The Worship of God

The Christian church exists to worship God first of all.(1) When we place primary emphasis on God rather than ourselves, our rights or our needs, we please Him and fulfill His design. And remarkably, when we worship God rather than seek our own satisfaction, we are content and joyful. We seek to worship God with reverence, thankfulness and joy. We do this because the living God into whose presence we come is "majestic in holiness and awesome in praises."(2)

The Word of God

The Bible is God's Word and is relevant to all of life.(3) It is the only book which answers life's ultimate and most perplexing questions. It provides the framework to understand our world including all areas of thought and culture. It teaches us how to live before the Lord in our families, in our work, and in our leisure time.(4) The Bible provides the pattern for our churches.(5) It speaks with divine authority to man in every dimension and sphere of life.

The Salvation of God

The central message of the scriptures is the salvation of mankind through the person and work of Jesus Christ.(6) We believe and preach that Jesus Christ is the unique God-Man,(7) who by His life of perfect obedience and the substitutionary sacrifice of Himself as applied by the Holy Spirit,(8) Christ saves the lost and guilty sinner.(9)

We also affirm that this salvation was planned from all eternity(10) and men come into possession of the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life when God the Father powerfully calls them by His grace,(11) enabling the sinner to repent of their sin and to trust only in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.(12)

The People of God

"Without holiness no man shall see the Lord."(13) Scripture assures us that putting off habits that are sinful and putting on a Christ-like lifestyle are required of Christ’s disciples. We cannot delight in God's wonderful promises if we refuse to obey His holy commandments.(14) All Christians must demonstrate the reality of what they claim to be by lives of sincere, constant, though imperfect, godliness.(15) The standard of this godliness is God's unchanging moral law as summarized in the Ten Commandments(16) and exemplified in the perfect life of Jesus Christ.(17) The power for such a life of godliness comes from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.(18)

The Church of God

We believe that the church which Jesus Christ established is essential and indispensable.(19) The church is God’s means to accomplish God’s purposes. Through the church God’s truth is preserved and proclaimed.(20) This proclamation is primarily through preaching, by faithful men,(21) and for the purpose of saving sinners and strengthening Christians.(22)

1. Exodus 20:3, 8-11; Psalm 95:6-7; Romans 12:1-2
2. Exodus 15:11
3. 1 Corinthians 10:11-13; 2 Timothy 3:16
4. Ephesians 5:25-33; Colossians 3:18-25
5. 1 Timothy 3:15; Acts 2:42
6. Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 1:15
7. Philippians 2:5-11; John 1:1-3
8. John 6:44
9. Romans 5:6-21; Galatians 3:13
10. Ephesians 1:3-5
11. 1 Corinthians 1:9; Ephesians 2:1-10
12. Romans 3:23-26; Acts 20:21
13. Hebrews 12:14; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
14. Matthew 10:34-38; John 15:10-14
15. Matthew 6:1-18; Hebrews 3:14; Galatians 5:16-17
16. Matthew 5:17-19; Romans 7:12
17. 1 John 2:6
18. Romans 8:7-9, 14
19. Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 2:20
20. 1 Timothy 3:15; Romans 1:16, John 17:17
21. 1 Timothy 3:1-7; 2 Timothy 2:2
22. 1 Timothy 4:16; Colossians 1:27-28; Ephesians 4:11-12