Statement of Faith

STATEMENT OF FAITH

We believe that the Bible is the absolute authority in all matters of Christian faith and practice and that the following doctrines come from the scriptures.

Bible - The Bible was written by men divinely inspired (“God-breathed”) by God as a revelation of Himself to mankind. It is without error and incapable of error, completely reliable, and sufficient for knowing God and serving His Kingdom.
(2 Timothy 3:15-17; Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 17:19; Psalm 19:7-10; Psalm 118:89, 105, 140; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

God - There is one living and true God. He is completely righteous and holy. He is the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. He is all-powerful and all-knowing. He exists eternally and simultaneously in three persons, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. This has been termed the Trinity. Each person of the Trinity holds distinct but harmonious attributes and each person is equal in divine nature and being.
(Genesis 1:1, 26; John 1:1-3; Matthew 28:19; Romans 1:20; and Ephesians 4:4-6)

  1. God the Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men. (Matthew 23:9; John 3:16; I Peter 1:3;Jeremiah 10:10,Romans 8:14-15)
  2. God the Son (Jesus Christ) is God's eternal Son. He took on human nature and became man when He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, owing no debt to God. He was tempted as we are, but did not sin. He revealed the will of God to us and proved this through miracles. For all willing to accept His grace, He has completely paid the debt of sin as a substitute for us by dying on a cross as an innocent man. He defeated death and proved He was God by physical resurrection from the dead. He ascended to Heaven, sits at the right hand of the Father, and acts as an advocate for us. He has promised to return to earth in full power and glory to finish His redemptive plan.  (Matthew 1:18-23;; John 1:1-5; Psalm 110; I Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 2:21-24; John 20; Acts 1:11; Romans 5:6-8; 6:8-11;10:9; Hebrews 4:15; 7:25; 9:15,28)
  3. God the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. He inspired the writers of Scripture in all that they wrote. He came to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment and He regenerates, sanctifies, and empowers all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer at the moment of salvation, and that He is an abiding comforter, helper, teacher and guide. (John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; John 16:8-14; Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 12:12-13; Galatians 5:22-23, Genesis 1:2)


Humanity — God created humanity in His own image as male and female. Because of this, all human life has value. This union also represents Christ’s union with the Church. Although created as "very good" and innocent, humanity, after being tempted by the devil, freely chose to rebel against the righteous rule of God. As a result, humanity was separated from God and became enslaved and inclined to self-rule and rebellion. All of creation was brought under the curse of sin through this “fall.” Humanity's most righteous acts are helpless to compensate for its sin and so, apart from God, humans remain spiritually dead and in need of redemption.
(Genesis 1:26-30; 2:5, 7, 18-22; 3; 9:6; Psalms 8:3-6;Jeremiah 17:5; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18, 5:6,12,19; 6:6; 8:22; Ephesians 2:1-22; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11)

Salvation — Humanity’s sin merits death and separation from God and Jesus, and humanity needs to be saved from this penalty. That salvation comes from the sinless God-man, Jesus, Who came to take our sin upon Himself, bearing the death that sinful humans deserved, and to completely justify us as righteous. Humans must cease to rely on their own righteousness and choose to rely on God's provision through Jesus. Jesus is the only way to salvation. In salvation, God draws us to Him, regenerates us into new creations, justifies us before Him, sanctifies us (makes us Holy and righteous at salvation and throughout our lives), and glorifies (gives us eternal life with Him in Heaven) the sinner who responds to His grace in faith.
(Romans 3:23-25; 5:8-10; 8:28-30; 10:9-10; Galatians 3:22; Philippians 2:12-13; Hebrews 7:25; I Timothy 2:5-6)

The Church — The church is the local family of believers in Christ that is part of the worldwide family of believers. They exist to be God’s Kingdom on Earth and to meet with each other to worship God and carry each other’s needs. They are to spread the Gospel to the world as they await the return of Jesus.  
(Matthew 16:15-19; Acts 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 5:4-5; Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:22-32, Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 3:1-15; 4:14; 1 Peter 5:1-4, Revelation 2-3; Genesis 2:18-24; 1 Corinthians 7:1-5; Ephesians 5:22-33; I Peter 3:1-7; 1 Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31-32; Matt 18:15-17)

Last things — God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.
(Isaiah 2:4; Matthew 16:27; 18:8-9; 19:28; 25:31-46; 26:64; Mark 8:38; 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5, 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:5; 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 5:1-11; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-12; 2; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:27-28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7-18; 1 John 2:28; 3.2; Jude 14-15; Revelation 1:18; 3:11; 20:1-22:13)