~ STATEMENT OF BELIEFS ~
We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word
of God.
We believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: the Father, the
Son and the Holy Spirit.
We believe that in Adam, human beings were created in the image of God (i.e. they
share in a finite way the communicable attributes of God, such as personality, spirituality,
rationality, morality). Through the fall of Adam, that image of God in humanity
has been defiled, although not eradicated. Yet, as a result, every human being is
radically corrupt and estranged from God. Human beings are condemned by God because
of their descent into sin, both through their relationship to Adam and through individual
choice. The desperate need of humanity is forgiveness of sins and consequent restoration
of fellowship with God; yet we are totally unable to atone for their sins and restore
themselves.
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ; in His virgin birth; His sinless
life; His miracles; His vicarious, substitutionary death - making atonement through
His shed blood; His bodily resurrection; in His ascension to the right hand of the
Father; and in His personal return in power and glory.
We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the
Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian
is enabled to live a godly life.
We believe in the resurrection from the dead of both the saved and the lost; they
that are saved are raised to eternal life and they that are lost are raised to God's
judgment and eternal punishment.
We believe in the spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe that marriage is designed by God to be between one man and one woman
for a lifetime. As such, divorce is a tragedy that we must seek to avoid and, homosexuality
is inconsistent with God's design for men and women.
A more complete statement of our beliefs can be found in "The
Baptist Faith and Message".