Statement of Faith

What-We-Believe-HeaderScriptures

We believe the Bible, consisting of both the Old and New Testaments, to be the inerrant Word of God. Every word of the original manuscripts having been breathed by God Himself and written by men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. As God’s completed revelation, the Scriptures are fully sufficient as our ultimate authority for faith and practice. (Psalm 19:7-9; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:2-4, 20, 21)

God

We believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All are identical in essence and equal in power, glory, attributes and perfection. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-7; Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 8:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

We believe God the Father is the author of creation and the source of all things. He is the Head of Christ, the initiator of our salvation, the standard of holiness, and the designer of our redemption. As God, He is holy, righteous, good, loving and full of mercy. God the Father sovereignly controls the flow of human history and will personally bring it to fulfillment through the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. (Genesis 1:1-31; 1 Chronicles 29:11; Psalm 103:19, 145: 8-9; 1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 1:3-5, 10)

We believe in the true deity and full humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His substitutionary and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return to earth in power and glory to reign as the King of Kings. (Luke 1:26-35; John 1:1-5, 14; 5:21, 25; 10:30; 14:16-17; Romans 3:24-25; 6:5-10; Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 1:15-17; 1 Peter 1:18-21; Revelation 20:11-15)

We believe in the full deity of the Holy Spirit as eternal and coequal with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, brings new life to those who were once spiritually dead, and baptizes (places) all believers into the one true universal church. The Holy Spirit permanently indwells every believer at the moment of salvation and seals them unto the day of their final redemption. The Holy Spirit bestows spiritual gifts for ministering to others, guides believers in all truth, and empowers them so they may live in victory over sin.

(John 3:3-8; 14:16, 17; 16:7-13; Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 12:7-14; Ephesians 1:13, 14; 4:4-6, 30; 5:18)

Man

We believe man was created in the image and likeness of God in innocence and without sin. Through Adam’s sin, all humanity has fallen and is in rebellion against God and is therefore spiritually dead and alienated from God. (Genesis 1:26; 3:1-24; Psalm 14:1-3; Jeremiah 17:9; John 1:12-13; 3:3-8; Romans 3:9-18,23; 5:10-12; 8:6-8; Ephesians 2:1-3; Titus 3:4-7)

Salvation

We believe Salvation is wholly of God by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ, through the merit of His shed blood, and not on the basis of human merit or works. Salvation is given by God as a gift to those whom He has chosen before the foundation of the world and drawn to Himself through the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides in repentance and gives the faith necessary to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and His completed work by His death, burial and resurrection so that no man can boast. (John 1:12, 16:7-11; Acts 11:18, 13:48; Romans 2:4, 6:23, 8:29; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Ephesians 1:4, 7, 2:8-10; Hebrews 10:12-14, 1 Peter 1:18, 19)

We believe that those who are saved are recreated spiritually, born again, as completely new creatures, resulting in the full forgiveness of sins and the liberty of holy living. Though indwelling sin remains a reality in every believer, we are to be led by the Holy Spirit, grow in the knowledge of the Lord, keep the Lord’s commandments and live in such a way that all may see our good works and thus glorify our Father who is in heaven. (Ezekiel 36:16-27; John 3:1-21; Romans 6:17-18; 7:21-25; 8:1; 2 Corinthians 5:11-19; Galatians 5:1; Titus 3:1-8; 1 Peter 1:13-21)

We believe that those who are saved are pardoned of their sin and are given the promise of eternal life by virtue of the perfect righteousness of Christ which is freely given to us of God. (Romans 3:26; 4:6; 8:33; I Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Colossians 2:13, 14)

We believe salvation is eternal and that God finishes the saving process without the threat of losing saving grace. (John 3:16-17; 10:27-30; Romans 8:31-39; 16:25; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 1:6; 1 John 5:13)

Church

We believe in the spiritual unity of all true believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, His Body on this earth, the Church. (John 17:11-26; Ephesians 4:1-6)

We believe that there is a Biblical distinction between Israel as a nation and the Church as a “holy nation.” The earthly, temporal promises made to Abraham (a land in which to live, a nation of people, and the temporal blessings of God) are fulfilled through Israel as God’s chosen people. The heavenly, eternal promises (a heavenly land, a holy nation…the Church, and the redemptive blessings of God) made to Abraham are fulfilled through Christ and are experienced by those, both Jew and Gentile, who are in Christ, the heirs of the promises. (Genesis 12:1-3; Galatians 3:6-9, 16, 29; Hebrews 11:8-10,12-16; 1 Peter 2:9)

We believe that the Church, who’s Head is Christ Jesus her Lord, is to be led by biblically designated qualified men called elders who are assisted in service by biblically qualified deacons. Properly appointed Elders are the “pastors/shepherds” of the Church. Some are supported in financial ways to devote themselves to full-time ministry. Elder selection is on the basis of character, calling and spiritual giftedness. (Acts 14:23; 20:17-35; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; 5:17-25; Titus 1:5-9; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:1-5)

We believe that true believers must meet together on a regular basis for instruction, worship, sharing and encouragement in order to maintain spiritual growth and to continually look for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. These assemblies are to be characterized by corporate worship, biblical instruction, prayer and fellowship. (Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34; 12:1-14; Ephesians 4:1-16; 1 Timothy 3:14-15; Hebrews 10:23-25; 1 John 3:16-20)

We believe that the Family is the foundational institution of both society and the Church, that children are a gift from the Lord, that parents are first and foremost responsible for the spiritual education of their children, and that the Church is a supporting and complementary entity in the process of training the next generation. (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:21-25; Deuteronomy 6:1-9; Psalm 78:1-7; 127:1-5; Ephesians 5:22-6:4; Colossians 3:18-21; 2 Timothy 3:14-15)

We believe that the members of the Church are responsible to live lives of holiness as salt and light in the World, and that individual believers are responsible for evangelizing those who are lost. (Matthew 5:13-16; 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:1-21; Titus 2:11-15; 1 Peter 1:13-21; 2 Peter 3:11-12)

We believe that the miraculous gifts of divine revelation and healing were affirmations of Apostolic authority, supernaturally given to affirm the Word as delivered through these chosen men unto the completion of the Scriptures, God’s inspired revelation. 1 Corinthians 13:9-13; 14:20-22; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Hebrews 2:1-4

We believe that the exercise of divinely granted spiritual gifts by each member of the Body is essential for attaining full spiritual maturity on behalf of all the members of this local Church. Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12: 1-31; Galatians 5:13; Ephesians 4:1-16; 1 Peter 4:7-11

We believe that all who profess faith in Jesus Christ as Savior are to be water-baptized as a public identification with Him. We also hold that the clearest portrayal of the significance of this baptism is the mode of immersion. Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41; 8:12, 36-39; 10:44-48, 16:33; Romans 6:4-11

We believe that participation in the Lord’s Table, Communion, is the privilege and responsibility of all believers and that it should be celebrated with regularity as a continual testimony to Christ’s death and soon return to earth. We also hold that this celebration is open to all true believers who properly examine themselves prior to participation. Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Marriage

We believe that marriage is a union given by God between one biological man and one biological woman. We also hold that intimacy is reserved within a marriage covenant between two who are equally yoked.  (Genesis 1:27-28, 2:22-25; Proverbs 18:22; Matthew 19:6; Mark 10:9; Romans 1:26-27; I Corinthians 7:1-40; II Corinthians 6:14-15; Ephesians 5:31,33; Colossians 3:18-19; Hebrews 13:4)

Last Things

We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; those who are saved to the resurrection of life in Heaven, and those who are lost to the resurrection of eternal damnation in Hell. John 5:29/6:39/11:23-26; Romans 8:10-11, 19-23; 2 Corinthians 4:14; Revelation 20:13-15

We believe that this present age will culminate in the coming “day of the Lord”, when believers will be “caught up” and forever be with Him. We also hold that this “coming day of the Lord” will manifest the just wrath of God on an unbelieving world followed by a 1000-year rule and reign of righteousness by the Lord Jesus Christ. Then will come the final judgment and a new redeemed heaven and earth. 1 Thessalonians 4:17; 5:2-9; Revelation 14:14-15:1; 19:1-20:6; 21:1-27; 22:1-21