- WHAT WE BELIEVE -

The most important thing about a church is what it believes. Below is Emmanuel's statement of faith. Although not exhaustive, it is a summary of what we believe to be the core principles that make us who we are.

  • I. The Word of God

    We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. 


    Psalm 119:89; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11; II Timothy 2:15, 3:15-17; I Peter 1:23-25; II Peter 1:21

  • II. The Trinity

    We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons; that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption. 


    Genesis 1:1,26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:16, 28:19 John 5:18; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 1:20; Philemon 2:6

  • III. God the Father

    We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love; we believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayers, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. 


    Genesis 1:1; Matthew 6:9-13; John 3:16,4:24,5:26,17:11,25; Romans 8:33

  • IV. Jesus Christ

    We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal, visible return to earth. 


    Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:34,35; John 1:1, 3:16, 11:25; Acts 1:3,9, 16:31; I Peter 2:22; I John 3:5; Revelation 1:7

  • V. The HOly Spirit

    We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the father and son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide. 


    John 14:17, 16:8; Acts 5:1-4; Romans 8:1-17, 15:16; I Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Titus 3:5; I John 2:27

  • VI. REGENERATION

    We believe that all men are sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit.


    Genesis 1:26, 2:17, 3:19, 5:2; Genesis 3; Ecclesiastes 2:11; John 3:14, 5:24, 5:30, 7:13, 8:12, 10:26; Romans 9:22; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 19:3, 20, 20:10, 14-15, 21:18; Psalm 51:7; Jeremiah 17:9; James 1:14; Romans 3:19; 5:19; Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 3:16; John 1:13; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:1

  • VII. THE CHURCH

    We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world. 


    Matthew 28:17-20; Acts 2:41-42; I Corinthians 12:12-31

  • VIII. Christian Conduct

    We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and the well-being of his fellowmen; that his conduct should be blameless before the world; that he should be a faithful steward of his possessions; and that he should seek to realize for himself and others the full stature of maturity in Christ. 


    I Corinthians 2:14-33; Galatians 5:22-26; Ephesians 5:1-33

  • IX. Marraige

    We believe that marriage is a covenant sanctioned by God to join one biologically born man and one biologically born woman in a single, exclusive, holy union. We believe the Church is charged with upholding and protecting God’s original design for marriage as it portrays Jesus’ relationship with His bride, the Church. We believe that God created sex to be between a husband and wife; and, as a result, all forms of sexual immorality such as adultery, fornication, homosexual/bisexual conduct, bigamy, polygamy, bestiality, incest, and pornography are sinful, as they oppose God’s perfect design. 


    Genesis 1:26, 2:17, 3:19, 5:2; Genesis 3; Ecclesiastes 2:11; John 3:14, 5:24, 5:30, 7:13, 8:12, 10:26; Romans 9:22; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 19:3, 20, 20:10, 14-15, 21:18; Psalm 51:7; Jeremiah 17:9; James 1:14; Romans 3:19; 5:19; Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 3:16; John 1:13; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:1

  • X. HUMAN LIFE

    We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God. From conception, all humans are eternal beings that will live forever (either in heaven or hell). Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other state of condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life.


    Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 139:13-16; Psalm 127:3; Luke 12:6-7

  • XI. Gender Design

    We believe that God intentionally and purposefully designed each person to be a particular gender, either male or female, as evidenced at birth or at the chromosomal level; and that any disagreement with or attempt to change one’s biological gender is a form of sexual immorality, as this is a rebellion against God’s perfect design.


    Genesis 1:27; 5:2; Psalm 139:13; Jeremiah 1:5

  • XII. The Ordinances

    We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church; baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water into the name of the Triune God. We believe that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that those two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. 


    Acts 8:26-40; Romans 6:3-5; I Corinthians 11:17-34

  • XIII. Religious Liberty

    We believe that every human being has direct relations with God, and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that therefore church and state must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage of the other.


    Acts 8:26-40; Romans 6:3-5; I Corinthians 11:17-34

  • XIv. Church Cooperation

    We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperation with one another in a denominational organization. Such an organization, whether a regional or district conference, exists and functions by the will of the churches. Cooperation in a conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. Churches may likewise cooperate with interdenominational fellowships on a voluntary independent basis.

  • XV. The Last Things

    We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His Kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal felicity of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked. 


    John 14:3; I Thessalonians 4: 13-18; Revelation 20:11-15