Statement of Faith
The Bible
We believe the Bible is the fully inspired Word of God, authoritative,
infallible and inerrant in the original documents, and entirely
trustworthy for faith and life. II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21;
Matthew 5:18; John 16:12-13
The Godhead
We believe in one God, Creator of all things, Who is personal, almighty
and perfect. He exists eternally in three Persons - the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit - Who are identical in nature, equal in power and glory
and have the same attributes and perfections. Genesis 1-2; Deuteronomy
6:4; II Corinthians 13:14; Matthew 28:19, 20
The Person and Work of Jesus Christ
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, is truly God
and truly man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the
Virgin Mary in order to reveal God and redeem sinful man. He
accomplished our redemption by dying on the cross in our place as a
voluntary, substitutionary sacrifice. He rose bodily from the dead and
ascended to the right hand of the Father. We believe in His personal
and physical return to execute His righteous rule over His kingdom,
judging in equity and justice all people who have ever lived, receiving
the redeemed into eternal life and giving over those who were
unrepentant to eternal condemnation in hell. John 1:1-2; Luke 1:35;
Romans 3:24-25; Romans 4:25; I Peter 1:3-5; Hebrews 7:25, 9:24; Romans
8:34; I John 2:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9.
The Person of the Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, convicts
the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, regenerates man through a
new birth, indwells all believers and baptizes them into the Body of
Christ, gifts all believers for the mutual growth of the Body, empowers
them to grow in holiness, and seals all believers unto the day of
redemption. Romans 8:4; I Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4-5; John 16:8-11;
Ephesians 1:13-14; John 3:5-6; Titus 3:5.
Mankind
We believe in the value and dignity of all people, male and female,
because they were created in the image and likeness of God. In Adam's
rebellion the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, became
alienated from God, and is totally incapable of remedying their lost
condition. Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 3; Romans 3:22-23, 5:12; Matthew
19:4-6
Salvation
We believe salvation is a gift of God given to mankind by grace and
received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious
blood was shed for the forgiveness of our sins. We believe that all
true believers, once saved, are kept secure forever by the power of
God. John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8, 9; John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; Romans
8:38-39; John 10:27-30; I Corinthians 1:4-8; Ephesians 1:13-14, 2:10; I
John 1; Hebrews 12:9-11; 1 Peter 1:18-19
The Church
We believe the Church of Jesus Christ began at Pentecost when the Holy
Spirit was poured out upon the believers, baptizing them into the Body
of Christ. It is spiritual and universal, of which Christ is the Head
and all believers are a part. The Body is manifested in local churches
which are to fulfill the Lord's commands to love God, to love others,
and to make disciples of all nations. Acts 2; I Corinthians 12; I
Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 2:21; Ephesians 5:25; Colossians 1:24;
Ephesians 5:25; Matthew 28:18-20
The Ordinances
We believe the Lord Jesus established two ordinances, which are to be
observed during this present age - Baptism and Communion. Baptism, by
immersion in water in the name of the Triune God, is to identify the
believer publicly with Jesus Christ and His death, burial, and
resurrection. Communion, consisting of bread as a symbol of Christ's
broken body and the cup as a symbol of Christ's shed blood, is a
memorial of His sacrifice in securing our redemption, to be observed
until He returns. The Bible teaches that only believers should partake
of the elements of Communion after careful, prayerful evaluation of
their walk with God. Matthew 28:19; Acts 8:26-38, 10:47-48; Matthew
26:26-29; I Corinthians 11:27-31; Romans 6:3-5
Satan
We believe in the existence of Satan, a spiritual being who is the
declared enemy of God and God's people, the destroyer of human lives
and whose destiny is eternal punishment. Job 1:6-7; John 10:10;
Ephesians 6:10-20; Revelation 20:10