is to proclaim the Word of God so that people know Christ and grow to spiritual maturity.
The Bible – we believe that the entire Bible is verbally inspired by God and without any error in its order or content. God’s Word is at the center of Christian union and our absolute standard by which all conduct, creeds and opinions are measured.
The Nature of God – We believe that there is One True God who exists in three distinct persons – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. God is eternal and without origin and holy in His nature and practices. We believe that each member of the Godhead is equal in power and holiness and yet distinct in their roles and work.
Jesus Christ – Jesus is the Son of God, absolutely and fully God. He chose to become fully human in order to redeem fallen mankind from the penalty of our sin, and provide a way of restoration to the Father. As pre-determined, He died on the cross and three days later resurrected from the grave and then 40 days later ascended to Glory. Jesus Christ is our only way for a restored relationship with God.
Man’s Rebellion – Humans were created innocent and without guilt by God, but chose to disobey God. We continue to do so today. The consequence of our sin is separation from God and the full enjoyment of His good gifts in this life. Without a redeemer, man is doomed to eternal judgment and without hope before a Holy God.
Salvation/Restoration – Our only hope is in the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ, not of any works or rituals of our doing. Repentance from our sin and faith in Christ alone as our only Savior brings us into union with Christ, resulting in one’s forgiveness and cleansing from sin and the gift of God’s indwelling Spirit. Christ makes the once dead and broken into a living new creation of God. At salvation, the new believer is fully justified and cleansed before the Father.
Following Christ – To walk as a genuine follower of Christ and child of God a person must first be justified by God’s work of Grace and then grow progressively, being sanctified by the work of the Spirit of God and the application of the Word of God. Growth in Christ is the mark of genuine redemption and is fueled by the study of the Word of God, the work of the Spirit of God, fellowship with God’s people and a steady progression toward godliness in our hearts and practices.
Local Church – The local church is God’s family and is essential for a believer’s growth, service, and fellowship with fellow Christians and Christ Himself. The church is the “Body of Christ”. The local church is made up of redeemed sinners, baptized in obedience, and agreeing on core beliefs and purposes together so that the Word of God may be heard, followed and made known to the world. The people of God are called to be “salt and light” both locally and globally.
Eternity – We believe that human being faces an ultimate appointment with Jesus Christ, the judge of all mankind and will dwell eternally with God or be eternally separated from God in torment. We hold to a coming rapture of the church, tribulation, an earthly millennial kingdom and the eternal new heaven and new earth.
Having been brought by the sovereign grace of God to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we publicly declare our reliance upon and allegiance to Him. With joy, we covenant together to worship Him and to live in Christian love for the glory of Christ within His body, the church. We do now, in the presence of the triune God and before angels and men commit ourselves to walk worthy of His calling and seek His enablement for the fulfilling of this covenant.
We covenant together to uphold the public worship of God in accordance with His Word: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, honoring the preaching of the Word, submitting to Christ’s ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and giving ourselves faithfully to corporate prayer. We agree to contribute freely and cheerfully of our income, as God has graciously prospered us, for the continuing of an edifying and evangelistic ministry among us, for the support of the needy, and for the spread of the gospel throughout the world. We will serve in the ministries of this church by discovering and practicing our spiritual gifts and God-given talents.
In reliance upon the grace of our Living God, we determine to exercise a mutual care and watchfulness for one another to fulfill the law of Christ. We will strive for the good of this whole church to protect and promote the spiritual unity of this church and to turn away from a divisive spirit. We will promote the knowledge of the truth which is in accordance with godliness, by instructing, encouraging and correcting one another in a spirit of meekness, and praying for one another according to the will of God. Within our homes, we will commit to personal and family worship, diligently instructing and training those entrusted to our care in Biblical doctrine and conduct.
As “the salt of the earth”, we will strive to live a Spirit-filled and controlled life and remove ourselves from ungodly practices and passions that hinder pure worship of a Holy God and bind us again to the “old nature of sin”. We further commit to forsake personal liberties that may hinder the gospel or cause another to stumble. We shall, in fear of God, be instead zealous for good deeds and the goal of a clear conscience before God and man, so as not bring any reproach upon the name of our Savior or His Body the Church. It is our desire to enjoy our God by glorifying Him and spreading His gospel to everyone.
Should we remove ourselves from this church, we will, as soon as possible, unite with another church of like faith and practice where we can continue to carry out the spirit of this covenant.