About

God the Father

We believe that God is one (Is. 45:5-6; 1 Tim. 2:5) but exists in three distinct (Mt. 27:46; Jn. 14:26), coequal (Mt. 3:16-17; 2 Cor. 13:14), and eternal Persons (Jn. 1:18; 17:5). God the Father is a Spirit characterized by absolute holiness (Ex. 15:11; Is. 6:3; 57:15), and He is also a personal God (Gen. 1:26-28; Acts 15:8) with great love (John 3:16; 1 Jn. 4:8-10, 16). God is eternal, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, sovereign, and unchanging (Dt. 33:27; Ps. 139:1-4, 7-10; Dan. 4:35; Mal. 3:6; Mt. 19:26). He is good, wise, pure, righteous, just, truthful, faithful, loving, merciful, gracious, and patient (Gen. 18:25; Lev. 11:44-45; Num. 23:19; Dt. 32:4; Rom. 2:4; 11:6; 2 Cor. 1:3; Tit. 1:2; 1 John 4:8-10).

God the Son

We believe that Jesus, God’s Son, is fully God (Is. 9:6; John 12:41; Col. 1:16; Mt. 28:17) and fully man (Acts 17:31; Lk. 2:7; 1 Tim. 2:5). He has existed eternally (Jn. 1:3; Col. 1:16). In fulfillment of prophecy and God’s eternal plan, He became flesh through the miraculous virgin birth (Is. 7:14; Lk. 1:35) for the purpose of substitutionary atonement (Mark 10:45). Jesus willingly gave Himself as a perfect and sinless sacrifice to atone for humanity’s sin (Rom. 3:25; Heb. 10:18-22). Though He physically died on the cross, He rose from the dead three days later (1 Cor. 15:3-5). After 40 days, He ascended to heaven, where He sits at the right hand of God (Mk. 16:19; 1 Tim. 2:5). He now serves as prophet (Jn. 1:18), priest (Heb. 2:17; 1 Tim. 2:5), and king (Lk. 11:20). One day, He will return bodily to earth (Acts 1:11), rule during the millennium (Rev. 20:6), judge the world (Acts 17:31), and reign for all eternity (Rev. 22:3).

God the Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit as a distinct Person of the Godhead, not just an influence or force (Jn. 14:26). He is fully God (Acts 5:3-4; Heb. 9:14) and coequal with the Father and the Son (Mt. 3:16-17; 1 Pet. 1:2). The Holy Spirit is responsible for convicting people of sin (Jn. 16:7-11), illuminating the truth (2 Cor. 3:14-17), indwelling believers (Rom. 8:9), assuring salvation (Rom. 8:14-16), guiding (Acts 8:9), and sanctifying (Gal. 5:22-23).

We believe that God, by speaking, created the entire universe out of nothing (ex nihilo) in six twenty-four hour days (Gen. 1, Heb. 11:3; Ex. 2:11). All three members of the Godhead had a part in creation (Gen:1:2; Ps. 33:6-9; Jn. 1:1-3; Col. 1:16). Creation, in the beginning, was perfect, sinless, and entirely good (Gen. 1:4, 31).

We believe that sin is any action that fails to align with God’s holy character (Rom. 3:23; 1 Jn. 3:4; 5:17; Heb. 11:6). Sin entered humanity through Adam’s disobedience, as he acted as our representative (Rom. 5:12-21; 1 Cor. 15:21-22), resulting in the earth being cursed (Gen. 3:15, Eph. 1:22, Rom. 8:19-23). Therefore, everyone is born a sinner (Eph. 2:3), with every aspect of human nature corrupted by sin (total depravity) (Jer. 17:9; Rom. 7:18, 23). Additionally, everyone commits sin (Rom. 3:23; 5:12). Sin leads to death, including spiritual death (Col. 2:13), physical death (Heb. 9:27), and eternal death in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:11-15). Sin also results in separation from God (Rom. 6:23; Gen. 2:17, 3:8). Only the saving grace of Jesus Christ can forgive humanity’s death-deserving sin.

God’s Goal

We believe that God’s ultimate goal is the triumph of His kingdom, which He achieves through salvation for His glory (Rom. 8:28-30; Eph. 1:6). Salvation is based on God’s election of those He chooses by His sovereign grace (Eph. 1:5, 11; Rom. 8:29; 1 Pet. 1:2). This election is founded on God’s predestination (Rom. 8:29-30), which is based on His foreknowledge (Rom. 8:29; 1 Pet. 1:2).

Atonement

We believe that salvation is available only through Christ’s atonement, which refers to Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins. Atonement involves satisfying God’s wrath (propitiation), removing sins (expiation), substituting Jesus in our place, imputing His righteousness to us, justification of our sins, and reconciling humanity to God (Rom. 5:11; 2 Pet. 2:1; Acts 16:31; 4:12; Eph. 2:8-9).

Repentance

We believe that repentance is an active turning away from sin and turning to God. Repentance is necessary for salvation (Heb. 6:1, 6). It involves faith (Acts 20:21) and results in good works (Acts 26:20). Repentance is a gift from God (2 Tim. 2:25) and is also His will for everyone (2 Pet. 3:9).

Faith

We believe that faith is essential for salvation (Mt. 9:2; Rom. 10:14; Acts 16:31). Faith is also crucial for effective prayer (Mt. 21:21; Mk. 5:34; Lk. 17:6). True saving faith involves understanding the facts of the gospel (Rom. 10:14), having heartfelt belief in the gospel (John 20:30-31; Heb. 11:1), and committing one’s will to the truth of the gospel (Jn. 1:12; Acts 16:31). Faith results in good works (James 2:14-26).

Justification

We believe that justification is God’s legal declaration that a sinner is righteous (Rom. 4:5-8). God forgives all sin (Acts 2:38) and imputes Christ’s righteousness to us (Rom. 5:17-19) based on Jesus’ sacrificial, substitutionary death (Mt. 3:13-15; Rom. 3:24-26). Through justification, believers are exonerated from guilt and culpability for their sin (Rom. 8:1, 33-34). Justification is God’s work and cannot be earned by man; it is a gift of faith (Gal. 2:16; Phil. 3:8-9; Rom. 3:28-30; 5:1).

Regeneration

We believe that regeneration is God giving new, eternal life to the believer (Jn. 3:3; Eph. 2:1-6; 1 Jn. 3:9). Since humanity is dead in sin (Eph. 2:1), God, through the Holy Spirit (Jn. 3:5; Tit. 3:5) and the Word of God (Jas. 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:23), brings about this new birth (Jn. 3:3). Regeneration results in a total change in lifestyle (Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10; 2 Cor. 5:17; 1 Jn. 3:9).

Adoption

We believe that adoption refers to the believer’s position as a child of God (Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5), enjoying all associated rights and privileges. This sonship will be fully realized when Christ returns and believers are glorified (Rom. 8:23, 15). Adoption is completed at glorification.

Sanctification

We believe that sanctification is the process of becoming more holy, separated from sin, and devoted to God. It includes positional sanctification at conversion (1 Cor. 1:2; Tit. 2:14) and progressive sanctification, which is a lifelong process (2 Cor. 3:18). The goal of sanctification is Christlikeness (Rom. 8:29) and it is complete when believers are glorified and their sin nature is eradicated (1 Thess. 3:13).

Security of the Believer

We believe that salvation is assured by the Scriptures (Jn. 10:29; 2 Tim. 1:12) and confirmed by the Spirit (Eph. 1:3, 13-14). A true believer cannot lose their salvation. The assurance of salvation is only for those who show evidence of a changed life (Mt. 7:16; Rom. 8:5; 1 Jn. 1:6; Jas. 2:14-26; Heb. 4:11). Perseverance in faith and assurance of salvation are works of grace from God, not based on feelings or actions of the believer (Jn. 5:24; Rom. 8:14-16; 2 Pet. 1:5-11).

We believe that angels are a created order of individually formed beings (Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:14). They are distinct from humans, created before mankind (Job 38:4-7), and vary in form and function (Is. 6:2; Ezek. 1:5-14). Angels are more powerful than humans (Dan. 10:13; 1 Pet. 1:12), but one day, the redeemed will rule over them (1 Cor. 6:3). Angels were created to serve and worship God (Acts 10:22). Currently, at least one-third of the angels serve Satan (Rev. 12:3-4).

We believe in the existence of a literal place called heaven. It is the dwelling place of God, characterized by divine perfection, absolute splendor, unparalleled beauty, and perfect rest (Jn. 14:2; Dan. 12:3; Heb. 4:9-11; Rev. 21:4). Heaven will be the eternal home for believers, a place of unmatched blessing where they will serve and worship God (Rev. 19:1-4; Lk. 19:11-27; Mt. 22:30; Jn. 14:3).

We believe in the literal existence of an actual hell as a place of eternal punishment and actual fire (Lk. 16:23; Rev. 14:11; Rev. 20:15). Hell is a place intended for the punishment of Satan and fallen demons, as well as those who are not saved (Mt. 23:33; 25:41; Rev. 14:10-11; Rom. 2:5-9; Rev. 21:8).