We believe in the only (Mark 12:29) true God (Is. 45:22) eternally existing in three persons as the Incomprehensible Trinity (John 15:26) - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Mt. 28:19) - each possessing divine perfection and worthy of precisely the same homage and obedience (Rev. 4:11); He, as Creator (John 1:3) and sovereign ruler (Heb. 1:1-3) of the universe, is righteous in all His ways (Deut. 32:4) and holy in all His works.

We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament in their entirety to be the Word of God (1 Thess. 2:13) given by inspiration of God (2 Tim. 3:16), in the sense that the Holy Spirit gave the very words of the sacred writings to holy men of old (2 Pt. 1:19-21) and that His Divine inspiration extends fully to all parts of these writings, historical, poetical, doctrinal, and prophetic (1 Cor. 2:13). We further believe that the Scriptures, from first to last, center about our Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 24:27), His person and work, His first and second coming; and therefore every portion of both the Old and New Testament was ordained of God for our instruction. We fully accept the Scriptures as being inerrant in the original writings, essentially accurate as preserved (Luke 21:33) and the only infallible rule of faith and life (Ps. 119:105).

We believe that mankind was directly created (Gen. 2:7) by God in His own image (Gen. 1:26), holy and upright; that through the historic fall into sin, we all came under God's condemnation (Gen. 5:12), and that in consequence the whole human race is dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1) and subject to its judgment: death and hell. We believe that this total depravity (Rm. 3:10-12) extends to every child of Adam because we are born into this world with a sinful nature, which possesses no spark of divine life. We further believe that without God's provision for salvation in His Son (John 3:18), Jesus Christ, no one can enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:5), that no degree of reformation, no educational attainment, no cultural or philanthropic achievement, no religious ordinance can help a sinner toward the Kingdom (Is. 64:6).

We believe in Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God (John 1:1-2), who became man (John 1:14), without ceasing to be God (Phil. 2:6-8), having been conceived of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35) and born of the Virgin Mary, and that He lived a sinless (Heb. 4:15) life that He might reveal God. We believe He accomplished our redemption through His death on the Cross as a substitutionary sacrifice and full propitiation for our sins (Rm. 3:24-25), and that our redemption is made sure to us by His literal, bodily resurrection from among the dead (1 Pt. 1:3-5). We further believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is now in heaven, exalted at the right hand of God, where as the High Priest for His people, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor and Advocate (Heb. 4:14-16).

We believe that salvation from sin is a free gift offered by God through His grace (Eph. 2:8-9) and received by personal repentance from sin and by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:12) whose precious blood was shed for the forgiveness of our sins, and that no repentance or penance, no resolution or sincere effort, no membership, nor submission to, any Church or its rules or regulations, can in the very least add to the value of that precious blood or to the merit of the redemptive work wrought on Calvary (1 Pt. 1:18-23). We further believe that it is the privilege of all who are born again by the Spirit through faith in Christ (1 John 5:10-13) to be assured of their salvation from the time of their conversion (Rm. 8:1) and that this confidence is based wholly upon the testimony of God in His written Word (Rm. 8:38-39).

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Person who convicts individuals of sin (John 16:7-11) and who alone enables them to place genuine trust in Jesus Christ (John 3:5-6) baptizing them into the body of Christ at the moment of saving faith (1 Cor 12:12-14), indwelling them for godly living, and forever sealing them to glory (Eph. 1:13-14). We further believe this constitutes the only baptism by the Holy Spirit and is not evidenced by any special gifts such as tongues. We also believe that it is the duty of every believer to be filled and controlled by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18), as commanded in the Scriptures, thereby bearing the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) and exercising such gifts as the Spirit may grant in His sovereign will (1 Cor. 12:4-12).

We believe that Christians are called with a holy calling to walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Rm. 8:5-9). Because they have become new creatures in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:17) and are indwelt by the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17), we believe they should recognize that they are pilgrims in this world (Col. 3:1-3), with a mission to proclaim Christ, and to live lives consistent with their Christian testimony (1 Pt. 1:14-16).

We believe that God has appointed prayer (James 5:16), Bible reading (Col. 3:16), worship (John 4:24), fellowship (Heb. 10:24-25), serving (Eph. 4:11-12), giving (Mal. 3:10), and witnessing (Acts 1:8) as means of grace and growth for His children (2 Pt. 3:18). We further believe that, as servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, we will give account to Him (2 Cor. 5:10).

We believe that the Holy Spirit incorporates all true believers into the Church (Eph. 2:18-22), which is Christ's body (Col. 1:17-24), and that as members of His body, they are to manifest love for each other (1 Cor. 12:12-18), and to represent Him and spread His Gospel throughout the world (Mark 16:15). We further believe that, as thus being members one of another (Eph. 4:25), we are responsible to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace (Eph. 4:3), loving one another with a true heart fervently (1 Pt. 1:22).

We believe that the ordinances of Water Baptism (Matt. 28:19) of believers and the Lord's Supper (1 Cor. 11:23-34) are of perpetual obligation in the Church. Westover practices baptism by immersion (except for health reasons). However, we recognize both immersion and affusion (pouring or sprinkling) as valid forms of Believers Baptism for those who have already been baptized.

We believe that God honors the sincere desire of parents to dedicate their children to Him, and provision shall be made for such public dedication (1 Sam. 1:28) of infants of members. Also, the Pastors are authorized to dedicate infants of non-member believers (Ps. 103:17).

We believe in the personal existence of unseen spirits in the world (Col. 1:16) who contend for the souls of men and women (1 Pt. 5:8), some furthering (Heb. 1:7) and others, under Satan (2 Cor. 11:14) opposing the purposes of God (Rev. 12:9-12).

We believe in the personal, bodily return (Acts 1:11) of Jesus Christ to earth (Zech. 14:4). While the exact timing of the second coming is known only to God the Father (Matt. 24:36-42, Mark 13:32), it will be sudden and obvious (1 Cor. 15:51-52, Matt. 24:27), announced audibly (1 Thess. 4:16), and visible to all (Matt 24:30, Rev. 1:7). It could occur at any moment (Matt 24:26-29, 1 Thess. 5:1-2, Rev. 22:7). True believers (Rm. 10:9), who comprise His church (1 Cor 12:12-13), both the living and dead, will be caught up to meet Him (1 Thess. 4:13-17) in bodies like His (Phil. 3:20-21) and will remain ever with Him (1 Thess. 4:17). His coming will initiate just judgments on all humanity (Matt. 25:31-34, Rev. 20:11-15, 2 Pt. 3:7, 2 Cor. 5:10, 1 Cor. 3:10-15, 1 Cor 4:5). He will establish His personal reign on earth (Rev. 20:4-8a), followed by His eternal kingdom in a new heaven and earth (Rev. 21:1-6). In light of these realities, believers in Christ should be encouraged (1 Thess. 4:13-18, 2 Thess.2:1, 16-17), alert (Matt. 24:42, Matt: 25:13, Luke 12:40, 2 Tim. 4:1-5, 2 Pt. 3:17), and cultivating a life of hope (Matt 25:29, Rm. 8:23-25, 1 Pt 1:13, 1 Thess 2:19, 1 John 3:2-3), holiness (1 Thess. 3:13, 1 Tm. 4:8, 1 John 2:28-29, 1 John 3:2-3, 2 Pt. 3:10-14), and service (Matt. 25:21, 1 John 2:28-29, 1 Cor. 15:58, 1 Tim. 4:1-5) while awaiting Him. In addition to the clear essentials above, the Bible describes certain details of the events associated with Christ’s return. We acknowledge, together with many who hold to the authority of Scripture, that several interpretations regarding the exact sequence and timing of those events are possible.

We believe in the bodily resurrection (1 Cor.15:12-21) and everlasting blessedness of believers (2 Cor. 5:1) and in the bodily resurrection of unbelievers to final judgment and everlasting punishment (John 5:29). By this we mean that we believe that the souls of those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation do at death immediately pass into His Presence and there remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the body at His second coming (2 Cor. 5:8). Further, we believe that the souls of unbelievers remain after death in conscious misery (Luke 16:19-31) until the final judgment (Rev. 20:11-15), when soul and body shall be united and cast into the lake of fire to be separated from God and punished forever (2 Thess. 1:6-9).