Statement of Faith

The Word of God

We accept the Bible, including the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament, as the written Word of God. The Scriptures are the authoritative and normative rule and guide of all Christian life, practice, and doctrine. II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20, 21

The Trinity

In the unity of the Godhead, there are three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, co-existent, co-equal, and co-eternal. Genesis 1:1, 26; John 1:1, 3

God the Father

God the Father is the Creator of heaven and earth. He rules over all and, together with the Son and the Spirit, is the only Sovereign. His plans and purposes cannot be thwarted. Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 145: 8-9; I Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 1:1-14

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the eternal Word made flesh, supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary. He is fully God and is fully man. John 1:1-4, Philippians 2:5-8

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit, the Lord, and Giver of life, convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit empowers believers for Christian witness and service. This promise of the Father is freely available to all who believe in Jesus Christ. John 14:16-17; John 16: 7-9, 13

Man

We believe that man was created by God in His own image; that he sinned and thereby incurred physical, spiritual and eternal death, which is separation from God; that as a consequence, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are sinners by choice and therefore under condemnation. We believe that those who repent and forsake sin and trust Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and become new creatures, delivered from condemnation and receive eternal life. Genesis 1:26; John 3:16; II Cor. 5:17

The Gospel

Jesus Christ is the gospel. Christ’s crucifixion is the heart of the gospel; His resurrection is the power of the gospel and His ascension is the glory of the gospel. The proper response to the gospel is faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ, a faith that is naturally accompanied by repentance from sin. Ephesians 2:8-10

Sanctification

The Holy Spirit is the active agent in our sanctification and seeks to produce His fruit in us as our minds are renewed and we are conformed to the image of Christ. Romans 6:1-22; Galatians 5:16-25

The Church

The church is not a religious institution or denomination. Rather, the Church universal is made up of those who have become genuine followers of Jesus Christ and have personally appropriated the gospel. The Church exists to worship and glorify God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Acts 2:42-47; Ephesians 2:19-22

The Ordinances

Water baptism is only intended for the individual who has received the saving benefits of Christ’s atoning work and becomes His disciple. Therefore, in obedience to Christ’s command and as a testimony to God, the church, oneself, and the world, a believer should be immersed in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The Lord’s Supper is to be observed only by those who have become genuine followers of Christ. This ordinance symbolizes the breaking of Christ’s body and the shedding of His blood on our behalf and is to be observed repeatedly throughout the Christian life as a sign of continued participation in the atoning benefits of Christ’s death. Matthew 28:18-20; I Corinthians 11:23-26

The Last Things

The consummation of all things includes the future, physical, visible, personal and glorious return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead and the translation of those alive in Christ, the judgment of the just and the unjust, and the fulfillment of Christ’s kingdom in the new heavens and the new earth. I Corinthians 15; Revelation 20:4-6; 11-15