What We Believe
The Triune God
We believe in the one true and living God, an infinite and intelligent Spirit, whose existence is from everlasting to everlasting. In the unity of the Godhead, there are three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—who are the same in substance, equal in power and glory, and identical in their divine attributes. This Triune God is the Creator, Sustainer, and Governor of all things, executing His sovereign will over history and creation. Each person of the Trinity is fully God, yet they are not three Gods but one God, subsisting in a perfect communion of love and purpose. Our worship is directed to this Triune God alone, acknowledging that all things are from Him, through Him, and to Him.
Genesis 1:1, 26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 45:6–7; Psalm 110:1; Isaiah 6:3; Isaiah 48:16; Matthew 3:16–17; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1–3; John 10:30; John 14:26; John 15:26; Acts 5:3–4; Romans 1:20; Romans 11:36; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:18; Ephesians 4:4–6; Philippians 2:5–11; Colossians 1:15–17; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:1–3, 8; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 John 5:7, 20; Revelation 1:4–6; Revelation 4:8
God the Father
We believe in God the Father Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth, who is the first person of the Trinity. He is the sovereign Architect of the universe, upholding and governing all creatures and all their actions by His holy providence. As the Father, He has eternally begotten the Son and, from all eternity, has graciously chosen a people for Himself to be redeemed through His Son. He is a Father to His people in a special, covenantal sense—having adopted them as His own children, providing for their needs, hearing their prayers, and disciplining them with a perfect, steadfast love. His fatherhood is the original pattern for all earthly authority and family life, and His ultimate purpose is the manifestation of His glory through the redemption of His creation.
Genesis 1:1; Exodus 4:22–23; Deuteronomy 32:6; 1 Chronicles 29:10–13; Psalm 2:7–9; Psalm 103:13–14; Psalm 139:1–16; Isaiah 63:16; Isaiah 64:8; Malachi 2:10; Matthew 5:16, 45, 48; Matthew 6:9, 26, 32; Matthew 7:11; Matthew 11:25–27; Luke 12:32; John 1:12–13; John 3:16; John 17:1–5; Romans 8:14–17, 28–30; Romans 11:36; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Galatians 4:4–7; Ephesians 1:3–6; Ephesians 3:14–15; Ephesians 4:6; Philippians 4:19–20; Colossians 1:12–14; Hebrews 12:5–11; James 1:17; 1 Peter 1:3, 17; 1 John 3:1.
God the Son
We believe in Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God and the second person of the Trinity, who for us and for our salvation became man without ceasing to be God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, uniting a perfectly divine nature and a perfectly human nature in one person forever. As the Mediator of the Covenant of Grace, He fulfilled the Law on our behalf through His sinless life and offered Himself as a perfect, substitutionary sacrifice on the cross to satisfy divine justice and reconcile us to God. We believe in His literal, bodily resurrection from the dead, His ascension into heaven, and His current session at the right hand of the Father. There, He reigns as the King of kings and Lord of lords, continually making intercession for His people until He returns in glory to judge the world and consummate His kingdom.
Genesis 3:15; Psalm 2:7–12; Psalm 110:1–4; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6–7; Isaiah 53:1–12; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:21–23; Matthew 16:16; Matthew 28:18–20; Luke 1:31–35; John 1:1–14; John 8:58; John 10:30; John 14:6; John 17:1–5; Acts 1:9–11; Acts 4:12; Romans 1:3–4; Romans 3:23–26; Romans 5:8–10; Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:3–8, 20–25; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 4:4–5; Philippians 2:5–11; Colossians 1:15–20; Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 Timothy 3:16; Titus 2:13–14; Hebrews 1:1–4, 8; Hebrews 4:14–15; Hebrews 7:25; 1 Peter 2:22–24; 1 John 2:1–2; 1 John 4:9–10; Revelation 1:5, 17–18; Revelation 5:9–14; Revelation 19:11–16
God the Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who proceeds from the Father and the Son and is worshiped and glorified together with them. He is the Lord and Giver of life, the divine agent in creation, revelation, and the application of redemption to the elect. We believe that He inspired the prophets and apostles to write the Holy Scriptures and that He continues to illuminate the minds of believers to understand and obey the Truth. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and is the sole author of regeneration, bringing dead souls to life. He indwells every believer, acting as a Comforter, Guide, and Advocate, sealing them for the day of redemption and empowering them with spiritual gifts for the building up of the Church. By His power, we are sanctified, mortifying the deeds of the flesh and producing the fruit of righteousness to the glory of God.
Genesis 1:2; Psalm 104:30; Psalm 139:7; Isaiah 11:2; Isaiah 61:1; Ezekiel 36:26–27; Joel 2:28–29; Matthew 1:18, 20; Matthew 3:11, 16; Matthew 28:19; Luke 1:35; Luke 11:13; John 3:5–8; John 14:16–17, 26; John 15:26; John 16:7–15; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1–4; Acts 5:3–4; Acts 13:2; Romans 8:1–16, 26–27; Romans 15:13, 16; 1 Corinthians 2:10–14; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:11, 19; 1 Corinthians 12:4–13; 2 Corinthians 3:17–18; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 4:6; Galatians 5:16–25; Ephesians 1:13–14; Ephesians 4:30; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 1:5–6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Titus 3:5; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:13; Jude 1:20
The Scriptures
We believe the Holy Scriptures, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, are the complete, inspired, and inerrant Word of God. They are the only infallible rule of faith and practice, providing the final authority over all matters of life, doctrine, and the governance of the Church. We believe that God, through the Holy Spirit, moved human authors to record His revelation without error in the original manuscripts, preserving His Truth across generations. As the supreme standard, the Bible is sufficient for all things pertaining to life and godliness, serving as the sword of the Spirit to pierce the heart and the lamp to guide our feet. We interpret the Scriptures faithfully, recognizing the unity of the biblical narrative from Genesis to Revelation and its ultimate focus on the person and work of Jesus Christ. Since it is the living Word of God, it must be read, preached, and obeyed with the utmost reverence and joy.
Deuteronomy 4:2; Deuteronomy 8:3; Psalm 12:6; Psalm 19:7–11; Psalm 119:9, 11, 89, 105, 140, 160; Proverbs 30:5–6; Isaiah 8:20; Isaiah 40:8; Isaiah 55:11; Matthew 4:4; Matthew 5:17–18; Matthew 22:29; Matthew 24:35; Luke 16:31; Luke 24:27, 44; John 5:39; John 10:35; John 17:17; Acts 17:11; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 1 Corinthians 10:11; 2 Timothy 3:15–17; Hebrews 1:1–2; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:19–21; 2 Peter 3:15–16; 1 John 5:9; Revelation 22:18–19
Regeneration
We believe that regeneration, often called the "new birth," is a sovereign, supernatural, and instantaneous work of the Holy Spirit whereby He imparts spiritual life to those who were previously dead in their trespasses and sins. This act of God is monergistic, meaning it is entirely the work of the Spirit and not the result of human will, cooperation, or merit. In regeneration, the Holy Spirit sovereignly renews the heart, enlightens the mind to understand the things of God, and enables the will to embrace Jesus Christ freely. This internal transformation is the necessary foundation for saving faith, true repentance, and a life of progressive sanctification. It is the fulfillment of the New Covenant promise to have the law written upon the heart, resulting in a new creature who loves what God loves and hates what God hates.
Deuteronomy 30:6; Jeremiah 31:33; Jeremiah 32:39–40; Ezekiel 11:19–20; Ezekiel 36:25–27; Matthew 19:28; John 1:12–13; John 3:3–8; John 5:21, 24–25; John 6:44, 63–65; Acts 16:14; Romans 8:7–9; Romans 9:16; 1 Corinthians 2:14; 2 Corinthians 4:6; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 2:1–5, 10; Colossians 2:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Titus 3:5; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:3, 23; 1 John 2:29; 1 John 3:9; 1 John 4:7; 1 John 5:1, 4, 18
The Lord’s Supper
We believe the Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion, is a sacred covenant meal instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ for the perpetual remembrance and spiritual nourishment of His Church. It is not a mere memorial of a dead Savior, but a vital participation in the body and blood of the risen Christ, who is truly and spiritually present to the faith of the believer. In this sacrament, as we partake of the elements of bread and the fruit of the vine, we receive the benefits of His sacrifice, are renewed in our covenantal bonds with the Triune God, and are knit more closely together as one body. We practice an open yet guarded table, welcoming all baptized believers who are in good standing with a gospel-preaching church to join in the feast. Recognizing the various needs and consciences within the congregation, we offer both wine and grape juice, acknowledging that the grace of Christ is fully communicated to the faithful through the fruit of the vine in either form.
Genesis 14:18–20; Exodus 12:1–14; Exodus 24:8–11; Psalm 22:26–29; Psalm 23:5; Song of Solomon 2:4; Isaiah 25:6–9; Zechariah 9:15–17; Matthew 22:1–14; Matthew 26:26–29; Mark 14:22–25; Luke 14:15–24; Luke 22:14–20; Luke 24:30–35; John 6:32–35, 53–58; Acts 2:42, 46; Acts 20:7; Romans 14:1–4, 21; 1 Corinthians 5:7–8; 1 Corinthians 10:16–17, 21; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34; Hebrews 13:10; Revelation 3:20; Revelation 19:9
Baptism
We believe that baptism is the sign and seal of God’s covenant of grace, signifying our ingrafting into Christ, the remission of sins through His blood, and our commitment to walk in newness of life. As a church that practices baptismal catholicity, we recognize the validity of any baptism administered with water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We believe this sign is properly administered both to those who provide a personal profession of faith in Jesus Christ (credobaptism) and to the children of believing parents (paedobaptism), who are members of God's household and heirs to His covenant promises. Baptism serves as a public identification with the Triune God and an entrance into the visible Church, marking the recipient as a subject of Christ’s kingdom. While baptism does not automatically confer salvation, it is a means of grace through which the Holy Spirit confirms the promises of the Gospel to the faithful.
Genesis 17:7–12; Deuteronomy 30:6; Ezekiel 36:25–26; Matthew 3:11, 16; Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:4–5; Mark 16:16; Luke 18:15–17; John 3:5; Acts 2:38–39, 41; Acts 8:12–13, 36–38; Acts 9:18; Acts 10:47–48; Acts 11:16; Acts 16:14–15, 31–33; Acts 18:8; Acts 19:3–5; Acts 22:16; Romans 4:11–12; Romans 6:3–4; 1 Corinthians 1:14–16; 1 Corinthians 7:14; 1 Corinthians 10:1–2; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27–29; Ephesians 4:5; Colossians 2:11–12; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 3:21
Liturgy
We believe that corporate worship is a formal, covenantal meeting between the Triune God and His gathered people. It is not a spectator event or a mere gathering of like-minded individuals, but a sacred dialogue where God speaks to us through His Word and Sacraments, and we respond with praise, confession, and thanksgiving. Our worship follows the biblical pattern of "Covenant Renewal," conducting all things decently and in order for the edification of the saints and the glory of God. We believe that liturgy is the "work of the people," a rhythmic training in the ways of the Kingdom that shapes our desires and prepares us to take dominion in the world. This dialogue includes the calling of the people into God’s presence, the cleansing of the conscience through confession, the consecration of the heart through the Word, the communion of the saints at the Table, and the commissioning of the faithful with a blessing to serve Christ in every vocation.
Exodus 24:1–11; Leviticus 9:1–24; Numbers 6:22–27; 2 Chronicles 5:11–14; 2 Chronicles 7:1–3; Psalm 24:1–10; Psalm 29:1–2; Psalm 42:1–4; Psalm 95:1–7; Psalm 96:1–9; Psalm 100:1–5; Psalm 141:2; Isaiah 6:1–8; Nehemiah 8:1–12; Nehemiah 9:1–3; Matthew 18:20; Luke 24:50–53; Acts 2:42; Acts 13:2; Acts 20:7; Romans 11:33–12:2; Romans 15:5–6; Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; 1 Corinthians 14:26, 40; Ephesians 2:14–22; Ephesians 5:18–21; Colossians 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:1–2; 1 Timothy 4:13; Hebrews 10:19–25; Hebrews 12:18–29; Hebrews 13:15; 1 Peter 2:4–5, 9; Revelation 1:10; Revelation 4:1–11; Revelation 5:8–14; Revelation 7:9–12; Revelation 15:3–4
The Last Things
We believe in the glorious and certain victory of Jesus Christ in history. He is currently reigning from the right hand of the Father and will continue to expand His kingdom through the preaching of the Gospel and the faithfulness of His Church until all His enemies are made a footstool for His feet. As partial-preterists, we recognize that many of the judgments prophesied in the New Testament were fulfilled in the first century, marking the transition from the Old Covenant to the New. As postmillennialists, we labor with joyful expectation, believing that the world will be progressively Christianized before Christ returns. We look forward to His physical second coming to judge the living and the dead, the bodily resurrection of both the just and the unjust, and the final consummation of the new heavens and the new earth, where the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.
Numbers 14:21; Psalm 2:7–9; Psalm 22:27–31; Psalm 72:8–11, 17–19; Psalm 110:1; Isaiah 2:2–4; Isaiah 9:6–7; Isaiah 11:9; Isaiah 42:1–4; Isaiah 65:17–25; Daniel 2:34–35, 44–45; Daniel 7:13–14, 27; Habakkuk 2:14; Zechariah 9:9–10; Matthew 13:31–33; Matthew 24:1–34; Matthew 28:18–20; Luke 10:18; John 12:31–32; Acts 2:32–36; Romans 11:25–26; Romans 16:20; 1 Corinthians 15:20–28, 50–58; Ephesians 1:20–23; Philippians 2:9–11; Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 1:13; Hebrews 2:8; Hebrews 10:12–13; 1 John 3:8; Revelation 1:5; Revelation 11:15; Revelation 20:11–15; Revelation 21:1–5; Revelation 22:1–5
The New Covenant
We believe that the New Covenant is the fulfillment and climax of all God’s redemptive dealings with mankind, established by the blood of Jesus Christ. Unlike the systems of dispensationalism, which suggest a fundamental distinction between Israel and the Church or multiple ways of salvation across different "dispensations," we affirm the organic unity of the Covenant of Grace. We believe there is one people of God, one way of salvation, and one unfolding plan of redemption throughout history. The New Covenant does not represent a "Plan B" or a parenthesis in God's timeline, but rather the glorious expansion of the Abrahamic promises to include all nations. In this covenant, the shadows of the Old Mosaic administration—the temple, the animal sacrifices, and the ceremonial laws—have been perfectly fulfilled and superseded by Christ. Under this better covenant, the Holy Spirit is poured out on all flesh, the Law is written upon the hearts of the faithful, and the Church is commissioned to disciple the nations, bringing the entire world under the gracious rule of King Jesus.
Genesis 12:1–3; Jeremiah 31:31–34; Ezekiel 36:26–27; Matthew 5:17–18; Matthew 21:43; Luke 22:20; Acts 2:16–21, 38–39; Acts 15:14–18; Romans 2:28–29; Romans 4:11–16; Romans 9:6–8; Romans 11:17–24; 1 Corinthians 10:1–4; 2 Corinthians 1:20; 2 Corinthians 3:3–18; Galatians 3:7–9, 14, 26–29; Galatians 4:21–31; Galatians 6:16; Ephesians 2:11–22; Ephesians 3:4–6; Hebrews 8:6–13; Hebrews 9:11–15; Hebrews 10:1–18; Hebrews 12:22–24; 1 Peter 2:9–10
The Church
We believe the Church is the holy, catholic, and apostolic body and bride of Christ, consisting of the whole number of the elect who have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ, its Head. The visible Church is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, the house and family of God, out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation. It is manifested in local congregations where the Word of God is faithfully preached, the sacraments are rightly administered, and biblical discipline is lovingly exercised. We believe that the Church is called to be a pillar and buttress of the truth, a distinct society that lives under the law of Christ and is commissioned to make disciples of all nations. As the community of the New Covenant, the Church is the primary means through which God displays His wisdom to the principalities and powers and through which He advances His kingdom in the world until the return of the King.
Matthew 16:18–19; Matthew 18:15–20; Matthew 28:18–20; Acts 2:41–47; Acts 14:23, 27; Acts 20:28; Romans 12:4–5; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Corinthians 5:1–13; 1 Corinthians 12:12–27; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Galatians 6:10; Ephesians 1:22–23; Ephesians 2:19–22; Ephesians 3:10, 21; Ephesians 4:11–16; Ephesians 5:23–32; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18, 24; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1–15; 2 Timothy 4:1–2; Titus 1:5–9; Hebrews 10:24–25; Hebrews 12:22–24; 1 Peter 2:4–10; Revelation 2:1–3:22; Revelation 19:7–8
The Civil Government
We believe that civil government is a divine ordinance established by God, who is the only supreme Lord and King of all the world. God has appointed civil magistrates to be under Him and over the people, for His own glory and the public good. We believe the state is not an autonomous power but is a "minister of God" that is morally obligated to recognize the sovereign authority of Jesus Christ and to govern in accordance with the standards of His revealed Law. While the Church and the State have distinct jurisdictions—the Church wielding the "sword of the Spirit" and the State wielding the "sword of steel"—both are equally accountable to the Word of God. We reject the modern concept of secular neutrality, affirming instead that true justice and liberty can only flourish when the magistrate punishes evil and rewards good as defined by God. We pray for our leaders and seek to live quiet and peaceable lives, yet we maintain that our primary allegiance is to King Jesus, and we labor for the day when all earthly authorities acknowledge His crown rights and rule in righteousness.
Exodus 18:21–22; 2 Samuel 23:3; 2 Chronicles 19:6–7; Psalm 2:10–12; Psalm 22:27–28; Psalm 72:10–11; Psalm 82:1–4; Psalm 94:20; Psalm 110:1–2; Proverbs 8:15–16; Proverbs 14:34; Proverbs 29:2, 4; Isaiah 9:6–7; Isaiah 60:12; Daniel 2:44; Daniel 4:34–35; Daniel 7:13–14, 27; Matthew 22:21; Matthew 28:18–20; Romans 13:1–7; 1 Corinthians 15:24–25; 1 Timothy 2:1–4; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13–17; Revelation 1:5; Revelation 11:15; Revelation 19:16; Revelation 21:24
Abortion
We believe that human life begins at conception and that every person, from the moment of fertilization, is created in the image of God and possesses an inherent right to life. As the Author of life, God alone holds the sovereign authority to give and take human existence; therefore, we believe that abortion is the unjust taking of an innocent human life and a grievous violation of the Sixth Commandment. We reject the notion that a mother’s autonomy or social circumstance overrides the child’s right to live, as children are a heritage from the Lord and a blessing to be protected. Our commitment to the sanctity of life compels us to oppose the culture of death and to advocate for the protection of the unborn, while also extending the grace and healing of the Gospel to those who have been affected by the sin of abortion. We believe that the Church must be a sanctuary for the helpless, upholding the dignity of the smallest among us as an act of worship and obedience to our Creator.
Genesis 1:26–27; Genesis 9:6; Exodus 20:13; Exodus 21:22–25; Job 10:8–12; Job 31:15; Psalm 22:9–10; Psalm 127:3–5; Psalm 139:13–16; Proverbs 6:16–17; Proverbs 24:11–12; Proverbs 31:8; Isaiah 44:2, 24; Isaiah 46:3–4; Isaiah 49:1, 5; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:15, 41–44; Romans 13:8–10; Galatians 1:15; James 1:27
Marriage
We believe that marriage was instituted by God at creation as a sacred and lifelong union between one man and one woman. It is a biological and spiritual mystery that reflects the relationship between Christ and His Church, serving as the foundational unit of a healthy society and the godly family. We believe that God created humanity in His own image as distinctively male and female, and that these created biological differences are to be cherished and honored as part of His good design. Consequently, we believe that any attempt to redefine marriage or to blur the objective biological distinctions between the sexes—including the ideologies of transgenderism or gender fluidity—is a rejection of God’s created order and His sovereign authority over human identity. We uphold that a person’s sex is a gift from God determined at conception and that holiness involves living in joyful accordance with one’s biological sex. In the covenant of marriage, the husband is called to lead with sacrificial love as the head of the wife, while the wife is called to respect and submit to her husband as to the Lord.
Genesis 1:26–28; Genesis 2:18–25; Genesis 5:1–2; Genesis 9:1; Deuteronomy 22:5; Psalm 127:3–5; Psalm 128:1–4; Psalm 139:13–16; Proverbs 5:15–19; Proverbs 18:22; Proverbs 31:10–31; Malachi 2:13–16; Matthew 5:31–32; Matthew 19:3–9; Mark 10:2–12; Romans 1:24–27; Romans 7:2–3; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11, 18–20; 1 Corinthians 7:1–16, 39; 1 Corinthians 11:3, 7–12; 2 Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 5:22–33; Colossians 3:18–19; 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 2:3–5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1–7
The Family
We believe that the family is the primary institution ordained by God for the cultivation of human society and the discipleship of the next generation. God has sovereignly entrusted parents, and specifically fathers as the heads of their households, with the sacred duty to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. As a family-integrated church, we believe that the gathered worship of the saints is a generational event; therefore, we welcome and encourage our children to remain with us throughout the entire service. We believe it is vital for children to witness the faith of their parents in action, to hear the Word preached, and to participate in the liturgy as full members of the covenant community. We believe that education is never religiously neutral; it is a spiritual endeavor that either acknowledges Christ as the source of all wisdom and knowledge or functions in rebellion against Him. Therefore, we affirm that the responsibility for the education of children rests with the parents and not the state. We labor to provide and support a thoroughly Christian "paideia"—an all-encompassing worldview—where every subject is taught under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Our goal is to raise a godly seed who are not only intellectually capable but are also equipped to take dominion in every sphere of life, extending the blessings of the covenant to their own children and the world.
Genesis 18:19; Deuteronomy 4:9–10; Deuteronomy 6:4–9; Deuteronomy 11:18–21; Deuteronomy 31:12–13; Joshua 8:35; 2 Chronicles 20:13; Ezra 10:1; Nehemiah 12:43; Psalm 78:1–8; Psalm 103:17–18; Psalm 127:3–5; Psalm 128:1–6; Proverbs 1:7–9; Proverbs 4:1–4; Proverbs 13:22; Proverbs 22:6; Proverbs 23:13–14; Isaiah 54:13; Isaiah 59:21; Malachi 2:15; Matthew 18:1–6, 10; Matthew 19:13–15; Luke 18:15–17; Ephesians 6:1–4; Colossians 2:8; Colossians 3:20–21; 2 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 3:14–15
