Here's what we believe:
God
There is one true, living God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things. Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; 10:17; Isaiah 44:6, 24; 45:12; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16-17; Revelation 4:11.
God is a Trinity of persons: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each is eternally existent, diverse in operation, but equal in essence and deity. Matthew 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 13:14.
The Father initiates the godhead’s will and all things will be submitted to Him. John 5:36, 6:38, 14:28; 1 Corinthians 11:3, 15:24-28.
Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died as a substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of the world and was raised from the dead on the third day. He currently sits in Heaven at the right hand of the Father and intercedes for His own until He returns to rule the earth. Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 1:30-35; Matthew 28:5-8; Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians15:3-5; Hebrews 4:15; 9:11-14; 1 John 2:2; Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:20-23; Hebrews 1:13; 7:25; 1 John 2:1; Zechariah 14:3-9; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; Acts 1:11; Revelation 22:7, 20.
The Holy Spirit inhabits believers for fellowship, growth and service and convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. John 14:16-18; 1 Corinthians 12; Galatians 3:2; Ephesians 1:13-14; John 16:8-11.
Scriptures
The Scriptures in their original autographs, are the fully inspired Word of God, without error, absolute in their authority and complete in their provision for godly living. Genesis 15:1; Psalm 119:11, 160; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:20-21;3:15-16; John 10:35; 1 Corinthians 14:37; 1 Thessalonians 2:13.
We affirm the 1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy.
Creation
The universe is the product of special creation by God, out of nothing in six days. All that exists, material and immaterial, seen and unseen, does so by God’s will and word and is ultimately for His glory. God directly created all forms of life that have existed on the earth and these created forms of life reproduce after their own kind. Every aspect of God's original creation was as God intended, and “very good.” Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 11:3; Psalm 19:11, 33:6; Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 20:11; 31:17; John 1:2-3; Acts 4:24; Colossians 1:16; Genesis 1:20-25, 2:19; 1:31.
Humanity is the pinnacle of God’s creation, uniquely bearing His image. Adam and Eve are the first of the human race, without physical predecessors and all humanity has descended from that first couple. As those created in God's image every person, from conception to death, has intrinsic value and dignity and is deserving of respect. Genesis 1:26-28, 2:7, 21-23; Romans 5:12-17; Acts 17:26; 1 Corinthians 15:49.
The Fall - Sin and Death
Death on the earth, and the loss of the “very good” state of God's original creation is the fruit of the sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve. Creation, now groaning under the effects of sin and death, will also be included in the restoration of life when Jesus makes all things new. Romans 5:12-21; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Genesis 3:17-18; Romans 8:18-23; 2 Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 21:1.
Sexual Identity & God’s Image
God created mankind in His own image as male and female. Each person is meant to reflect God’s image in his or her God-ordained sexuality. While confusion may occur in regard to an individual’s identity and gender, pleasing God and growing more fully into the person we were created to be requires reflecting His image in the gender in which we were born. In resolving any such confusion, we believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. We believe every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Genesis 1:26-27.
Men and women, while equal in worth before God, are created with different and complementary roles- men are to exercise loving leadership in the home and church and women supportive help. Acts 14:23; 20:28; 1 Timothy 2:11-3:2; Titus 1:5-6; Acts 6:2-4; Ephesians 5:22-26;33; Titus2:2-5; 1 Peter3:1-6; Colossians 3:18-21.
We affirm the 2017 Nashville Statement on Sexuality. https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement/
Salvation
Each person is born separated from God through sin, and through intention and ignorance falls short of His righteous standards. Salvation is by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. By faith we are born again, forgiven our sins, placed in the family of God and given the Holy Spirit. Salvation is eternal in nature and cannot be lost or forfeit. Each person has an eternal future- those who through faith in Jesus Christ have been reconciled to God enjoy eternal joy and happiness in God’s presence. Those who reject God’s salvation endure eternal separation from God and all goodness in hell. Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:9-12,23; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1; John 1:12; 5:24;6:47; 14:6;20:31; Acts 16:30-31; Romans 3:22,28; 5:1; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians1:13-14;2:8-9; 1 John 5:13; John 10:27-29; Romans 8:35-39; Psalm 16:11; John 14:2-3; John 3:18, 36; 2 Thessalonians1:7-10; Revelation 20:10, 13-15; 21:8.
Marriage
Marriage is the union of one man and one woman in a life-long covenant in which they love and support each other, reflecting the loving relationship Jesus has with His Church. Sex is intended for marriage and in that exclusive and protected relationship is designed by God for mutual enjoyment, encouragement and procreation. Sex outside marriage falls short of God’s intention and purpose and is to be avoided as sinful and offensive to God. Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-5; Ephesians 5:3, 22-33; Proverbs 5:15-19; Song of Solomon; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5.
The Church
All those who have been born again through faith in Jesus Christ are indwelled by the Holy Spirit and are members of the family of God, the body of Christ, and the universal Church of Jesus Christ. The Church was established and is built by Jesus Christ to be His own bride. Each member is placed in the body by God the Father as He has desired, and gifted by the Holy Spirit for the equipping and building up of the body in love. Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:41-47; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 5:7-13; 12:12-27; Ephesians 2:19-22; 4:11-16; 5:23-32; Colossians 1:18; Revelation 21:2-3.
Through baptism each believer is called on to identify themselves as followers of Jesus Christ as soon as may be convenient after conversion. In the Lord’s Supper the church is called on to remember Jesus Christ in His death, resurrection and future return to earth. Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38; 8:12; 16:33; Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.
Members of the Church body are to love one another, encourage, exhort, admonish, help, bear with, serve, fellowship, pray for, and worship with one another. When necessary, members confront one another in love for the sake of God’s glory, the purity of the Body and the good of the fellow member. John 13:34; 15:12,17; Romans 12:10, 16; 14:9; Galatians 5:13; Ephesians 4:2, 32; Colossians 3:13, 16; Hebrews 3:13; Matthew 18:15-20; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; Titus 3:9-11.
In the local Church Christ has appointed that a plurality of men serve in the roles of elders and deacons to provide leadership and oversight. Acts 14:23, 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Acts 6:2-4; 1 Timothy 3:8-10, 12-13.
Christians are commissioned to evangelize the world, making followers of Jesus Christ. Each believer is to display the love of God in service to others. Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 10:14-15; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:7; 1 Timothy 6:18; 1 John 3:16-18.
Our Citizenship
Followers of Jesus Christ have dual citizenship, being citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20, 2nd Corinthians 5:20, 1st Peter 2:9) as well as citizens of the various nations into which followers of Christ live. Each of these spheres carries its own responsibilities, with our heavenly citizenship and loyalty to Jesus Christ being preeminent (Matthew 22:21, 1st Corinthians 8:5–6, Philippians 2:10–11).
Jesus’ followers are called to obey the earthly authorities (1st Peter 2:13–17) which have been ordained by God (Daniel 2:21; 4:13, John 19:11) as those authorities fulfill their God-given role of encouraging good and discouraging evil (Romans 13:1-7). Generally, this means Christians should be model citizens in the country in which they live (1st Peter 2:12).
However, Christians are called to obey God rather than human governments when government authorities require what God forbids, forbid what God commands, attempt to usurp authority God has given to others (such as parents authority over their children or an individual’s authority over their own body/health) or when a Christian would be violating their own conscience in fulfilling a governmental edict (Acts 5:29). Christians may wisely exercise their legal rights within the political sphere they inhabit (Acts 25:11–12) but ultimately must strive to please and obey God rather than human authorities when faithfulness to both cannot be accommodated as they understand it (Romans 14:14, 22–23).
