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What We Believe

Scriptures

We believe the Bible constitutes the only infallible rule of faith and practice. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction and is totally true and trustworthy. We believe the Scriptures to be “God-breathed” and therefore fully authoritative in and of themselves; they rely for their authority upon no church, council, or creed, but are authoritative simply because they are the Word of God. (Matthew 5:18; 24:35; John 10:35; 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:20-21). 

God

We believe there is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and is perfect in all His attributes, one in essence, eternally existing in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit —each equally deserving worship and obedience. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-7; 1 Corinthians 8:4; John 4:24; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Man

We believe that man is the special creation of God, made in His own image. He created them male and female as the crowning work of His creation. By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Because all men were in Adam, a nature corrupted by Adam’s sin has been transmitted to all men of all ages, Jesus Christ being the only exception. All men are thus sinners by nature, by choice, by divine declaration, and are hopelessly lost. Man’s salvation is thereby wholly of God’s grace through the redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-19; John 3:36; Romans 3:23; 6:23; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 Timothy 2:13-14; 1 John 1:8; Psalm 14:1-3; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:9-18, 23; 5:10-12).

Salvation

We believe that salvation is by grace through faith alone. God, in His sovereign grace and mercy, regenerates sinful men by the power of the Holy Spirit, which causes them to be born again. This supernatural work of the Holy Spirit is instantaneous and is accomplished through the instrumentality of the Word of God when the repentant sinner, as enabled by the Holy Spirit, responds in faith to the divine provision of salvation. Repentance and faith always accompany salvation. Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is trusting in Jesus Christ alone as Lord and Saviour. The primary acts of saving faith directly relate to Christ: accepting, receiving, and resting upon him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life. Those who are truly regenerate produce fruits worthy of repentance as demonstrated by righteous attitudes and conduct. (Eph 2:5; 2:8-9; John 3:3-7; Titus 3:5; John 5:24; John 1:12; Acts 16:31; Galatians 2:20; Acts 15:11; John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Romans 1:16-18; 2:4; 3:23-25; 4:3ff.; 5:8-10; 6:1-23; 8:1-18,29-39; 10:9-10,13; 13:11-14; 1 Corinthians 1:18,30; 6:19-20; 15:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21).

The Church

We believe that all who place their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual Body, the church. The church is an autonomous local congregation that is called to live in the power of the Holy Spirit under the regulation of the authority of Holy Scripture, preaching the gospel of Christ, administering the sacraments, and exercising discipline. The Lord Jesus is the head of His church and church leadership, gifts, order, discipline, and worship are all appointed through His sovereignty as found in the Scriptures. The biblically designated officers serving under Christ and over the assembly are elders (also called overseers, pastors, and pastor/teachers) and deacons, both of whom must meet biblical qualifications. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23-32; Revelation 19:7-8; Ephesians 1:22; 4:15; Colossians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-5).

Last Things

We believe that Jesus will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever with the Lord. Until His return, believers are to be busy doing the work of evangelism and discipleship, proclaiming the pure Gospel of Jesus, and teaching the Word of God. (Luke 21:27-28; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:48; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 3:11; 20:1-22:13; Matthew 28:18-20).

The Five Solas

  • We believe that scripture alone is the foundation of our faith and the authority of our teaching (Sola Scriptura).
  • We believe that Christ is the only mediator between God and man. Through His work on the cross, man can be reconciled to God (Solus Christus). 
  • We believe that grace alone is the method by which God saves people. There is no merit or goodness that commends a person to God  (Sola Gratia).
  • We believe that faith alone is the means that God uses to deliver His grace and mercy to undeserving wretched sinners. It is faith and not works that God uses to save sinners (Sola Fide).
  • We believe that the Glory of God alone is the goal or the aim of every Christian.  It is our ambition to bring all Glory to God (Soli Deo Gloria).

We Believe God’s Word

We believe the Scriptures are inerrant and sufficient. When we say that we believe the Bible is sufficient we mean that it is God’s words to us that tell us what we need for life and godliness. The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy is a good summary of our view of inerrancy.