What We Believe

God has revealed himself in creation and in the human conscience, and fully in the Scriptures, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments. He inspired their very words, so that, because God cannot lie, they are entirely true and without error in all they affirm in the original manuscripts. Scripture is sufficient for everything needed for salvation and godly living, and it is the highest authority by which all belief and conduct are measured.

Scripture · 2 Timothy 3:16–17 · 2 Peter 1:20–21 · Psalm 19:7–11 · John 17:17 · Hebrews 4:12 · Matthew 5:18

There is one living and true God, infinite and perfect in holiness, love, wisdom, and power, the Creator and Ruler of all things. He works all things according to the counsel of his will, for his own glory and the good of his people. This one God exists eternally in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) who are one in essence and equal in power and glory, yet truly distinct. He alone is worthy of all worship.

Scripture · Deuteronomy 6:4 · Matthew 28:19 · 2 Corinthians 13:14 · John 1:1–3 · Isaiah 46:9–10 · Ephesians 1:11

God created the heavens and the earth and everything in them, and all that he made was very good. He created human beings in his own image, male and female, giving men and women equal dignity and worth. Marriage is his design: a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman that reflects the relationship between Christ and his church. Within it, husband and wife are equal in worth yet given distinct, complementary roles, with the husband called to loving, sacrificial headship after the pattern of Christ, and the wife to gladly honor and support that leadership. Because every person bears God’s image, human life is sacred from conception and worthy of protection.

Scripture · Genesis 1:1 · Genesis 1:26–28 · Genesis 2:24 · Ephesians 5:22–33 · Psalm 139:13–16

Though created good, Adam disobeyed God, and through his fall sin and death entered the world. As a result, all people are born with a sinful nature, alienated from God, spiritually dead, and unable to save themselves. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and apart from his gracious intervention all justly stand under his judgment.

Scripture · Genesis 3:1–19 · Romans 3:10–12 · Romans 3:23 · Romans 5:12 · Romans 6:23 · Ephesians 2:1–3

From eternity, God in love purposed to save sinners through Jesus Christ. Salvation is by grace alone (it cannot be earned by human works), and God calls to himself people from every nation. All who repent and trust in Christ are forgiven, adopted as his children, and kept by his power to the end. Salvation is God’s work from first to last: he plans it, accomplishes it, and brings it to completion.

Scripture · Ephesians 2:8–9 · John 3:16 · Titus 3:4–7 · Revelation 5:9 · Romans 10:9–13 · 1 Timothy 2:3–4

The gospel is the good news that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and was raised on the third day. It is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes: to all who turn from sin and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, God freely gives forgiveness, reconciliation, and eternal life. This is the message Christ has commanded his church to proclaim to all nations.

Scripture · 1 Corinthians 15:1–4 · Romans 1:16 · John 3:16 · Acts 4:12 · Mark 1:15 · Romans 10:9–10

Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, fully God and fully man in one person. He lived a sinless life, died on the cross as a substitute bearing the penalty for sinners, and rose bodily from the grave, conquering sin and death. He ascended to the right hand of the Father, where he reigns and intercedes for his people, and he will return in glory.

Scripture · John 1:1,14 · Colossians 2:9 · Luke 1:35 · Hebrews 4:15 · 2 Corinthians 5:21 · 1 Peter 2:24 · 1 Corinthians 15:3–4

God freely justifies all who trust in Jesus Christ, declaring them righteous in his sight. This verdict rests on no works or merit of our own but is received through faith alone: Christ’s perfect righteousness is credited to us, and our sin was laid on him, so that we stand fully forgiven and accepted before God: saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. In this, God shows himself both just and the one who justifies. Yet the faith that saves is never idle; it transforms the heart and bears fruit in good works.

Scripture · Romans 3:21–26 · Romans 5:1 · Galatians 2:16 · Ephesians 2:8–10 · Philippians 3:9 · 2 Corinthians 5:21 · James 2:14–26

The Holy Spirit is fully God. He convicts the world of sin, gives new birth to the spiritually dead, and unites them to Christ. He indwells every believer, assures them that they are God’s children, and empowers them for holy living and service. He conforms believers more and more to the likeness of Christ, bearing his fruit in them, and gives gifts to each one for the building up of the church.

Scripture · John 3:5–8 · John 16:8 · Titus 3:5 · Romans 8:9–16 · Galatians 5:22–23 · 1 Corinthians 12:4–7 · 2 Corinthians 3:18

All who are saved are brought into the kingdom of God and called to follow Christ. They grow in holiness, love God with their whole being and their neighbors as themselves, and live as faithful witnesses, doing the good works God prepared for them. As we await the fullness of his kingdom at Christ’s return, we labor and pray for his will to be done on earth.

Scripture · Colossians 1:13–14 · Matthew 22:37–39 · Ephesians 2:10 · Matthew 5:16 · Matthew 6:9–10 · 1 Peter 2:9–12

The universal church is composed of all who have been redeemed by Christ, who is her Head. This church becomes visible in local congregations of baptized believers who gather to worship God, sit under his Word, observe the ordinances, exercise loving discipline and mutual care, and proclaim the gospel. Christ leads his church through two offices given in Scripture. Elders (also called pastors and overseers) are charged with teaching, shepherding, and spiritual oversight; following the New Testament pattern, this office is entrusted to a plurality of biblically qualified men. Deacons, whose title means “servant,” carry out the church’s practical care and ministry. It is a role of service rather than governing authority, open to qualified men and women alike, including deaconesses. The church is God’s household and dwelling place by the Spirit, and his chosen instrument to display his glory and make disciples of all nations.

Scripture · Ephesians 1:22–23 · Colossians 1:18 · Acts 2:42 · Matthew 16:18 · 1 Timothy 2:12–13 · 1 Timothy 3:1–13 · Titus 1:5–9 · Matthew 28:18–20 · Hebrews 10:24–25

The Lord Jesus instituted two ordinances for his church. Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, portraying union with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection. The Lord’s Supper is the sharing of the bread and the cup in remembrance of Christ’s body and blood given for us, proclaiming his death until he comes. These ordinances are symbols of God’s grace, public pledges of our faith, and joyful anticipations of Christ’s return.

Scripture · Matthew 28:19 · Romans 6:3–4 · Acts 2:41 · Matthew 26:26–28 · 1 Corinthians 11:23–26

Jesus Christ will return personally, visibly, and bodily to raise the dead and judge all people. Those who have trusted in Christ will be raised to eternal joy in his presence in a renewed creation; those who have rejected him will face God’s just and final judgment, shut out from his presence forever. God will make all things new, wiping away every tear, and will reign in perfect righteousness forever, to the everlasting praise of his glory.

Scripture · Acts 1:11 · 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 · John 5:28–29 · Matthew 25:31–46 · Revelation 20:11–15 · Revelation 21:1–4 · 2 Peter 3:13