I.  THE HOLY TRINITY

       We believe in one living and true God, eternal and of infinite power, wisdom, goodness and righteousness.  He is a loving and faithful God who is the Creator and preserver of all things. (Genesis 1:1; Jeremiah 10:10; I Timothy 1:17) In the unity of this Godhead there are three persons of one substance with identical qualities and attributes; the Father (God), the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit (John1:1,2; 4:24; :18;10:30).

II.  THE SON OF GOD

         We believe in the divine nature of Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.  Christ was both fully man and fully God.  He walked our earth, suffered at the hands of men, was crucified, died and buried as a sacrifice for the sins of all men and women everywhere.  The purpose was to restore our relationship to God which is broken by sin (disobedience) (Luke 1:27; 31:35; John 3:16; Romans 5:10; Ephesians 5:2).  Christ rose from the dead and ascended into heaven in full victory over Satan and sin.  He now intercedes for the body of believers to God the Father (Matthew 28:5-9; Luke 24:4-7).

 III.  THE HOLY SPIRIT

          We believe in the Holy Spirit as the person of the Holy Trinity who lives within us, giving us the power to live a holy life and guiding us to truth (Romans 8:9;Galatians 4:6).

 IV.  THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE

          We believe that the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments combined constitute the Holy Bible; no books may be added or deleted.  The Holy Bible is inspired and  without error.  The Holy Bible contains all the necessary truth to lead men and women into salvation (Psalm 19:7; John 17:17; Romans 15:4; I Thessalonians 2:13, II Timothy 3:15-17).

V.  MAN

         We believe that mankind was created by God in His own Image (Genesis 1:27), but because of Adam’s sin (disobedience) man inherits a corrupt nature that inclines him to do wrong (Genesis 3:6; 6:5; Romans 5:12).  Man is not capable of achieving a life without sin in his own (Proverbs 20:9; Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16). Because man is created in God’s own image, we have a “God-likeness” which included knowledge between right and wrong, the ability to choose which course we will take, and the responsibility for our actions, or our choices (Joshua 24:15; I Kings 20:40; John 7:17).

VI.   SALVATION
       

          We  believe that Jesus Christ, the living Son of God, was given by God as a sacrifice for the sins of all men.  Christ died on the cross to mend the broken relationships which were caused by man’s sin of disobedience.  This severed relationship between God and man may be restored into perfect harmony through belief in Jesus Christ by faith, and not on the basis of our works (Galatians 5:4,5; Ephesian 2:8,9).  This belief and faith in Jesus Christ, recognizing Him as Lord and Savior, gives men and women the free gift of eternal life (John 1:29; 3:16; I Cor. 5:2; I Peter 1:19).  After receiving salvation by faith through belief in Jesus Christ, the “born-again” (John 3:3) believer may live free from the judgment of God, by living a life according to the teaching of the scriptures and trusting the Holy Spirit for the power to live a holy life according to God’s Word. We further believe that God’s gift of life through Christ Jesus is eternal (John 3:16)

VII.  GOOD WORKS

          We believe that even though men and women cannot receive salvation by good work, their good works are still pleasing to God and show evidence of a true faith in God, and Jesus as Lord of the believer’s life (Matthew 5:16; 7:16-20; Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16; James 2:18,22).

VIII. SANCTIFICATION

         We believe that sanctification is the work of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, making the believer pure in heart and totally committed and dedicated to God.  This work is both instantaneous and gradual (or progressive).  It begins when a person is saved and continues throughout life.  In the process of sanctification there is a time when the believer is convicted of a “lukewarm” Christian life and looks to Christ with a total commitment and dedication to “Christ-like” living.  There is no black and white time line involved; for some this occurs soon following salvation and for others much time elapses.  But for all believers sanctification is the will for God (I Thessalonians 4:3).  Sanctification is the point in life when a believer renounces the desire to live for self and desires to live totally for the glory of God.  Christ indeed becomes Lord of your life.  The believer is then empowered by the Holy Spirit, making him able to live a life of holiness.  This does not mean perfection of the believer, but purity of heart, soul and mind (Deuteronomy 30:6; Luke 1:74-75; Acts 15;8-9; I Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 4:13,24; I Thessalonians 4:3,7; James 4:8).                                                                                                                            

IX.  GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

         We believe that the Holy Spirit has given spiritual gifts to all believers for the purpose of building up the body of Christ and bringing glory to God.  The gifts are to be exercised in love and emphasize the need for unity (I Corinthians 12:4,11,18,21-25; Ephesisns 4:11-16).

            We believe in the existence of languages and the interpretation of languages in its Biblical and historical setting.  However it is contrary to the teaching of God’s Word, as understood by the Baptist Church, to teach that speaking an unknown tongue, or the gift of tongues, is the evidence of being filled with Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-24).

            The unity of the body of Christ is of utmost importance, therefore only a language readily understood by the congregation is to be used in public worship (ICorinthians 12:1; 14:40).

X.  BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER

       We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  It is an outward sign of inward grace or change that has taken place inside the believer, and shows our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior.  Baptism by immersion symbolizes our death to sin and resurrection to a new life.(Matthew 28:19, Acts 8:36-39, Romans 6:4)

       We believe in the Lord’s Supper. The members of the Church, by the sacred use of bread and wine, commemorate together the dying love of Christ - preceded always by  solemn self examination.  (I  Corinthians 11:26-28)           

XI.  THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST