Doctrinal statement

Article 1 : The Bible

We believe in the divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures (consisting of the 66 books of the Old/New Testaments), in the inerrancy and infallibility of the original manuscripts, and in their absolute authority in all matters of faith and practice.

We believe in the plenary and verbal inspiration of the Bible through the supernatural working of the Holy Spirit. God was able to use imperfect men as His writers, divinely inspiring every word, all the while respecting their individual personalities.

The Bible is the unique, written, unalterable Word of God.

2 Timothy 3.16-17 ; 2 Peter 1.21 ; Deuteronomy 4.2 ; Revelation 22.18-19 ; Matthew 24.35

Article 2 : God

We believe in one God who exists in three distinct Persons, all sharing the same eternal nature: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is the Creator of the universe and all that lies therein. He is eternal, infinite, and omniscient. He is the ultimate Lord of all creation, both visible and invisible. He is absolutely holy, righteous, and good. He is love.

Genesis 1.1, 17.1 ; Deuteronomy 32.6 ; 2 Chronicles 6.18 ; Psalm 90.2 ; 115.3 ; 121.4 ; 145.17 ; Proverbs 3.12 ; Isaiah 6.3 ; 43.10 ; Lamentations 3.22-23 ; Matthew 28.19 ; John 16.27 ; Romans 2.11 ; 2 Corinthians 6.18 ; 13.13 ; Galatians 4.4-6 ; Ephesians 2.18 ; Colossians 1.15-17 ; 1 John 3.1, 4.9-10 ; Jeremiah 23.24

Article 3 : Jesus Christ

We believe in Jesus Christ, in His full divinity, in His eternal pre-existence, in His virgin birth, in His perfect, sinless humanity, in His proptiatory death for our sins, in His bodily resurrection and ascension, and in His second coming in person, which will be visible and glorious.

Matthew 6.27-28, 24.30, 28.20 ; Mark 16.6 ; Luke 1.34-35 ; Luke 24.39 ; John 1.14, 18 ; 10.38 ; Acts 1.11, 4.12, 17.31 ; Romans 8.3, 8.31-34 ; Colossians 1.15-19 ; 1 Timothy 2.5, Hebrews 1.3-8 ; 2.17-18 ; 4.14-16; 8.1-2, 9.12, 10.14 ; 1 Peter 4.5 ; 1 John 2.1-2

Article 4 : The Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit, in His full divinity, in His personhood, in His indwelling of believers from the moment they are converted, in His indwelling of all those who believe in Christ, in His work in the Church.

The Holy Spirit acts always in perfect agreement with the Word of God. The role of the Holy Spirit in the life of each believer is to give him the strength to live a holy, new life in communion with God. He helps him to understand the Bible, He convicts of sin, and reminds him of the value of Christ's death in daily purifying him of sin. He causes spiritual fruit to grow in his heart. He leads him and help him in prayer. He sovereignly equips each member of the body of Christ with one or more spiritual gifts for God's service and for a testimony to others.

Acts 5.3-4 ; 1.8 ; John 16.13-15 ; Romans 8.9, 14, 26, 27 ; 12.3-8 ; 1 Corinthians 12.4-13, 12.27 ; John 14.15-26 ; Galatians 5.22 ; 1 John 2.20 ; 1 Peter 4.10-11

Article 5 : Man and sin

We believe that man, created in the image of God, fell into sin; therefore, all humanity has been under the dominion of Satan, in rebellion, corruption, and condemnation.

Man was created to live in perfect communion with God, in a happy dependence on Him. Sin came into the world when the first man and woman chose to reject their dependence on God. To sin means to miss the mark that God had given to man. Therefore, sinful man is unaware of God's love for him, and lives under the power of Satan and sin. The result of this sin is eternal punishment.

Genesis 1.27 ; 3 ; Romans 3.10-23 ; 5.12-21 ; 6.23 ; 1 John 5.19b ; Ephesians 2.1-3 ; 2.11-12 ; 4.17-19 ; Colossians 1.21 ; Revelation 21.8

Article 6 : Salvation

We believe that man's justification is a gift of God's grace in Jesus Christ and is received by personal faith alone. We believe in the necessity of repentance and the new birth, leading to a godly life, one of sanctification, witness, and service to the glory of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

In receiving Christ by faith, man is baptized in the Holy Spirit. In this way, he is born again into a new life in Christ, and becomes a member of a local church body, the body of Christ. He is forgiven, justified, reconciled with God, free from the power and rule of Satan and sin. Although he still experiences the tension of dealing with his old sinful nature, the Holy Spirit is at work in him, transforming him and growing him in faith, love, and holiness. By the Holy Spirit, the regenerated man demonstrates good works which bear witness to the reality of his faith. The full effects of salvation will be revealed at Jesus' return.

Ephesians 2.4-10 ; Galatians 3.2-5 ; Romans 3.24-30 ; 4.25; 6.3-11 ; 6.23b ; 7.14-25 ; Titus 2.11-14 ; James 2.14-26 ; 1 Corinthians 12.13 ; 2 Corinthians 5.17 ; 1 John 3.2

Article 7 : The church

We believe that the universal church is composed of all those who have been redeemed by Jesus Christ, from every kindred, tribe, and generation. Its unity comes from its attachment to Jesus alone, by the work of the Holy Spirit. We believe that the visible expression of the universal church, the pillar and ground of the truth, is found in local church bodies.

Independent local churches, organized according to New Testament principles, are the primary place in which Christians live together. In the local church, they bear testimony to their faith in Christ through baptism (literally, immersion in water). They gather to hear the Word of God preached, to enjoy fellowship, to share the Lord's Supper (in which the bread and wine symbolize the body and blood of the Lord), and in prayer. They serve one another with the different spiritual gifts that the Holy Spirit sovereignly attributes to each one.

Baptism and the Lord's Supper are not sacraments, but rather serve as visible representations of the spiritual reality of born-again believers; therefore only believers take part in them.
The direction of each church is delegated by the Lord to men (elders) that He has called and qualified, granting them the spiritual gifts necessary to serve the church body. However, their call, gifts, and public recognition of their role does not grant them either supremacy or special powers in the church.

1 Corinthians 1.2, 14.33b ; 16.1 ; 11.23-26 ; 12.13 ; Ephesians 1.22 ; Ephesians 4.4-16 ; 1 Timothy 3.14-15 ; Matthew 28.19-20 ; Acts 2.41-42 ; 8.12 ; 10.25-26 ; 14.23 ; Hebrews 13.17 ; Romans 12.4-8 ; 1 Peter 4.10-11 ; Galatians 2.11 ; Colossians 2.8 ; Revelation 5.9

Article 8 : The afterlife

We believe in the resurrection of all men: the redeemed to eternal life and joy, and the unrepentant sinners to eternal punishment.

Jesus Christ will return in person to gather His Church, at the appointed time chosen by God. Believers await this day with great anticipation.

All men, both living and dead, will be present at the judgment: those which did not believe will endure the punishment of spending eternity apart from God; those who did believe the Bible will live forever in His presence. God's glory and reign will be finally revealed for all mankind; this is the great expectation and hope of believers.

1 Thess. 4.13-18 ; John 5.28-29 ; 11.25 ; Acts 10.42 ; 1 Peter 1.3-5 ; Matthew 25.6 ; Luke 16.19-31 ; Revelation 21.3, 4, 8

Article 9 : The State

We believe that the civil authorities were instituted by God for the moral well-being and the peace of nations, and that He commands believers to submit to them and to pray for them. However, if ever there is a conflict between the will of God and the law of man, we must obey first God's will as revealed in His Word.

Matthew 22.17-21 ; Romans 13.1-7 ; 1 Timothy 2.1-4 ; Acts 4.19, 5.29

Addendum : Our perspective on church music

God is worthy to be worshiped and honored in the Church by music that reflects His person and work in a coherent way. Because He is both transcendent and personal, we seek for excellence and creativity in church music, avoiding superficial styles of musical interpretation. Furthermore, because we want God to be the focus of our worship, we believe that the church music ministry should be conducted with humility, rather than in a way that focuses on the performer(s).

Psalm 96.1-3 ; Psalm 150 ; Colossians 3.16 ; Ephesians 5.18-21