We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally inspired word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible, and God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16, 17 || 2 Peter 1:20, 21 || Matthew 5:18 || John 16:12, 13).
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He is an eternal, Triune Being, having eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God. (Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; 3:22 || Psalm 90:2 || Matthew 28:19 || 1 Peter 1:2 || 2 Corinthians 13:14)
God is best understood as a Being of Pure Love and who relates to people on the basis of covenant -much like a marriage, or commitment to the death. His "commitment to the death" for mankind was demonstrated ultimately through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ (see "About Jesus Christ" below). The terms for God's love-covenant to be binding are our personal faith in and follow-ship of Jesus. It is God's Nature as Pure Love that shapes all spiritual and physical truth. (1 Corinthians 13 || John 3:16 || 1 John 4:9-10)
Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself through His death on the cross as a representative, substitutionary sacrifice. After three days, Jesus rose from the dead literally and physically. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry as Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. We believe Jesus is coming again to judge the living and the dead. (John 1:1-2, 14 || Luke 1:35 || Romans 3:24 || 1 Peter 2:24 || Ephesians 1:7 || 1 Peter 1:3-5 || Acts 1:9, 10 || Hebrews 7:25 || Hebrews 9:24 || Romans 8:34 || 1 John 2:1-2 || 1 Peter 4:5 || Romans 14:9 || 2 Timothy 4:1)
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. As the Mediator of Jesus' Person, He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, guidance in doing what is right, and gifts for serving God and others. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily. (2 Corinthians 3:17 || John 16:7-13; 14:16-17 || Acts 1:8 || 2 Corinthians 2:12; 3:16 || Ephesians 1:13 || Galatians 5:25 || Ephesians 5:18)
Mankind was created in the image and likeness of God and in an uninhibited personal relationship with Him. But through Adam's sin, the human race fell, inheriting a sinful nature (becoming slaves to sin), and becoming alienated from God. Slavery to sin can be broken and our relationship to God can be restored only through a personal commitment to follow Jesus Christ. (Genesis 1:27 || Psalms 8:3-6 || Isaiah 53:6 || Romans 3:23 || Isaiah 59: 1-2)
Salvation is a gift from God to humanity based on a relational covenant (see "About God" above). We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ can we be freed from sin. Eternal life begins the moment one offers his/her life to follow Jesus Christ. To be a "Christian" is to be an everyday follower of Jesus Christ. (Romans 6:23 || Ephesians 2:8-9 || John 14:6; 1:12 || Titus 3:5 || Galatians 3:26 || Romans 5:1)
God is sovereign in the bestowing of spiritual gifts. It is, however, the believer's responsibility to attempt to develop his/her sovereignly given spiritual gift(s). The baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs at conversion (the commitment to follow Jesus) and is the placing of the believer into the Body of Christ. Also, particular spiritual gift(s) are neither essential, nor prove the presence of the Holy Spirit, nor are an indication of deep spiritual experience. God hears and answers the prayer of faith, in accordance with His own will, for the sick and afflicted. It is the privilege and responsibility of every believer to minister according to the gift(s) and grace of God that is given to him. (1 Corinthians 12:7, 11, 13 || Ephesians 4:7-8 || John 15:7 || 1 John 5:14, 15 || Romans 12:1-8 || 1 Corinthians 13 || 1 Peter 4:10-11).
The Church is a local expression of the entire body of believers from all times and places. It is a group of Christ-followers whose purpose is to continue the mission and ministry of Jesus Himself in the world -to be Christ's "flesh and blood" on the earth. As such, God literally allows the church to join Him in changing the world. We recognize believer's baptism and the Lord's supper as scriptural means of testimony for the church (Matthew 28:19-20 || John 20:21 || Luke 4:18-19 || Acts 2:41, 42; 18:8 || 1 Corinthians 3:9; 11:23-26; 12:27)