Statement of Faith

THE BIBLE

We believe the Bible to be inspired by God, written by men guided by God, and that it is the only infallible, inerrant, authoritative revelation of the mind and heart of God to the world regarding Himself, humanity, and God’s plan for redemption. When we speak of the Bible, we refer to the Old and New Testaments whose authority we fully accept and submit to.

1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; John 17:17; Hebrews 1:1-2

THE TRINITY

We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three distinguishable, but not divided, persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:21-22; John 10:30; Ephesians 4:4-6

GOD THE FATHER

We believe in God the Father, the eternal Creator of all things. He is holy. He is all knowing, all present, all powerful, perfect in character and in all of His attributes and actions. He is sovereign over all events, not because of foreknowledge of the future, but based upon his perfect will. In God all things are possible.

Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 32:4; Leviticus 11:45; Psalm 90:2; Psalm 135:6; Lamentations 3:37-38; Matthew 19:26; Hebrews 4:13; Hebrews 11:3

GOD THE SON

We believe in the humanity and deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood on the cross, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, His continual intercession for those who trust in Him for salvation, His active and current upholding of the whole created order, and in His personal return in power and glory.

Matthew 1:23; John 1:1-4, 29; Acts 1:11; Acts 2:22-24; Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Colossians 1:17; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 1:1-4; Hebrew 4:15

GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit; whose indwelling enables the Christian to live a godly life. He is the seal on us, testifying that our identity is as sons of God; He bears fruit in us; He empowers us with gifts for the benefit of the Church; He makes us to know the things freely given us by God.

John 3:5-8; Acts 1:8 and 4:31; Romans 8:9, 16; 1 Corinthians 2:12-14; 1 Corinthians 12 – 13; Galatians 5:16-18; Ephesians 6:12; Colossians 2:6-3:6

MANKIND

We believe that the human race, male and female, distinct from animals though made of the same dust, is created in the image of God to enjoy God and bring glory to Him. Adam and Eve, the first humans, were created without sin but with the capacity to do good or evil. When Adam sinned, spiritual death resulted. Since Adam, all mankind is born into a state of condemnation and a broken relationship with God, utterly incapable to choose good over evil, because through the sin of the first man, Adam, we all are born with indwelling sin. We believe that all men face the judgment of God, that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation from the guilt of sin, the means of reconciliation to God, and the freedom to do good works prepared in advance for us to do. We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, a response of repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ results from regeneration by the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, we believe that God will reward those made righteous by faith in Jesus Christ with eternal life in closest fellowship with the Triune God and His saints and angels in a renewed heaven and earth, and that He will banish the unrighteous to deserved never-ending torment in hell.

Genesis 1:26-27; Luke 24:46-47; John 3:16-18; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:21-24; Romans 5:12-14; 2 Corinthians 5:10-11; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:4-7

THE RESURRECTION

We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; the saved to be resurrected to eternal life and the lost to be damned to never-ending torment without hope of redemption.

Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 16:19-31; 1 Corinthians 15:51-57; Revelation 20:11-15

THE CHURCH

We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and that all born again (or regenerated) believers, regardless of their denominational affiliation, are members of His body and bride, the Church.

1 Corinthians 12:12, 27; Ephesians 1:22-23

MAN’S RESPONSBILITY

We believe that all followers of Jesus Christ are responsible for expressing in both word and deed the message of salvation only possible by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, by sharing the word of God in love, helping followers of Christ grow up into maturity in Christ, and demonstrating the gospel by compassionately caring for the “least of these.”

Matthew 25:40; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Romans 10:9-15; Hebrew 10:24-25; James 2:14-17; 1 Peter 3:15

THE RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE NEW HEAVENS AND NEW EARTH

We believe that on a day appointed and known only to God the Father, Jesus Christ will return. Following His return, all who are dead will be raised to life and be judged, some to everlasting life, some to everlasting and never-ending torment. A new heaven and a new earth will be established and God’s dwelling will be with His people.

Matthew 24:36-44; Matthew 25:31-46; Acts 1:6-7; 1 Corinthians 15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 2 Peter 3:1-13; Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21:1-7