what we believe

We believe in the one true, holy and living God, Eternal Spirit, who is Creator, Sovereign and Preserver of all things visible and invisible. He is infinite in power, wisdom, justice, goodness, and love, and rules with gracious regard for the well-being and salvation of all people, to the glory of His name. We believe the one God reveals Himself as the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, distinct but inseparable, eternally one in essence and power.

We believe in Jesus Christ, truly God and truly man, in whom the divine and human natures are perfectly and inseparably united. He is the eternal Word made flesh, the only begotten Son of the Father, born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus lived, suffered, and died on the cross to pay for the sins of all humankind. He was buried, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven to be with the Father, from whence he shall return. He is eternal Savior and Mediator, who continually intercedes for us, and forgives all who call out to Him.

We believe in the Holy Spirit who proceeds from and is one in being with the Father and the Son. He convinces the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement. He leads men through faithful response to the gospel into the fellowship of the Church. He comforts, sustains, and empowers the faithful and guides them into all truth.

Salvation comes by believing in Jesus Christ's atonement for our sins by His death on the cross. We understand that Jesus is both fully man and fully God. The offering that Christ freely made on the cross is a perfect and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. No other satisfaction is possible or required. After conversion, we are called to begin following His teachings to become more like Him.

Humans are, by nature, inclined toward sin. Unless one has been born again, they cannot see the Kingdom of God. In a person's own strength, without divine grace, one cannot do good works pleasing and acceptable to God. People influenced and empowered by the Holy Spirit, however, are able to exercise his will for God's good. Though good works, which are fruits of the faith and follow after justification, cannot atone for our sins, they are pleasing to God in Christ, and are evidence of our devotion to Him.

We believe in three types of grace. Prevenient grace is the grace that comes to us even before we know God; He loves us and offers us salvation even though we are sinners. Justifying grace is shown in the fact that we find pardon for our sin once we know Christ. Sanctifying grace allows us to be purified and cleansed as we continue our lives as disciples of Jesus and become more like Him in our attitudes and actions.

The Bible is our authority and guide. Through Scripture, the living Christ meets us in the experience of redeeming grace. Jesus is the living Word of God in our midst whom we trust in life and death. The biblical authors, illumined by the Holy Spirit, bear witness that, in Christ, the world is reconciled to God. The Bible is sacred canon for Christian people and is the source of all that is necessary and sufficient for salvation.