10:19-25; 11:4-32; 12:23; 1 Peter 2:4-8; 3:15)

Baptism is for believers as a public sign of union with Christ in His death and resurrection; it does not save but testifies to new life and freedom from sin’s mastery. 

The Lord’s Supper is for believers as a repeated remembrance and proclamation of Christ’s atoning death, providing spiritual nourishment and expressing our unity in His Body, the local church. (Exodus 24:9-11; Deuteronomy 14:23, 26; Matthew 5:23-24; 26:26-29; 28:18-20; Mark 1:5, 10; 16:16; Luke 22:20; John 6:41, 53-57; Acts 2:41; 8:12, 36; 10:47-48; 22:16; Romans 6:1-11; 1Corinthians 10:17; 11:20-30; 14:26; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:11-12; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 9-10; 1Peter 3:21; Revelation 19:9)

Jesus will return visibly, physically, and gloriously to judge the living and the dead, raise the dead, and bring His kingdom to its fullness in a new heavens and a new earth.  The wicked will endure eternal punishment apart from God’s gracious presence, while the redeemed, the Bride of Christ, will dwell with Him forever in joy, service, and praise. (Ecclesiastes 12:14; Psalm 16:11; 27:4; 73:25-26; Isaiah 43:25; 65:17; 66:22; Matthew 24:3-14, 29-51; 25:21-36; Mark 9:43-48; 13:10, 32-33; Luke 12:2-3; 12:40; 21:25-27; John 5:24-27; 14:2-3; Acts 1:11; 7:55-56; 10:42; Romans 2:5-7; 8:19-21; 11:25-26; 14:10-12; 1Corinthians 3:12-15; 4:5; 15:1-58; 16:22; Philippians 3:12-20; Colossians 3:25; 1Thessalonians 4:16; 5:2; 2Thessalonians 2:1-10; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 1:11-12; 8:12; 9:28; 12:26-27; James 5:8; 1Peter 1:17; 2Peter 3:10-13; 1John 3:2-3; 5:19; Revelation 1:7; 11:18; 19:1-2; 20:1-15; 21:1-22:20)

Marriage is a lifelong covenantal union between one man and one woman, instituted by God, intended to reflect the loving relationship between Christ and the Church.  It is a unique, sacred partnership in which both husband and wife commit to mutual support, faithfulness, and love, serving one another as they grow in godliness and fulfill God’s purpose for their lives together.

We believe that God has commanded that no sexual activity take place outside of a Scriptural marriage. (Gen. 2:24; Gen 19:5-13;Gen. 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1:26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4)

We believe that the only Scriptural marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. (Genesis 2:24; Romans 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:10; Ephesians 5:22-33)

The Scriptures teach that human life, which is made in the image of God, begins at conception. This infuses sanctity into all human life from conception to death. This sacredness must afford to the unborn, and to the weak in body or mind of any age, all the rights and protections granted to all other human beings. It is the duty of every Christian to speak for and defend such rights in every way he or she is able. Consistent with the value of human life, which is made in God’s image, all people, including those guilty of capital crimes, should be treated with dignity. (Genesis 1:26-27, 9:6; Psalm 72:1-4, 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:4-5; James 1:27)