Statement of Faith

In Essentials, Unity; In Non-essentials, Liberty; In All Things Charity

Loving God, Loving People

1.  BIBLE

We believe the Bible, consisting of both the Old and New Testament Scriptures in their entirety, is the only divinely inspired, inerrant, objective absolute truth.  It is the authoritative written Word of God, and the only infallible rule of faith and practice in the church.  The divine inspiration of Scripture extends to each Word of the original manuscript but not to the various copies or translations of Scripture.  The Bible should be interpreted literally, grammatically, contextually, and historically.  Any and all other writings from, in or of the church must not contradict the Holy Scriptures in any way and all fall under Biblical authority. 

Genesis 1-3/ Deuteronomy 29:29/ John 10:35/ 2 Timothy 3:15-17 2 Peter 1:21/ 1 Corinthians 2:13

2.  GOD

We believe in One Holy God, Creator of all things seen and unseen. Who is Eternal, Sovereign, Infinite, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Omnipotent.  The Sustainer of all things seen and unseen, known and unknowable.

Genesis 1:1/ Deuteronomy 6:4/ Isaiah 43:10/ Isaiah 44:6/ Isaiah 45:22/ Matthew 28:19 John 4:24/ John 5:26/ Colossians 1:16-19/ 1 Corinthians 8:4

We believe in the Trinity, the triunity of the God head consisting of One God in three distinct persons:  God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  One God in Three persons, all equal in deity and eternality, in full unity.        

a) GOD THE FATHER

First person of the trinity, The Father, who is God, who has neither beginning nor ending.  The Creator and sustainer of all things is committed to His creation and divinely intervenes in the affairs of man. 

Romans 5:8/ Romans 8:32/ John 3:16/ Ephesians 2:4-10

b) GOD THE SON

The Second person of the trinity, Jesus Christ who is God the Son, who has neither beginning nor ending.  He was conceived in the flesh by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and was fully God and fully man.  Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and was resurrected bodily on the third day.  He ascended into heaven and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father as our only mediator, high priest, and advocate.  His return is eminent to establish His eternal Kingdom.  

Matthew 1:23-25/ John 1:1/14:3/ Acts 4:12/1 Corinthians 15:3-4 & 20/ Philippians 2:5-11/ 1 Timothy 2:5-6/ Hebrews 4:14-16/ 1 Peter 2:22

c) GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Third person of the trinity.  The Holy Spirit who is God, who has neither beginning nor ending, who is a person, not a force or energy.  His ministries include but are not limited to: convicting people of sin, regeneration, indwelling of believers and baptizing them into the Body of Christ with gifts to be used for the body according to Gods Will.  He sets believers apart and enables them to live holy separate lives, leading and reminding them of the teachings of Christ in the Word of God which is the Bible.  He is sovereign and still works today in ways beyond man’s comprehension.

John 3:5-8/ Acts 1:8/ Acts5:3-4/ Acts 16:7-14/ 1 Corinthians 2:9-12/ 1 Corinthians 3:16 1 Corinthians 12:3-13,28-31/ 1 Corinthians13:8-11 Galatians 5:16-25/ Ephesians 1:13-14/ Ephesians 5:18/ Hebrews 2:3

3. HUMANITY AND SIN

We believe both men and woman were created in the image and likeness of God and are eternal beings created to have a personal relationship with Him.  As the result of rebellion and disobedience, Adam and Eve sinned and thus mankind has inherited the sinful nature.  We are conceived in sin and we do not have the capacity to save ourselves. It is only by the grace of God through the redeeming work of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross that each person can be saved.  Apart from a confession of sin and faith in Christ Jesus alone, man is condemned to a place of eternal condemnation, Hell.

Genesis 1:26-27/ Genesis 2:7/ Matthew 5:20-48/ John 3:16-18 Romans 2:6-16/ Romans 5:12-21; 6:23/ 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9 Revelation 20:13-15

4.  SALVATION

We believe we are saved solely and fully by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ alone.  This salvation was purchased by His substitutionary death and His shedding of blood on the cross for the forgiveness of the sins of every person and is offered to everyone as a free gift.  The person who has trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior is eternally secure.  We believe at death believers enter eternal glory and are in the presences of God, and that unbelievers enter eternal torment.  

Acts 16:31/ Acts 20:20-21/ Romans 3:28/ Romans 10:9-10/ 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 John 1:12/ John 3:16/ John 10:28/ Ephesians 2:8-9/ Philippians 1:6

5.  SANCTIFICATION

We believe every believer has been sanctified, set apart with a perfect standing before God, through the work of Jesus Christ.  Yielding ourselves to the Holy Spirit, we will experience spiritual transformation in holiness and living, but we will not experience perfection or be able to live a life without sin.  Future rewards are determined by our obedience to the Lord.  

Hebrews 10:10/ Philippians 3:12/ Romans 6:13-19/ Romans 12:1-2 1 Corinthians 3:8/ Ephesians 2:8-10

6.  CHURCH

We believe Christ is the Head of the Church, which is His Body.  All who have trusted in Jesus as Savior are members of the Body.  Christians must commit themselves to worship, discipleship, fellowship, evangelism, stewardship, and ministry in a local church.  The church is commanded to represent Jesus Christ in the world through godly living and active participation in the Body.  All believers are commanded to participate in two church ordinances, believers' baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper. 

Matthew 22:37-40/ Matthew 26:26-29/ Matthew 28:18-20/ Acts 2:42/ 1 Corinthians 12:13/ Ephesians 1:22-23/ Ephesians 2:19-22/ Ephesians 3:6-10/ Ephesians 4:11-13/ Ephesians 5:23-27/ 1 Thessalonians 2:14/ Hebrews 10:25/ 1 Peter 2:9-10/ 1 John 4:17

7.  SATAN

We believe Satan is a created angelic being who is real and not a force or myth.  He became the father of lies, the author of sin, is our adversary and accuser, and the great deceiver of the nations.  He will finally be overcome by the Lord Jesus Christ and suffer eternal punishment in the lake of fire.  

Genesis 3:1/ Job1:6-12/ Matthew 4:3-11/ John 8:44/ 2 Corinthians 4:4/ 1 John 3:8 1 John 5:19/ Revelation 12:9-10/ Revelation 20:10

8.  FUTURE EVENTS

We believe, on a day known only by God the Father, Jesus will return and rapture His church.  The church will not experience the judgments of God poured out on mankind.  The Lord Jesus will then establish His Millennial Kingdom on earth.  This will be followed by the final judgment.  The righteous, who accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior on earth, will go to the new heaven and a new earth.  The condemned, who did not accept Jesus as their Savior, will go to the lake of fire and eternal suffering. 

John 14:3/ Acts 1:7/ Acts 11/ Romans 8:1/ 1 Corinthians 15:20 & 23 2 Corinthians 5:10/Philippians 1:23/1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 Revelation 11:15/ Revelation 19:11 - 21:5

9.  LIFE

We believe that human life begins at conception.  That every human being is created in the image and likeness of God and is a reflection of The Creator.  Every human being has value.  Each person is distinct and is born a man or a woman according to God’s choosing.  They are physically, mentally and spiritually male or female at conception by God’s intentional design. 

Psalm 139:13-16/ Isaiah 44:2; 24/ Psalm 51:5-6

10.  MARRIAGE

We believe marriage is the union ordained by God and commanded by God between one man and one woman to be fruitful and multiply.  Anything outside marriage between a man and a woman, according to the Scriptures, is an abomination to God and detrimental to all mankind. 

Genesis 2:21-24/ 1 Corinthians 7/ Romans 1:18-32/Ephesians 5:22-33 Hebrews 13:4/Leviticus 20:7-21