What the Word declares is what we believe.
We believe . . . in the ONE true and living God.
Maker of all creation; the all-knowing, all-powerful, everywhere-present, eternal Father; the source of all goodness, truth, and love; who has manifested himself in His Son, Jesus Christ, for the purposes of redemption and as the Holy Ghost for the purpose of intervening in the lives of people.
(Deuteronomy 6:4 - 11; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Timothy 1:17; 3:16; 6:13 - 16)
We believe . . . in the divine inspiration of the Scriptures.
And that the original manuscripts of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible are the Word of God given through people, and that the Scriptures we possess today are the sufficient rule of faith and practice and the final authority for truth and salvation.
(2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20 - 21)
We believe . . . in the gospel of Jesus Christ,
which declares Him to be the only begotten Son of God, who was born of a virgin and who lived to show us the words and works of God. As the Savior, He was crucified and died on the cross in our place to be the supreme sacrifice for sin. He was buried in a tomb but rose again on the third day, as the Scriptures foretold. And is now exalted as King of kings and Lord of lords. As God manifested in the flesh, He is true God and true man; in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead.
(Acts 10:38 - 40; 1 Corinthians 15: 1 - 4; Colossians 2:9)
We believe . . . in the original Apostolic plan of salvation,
proclaimed on the Day of Pentecost on the birthday of the New Testament Church. Which includes, faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, sincere repentance, water baptism by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost with the joyous experience of speaking supernaturally in other tongues - just as the believers did in the first century.
We believe . . . in living a life of holiness,
both inwardly and outwardly, as a result of the working of God's grace in us. For the Word of the Lord declares that all who name the name of Christ should depart from sin and separate themselves from the evil practices of this present age.
(Ephesians 4:21 - 24; 2 Timothy 2:19; Hebrews 12:14)
We believe . . . in practicing genuine Christianity,
through love for God and people, prayer, obedience to the Word of God, heartfelt worship and expressive praise, sharing our faith, commitment to our marriage companions and families, availability to help one another in time of need, honesty, and diligence in our employment, honor and respect for our government as it submits to the divine plan for human society, and the dedication of our time, talent, and treasure to advance of the kingdom of God on earth.
(Romans 12 - 13; Colossians 3 - 4)
We believe . . . in the local and universal church,
established by our Lord as unique and special fellowship for all who believe. It is the spiritual community ordained for worship, stewardship, and service to God and people, of which every believer must become a part, for it is the body of Christ in the world today, displaying the same miraculous power and spiritual gifts experienced by the early church.
(1 Corinthians 12: Ephesians 4:4 - 16)
We believe . . . in the return of Jesus Christ, that glorious appearing when our Lord shall come with the sound of a trumpet, when both those who have died in Christ and those who now live in Christ will rise to meet Him in the air to be with Him forever.
(1 Corinthians 15:51 - 55; 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 18)
We believe . . . in the judgment of all people,
when the wicked shall receive their punishment and the righteous shall receive their reward. We believe in the ultimate triumph of righteousness and in the life everlasting.
(Romans 14:10 - 12; 2 Thessalonians 1:6 - 10; Revelation 20:12 - 21: 8)
We believe . . . in worship to the Most High God
We pray together aloud because in the Bible we read, "They lifted up their voice to God with one accord" (Acts 4:24)
We lift our hands in praise because in the Bible we read, "Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord" (Psalm 134:2)
We sing with all our hearts because in the Bible we read, "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise" (Psalm 98:4)
We play musical instruments because in the Bible we read, "And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments" (II Samuel 6:5)
We clap and shout unto God because in the Bible we read, "O CLAP your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph" (Psalm 47:1)
We dance before the Lord because in the Bible we read, "Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs" (Psalm 150:4)
We testify publicly because in the Bible we read, "I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee" (Psalm 22:22)
We anoint with oil for divine healing because in the Bible we read, "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord" (James 5:14)
