Our Beliefs
The Scriptures
At one time God revealed Himself to men through dreams and prophecies. Today, God makes himself known through the Bible, which was written by holy men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3: 16-17) and therefore has no error.
The Bible is the only true Word of God, where He reveals Himself and His work of salvation, through which sinners, who were condemned for their sins, turn to God to be forgiven and receive eternal life. In the Bible we have received everything we need for life and holiness (2 Peter 1: 3), therefore, we submit to his authority in each of the areas of our lives. Specifically in matters of doctrine and worship, the Bible is our final authority.
God
We believe in a single God who eternally exists in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. "And these three persons are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory." (Westminster Small Catechism, 6)
Man
God created all things out of nothing in the six-day period. Man is the crown of God's creation, being made in knowledge, justice and holiness in the image of God (Genesis 1: 26-27). God created the first man Adam and made him and all his offspring responsible for ruling and caring for creation.
The Fall of Man
God created man to live in His company and in obedience to His commandments. Adam and Eve lived in communion with God until they sinned against Him by disobeying His commandments. All of humanity is represented by Adam and is condemned to die for their sins. Each of us has been born in sin (Psalm 51: 5), dead in his sins and transgressions (Ephesians 2: 1) and unable to save himself from eternal punishment. But God promised to send a Savior to rescue us from our sins (Genesis 3:15).
Jesus
We believe in Jesus Christ, who is the eternal Son of God, who became man and continues to exist as one person forever, but with two different natures - man and divinity. He was born of a virgin, is sinless, lived a perfect life, died on a cross, rose again, and ascended to heaven where he now reigns at the right hand of the Father.
The Holy Spirit
He is one of the three persons of the Trinity, equal to the Son and the Father in power and glory. He acted with the Father and with the Son in the creation of the world and in everything that exists in it (Gen. 1: 1-2). He worked in different ways in the Old Testament, strengthening God's people to serve him (Judges 14: 9,1Samuel 10:10). At Pentecost, after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, He came in power over the apostles enabling them to preach the gospel and perform miracles by establishing the early Church. In our day, we have all the revelation of God's word in the Bible (Hebrews 1: 1-2) and we don't need miracles, prophecy, or speaking in tongues to reveal God's word to the world. The Holy Spirit lives in each believer leading him to Jesus, empowering him to believe in God, understand the Bible, convict him of sin, and love the Lord with all his heart, mind, soul, and strength (Deuteronomy 6: 5,Matthew 22:37).
Salvation
We believe that we are justified by grace alone through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only way to salvation. To all who trust in the Lord Jesus, the righteousness of Christ is given (Romans 4: 6,eleven) through faith and your sins are accounted for. He achieved salvation for us, fulfilling every detail of God's law by taking our place, receiving God's wrath and punishment for our sins.
Church
We believe in Jesus Christ, who is the eternal Son of God, who became man and continues to exist as one person forever, but with two different natures - man and divinity. He was born of a virgin, is sinless, lived a perfect life, died on a cross, rose again, and ascended to heaven where he now reigns at the right hand of the Father.
Baptism
Baptism is one of the two sacraments of the Church ordained by Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19). It is the symbol and seal of union with Christ, of regeneration, forgiveness of sins, and commitment to living a holy life for God. Our Church baptizes by sprinkling water according to various images portrayed in the word of God (Exodus 24: 8,Numbers 19:19,Ezekiel 36:25). Those who put their faith in Christ for the forgiveness of their sins and eternal life are baptized. The Bible also teaches us that the children of believers must be baptized (Genesis 17,Acts 2: 38-39,Colossians 2: 11-12), not for salvation but to separate them from the world as belonging to the Church (1Corinthians 7:14). We baptize our children believing in God's promises that one day he will change their hearts and save them from their sins through faith in Jesus Christ.
The Lord's Supper
We believe that the sacrament of the Lord's Supper is a means of grace whereby God strengthens the faith of those who participate in a worthy way by faith. The elements of bread and wine represent the body and blood of Christ, which were given by his people. Although the bread and wine do not transform into or contain the blood or body of Christ, we believe in the “real presence” of Christ and that the sacrament is the participation in the body and blood of Christ, where believers are raised to the heavenly places where Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father.
