The Word of God
We believe the Scriptures are the inspired Word of God, inerrant in the original writings, complete as the revelation of God’s will for salvation, and the supreme and final authority in all matters to which they speak.
The Trinity
We believe in one God, creator and sustainer of all things, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, that these are equal in every divine perfection and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption.
God the Father
We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is God’s eternal Son, and has precisely the same nature, attributes and perfections as God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. We believe that He is true God and true man, conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. We believe in His sinless life, His substitutionary atonement, His bodily resurrection from the dead, His ascension into heaven, His priestly intercession on behalf of His people, and His personal, visible, premillennial return from heaven.
Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit, His personality and His work in regeneration, sanctification, and preservation. His ministry is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, and implement Christ’s work of redeeming the lost and empowering the believer for godly living and service.
The Nature of Man and Human Nature
We believe God created man, male and female in His own image, and free from sin. We further believe man is a sinner by nature and choice and is therefore spiritually dead. We also believe that those who repent of sin and trust Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit. We believe God has ordained and created marriage to exist between one man and one woman, with absolute marital fidelity. We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. (Gen 2:18-25) We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. (1 Cor. 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb. 13:4) We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of ALCC, as a local part of Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the members ALCC and the community at large, it is imperative that all persons employed by ALCC in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to, abide by, promote, and conduct themselves in a manner consistent with this biblical understanding. We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accordance with Scripture or this doctrine.
Salvation
We believe in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. We further believe that salvation is based upon the sovereign grace of God, and was purchased by Christ on the cross, and is received by man through faith, apart from human merit, works, or ritual. We further believe salvation results in righteous living, good works and proper social concern.
The Church
We believe that the church is the spiritual body of which Christ is the head. We believe that the true church is composed of all persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. We hold to the five-fold ministry as defined by Ephesians 4:11-16, of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelist, Pastors and Teachers, for the purpose of equipping the saints for the work of the ministry to edify the body of Christ. We believe that this body expresses itself in local assemblies whose members have been immersed upon a credible confession of faith and have associated themselves for worship, for instruction, for evangelism, and for service. We believe the ordinances of the local church are believer’s baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper. We also believe in the independence of this local church as well as the interdependence of local churches and the mutual submission of believers to each other in love.
Future Things
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the saved and the lost, the everlasting blessedness of the saved and the everlasting punishment of the unsaved.
We are a church that worships the one true God who co-exists eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)
We are a Christ-centered church that proclaims Christ’s deity and His lordship over all. (John 1:1,14; Philippians 2:5-11)
We are a Bible-teaching church that believes in the divine inspiration and final authority of God’s Word. (2 Timothy 3:16,17)
We are an evangelical church that preaches salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. (Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:8)
We are an interracial church that embraces people of all races and colors. (Acts 10:34-35)
We are a non-denominational church that encourages fellowship and unity among all believers regardless of denominational affiliation. (Ephesians 4:4-6)
We are an evangelistic church that spreads the good news of Jesus Christ by every means at our disposal. (Matthew 28:18-20)
We are a Spirit-filled church that relies on the Holy Spirit to make us effective in our ministry and witness for Christ. (Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:18)
We are a Spirit-led church that welcomes the orderly exercise of all spiritual gifts which exalt Christ and edify the church. (1 Corinthians 14:26; 1 Peter 4:10)
We are a consecrated church that yields to the Holy Spirit as He works in us to cultivate godliness and disciplined living. (Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Corinthians 7:1)
We are a loving church that recognizes love as an essential ingredient in the life of every believer. (1 Corinthians 13)
We are a giving church that acknowledges Christ’s lordship over all that we have including our money, time, and talents. (Proverbs 3:9; Matthew 25:14-27)
We are a praising church that joyfully exalts the Lord through singing and other expressions of worship and praise. (Psalm 100:4-5)
We are an expectant church that anticipates Christ’s return to receive His church and judge the world. (Matthew 24:42-44; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)