Statement of Faith

The Existence of God – We believe the one true and living God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. God is an infinite Spirit, self-existent, immutable, and perfect in all his attributes. He exists eternally in three co-eternal, co-equal, fully divine persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. (Genesis 1:1 - God is the Creator; Exodus 3:14 – God is self-existent; Romans 1:19-20 – God has made His glory known; Revelation 22:13 – God is eternal).

The Trinity – We believe the one true and living God eternally exists in three co-equal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The three distinct persons are co-identical in one divine nature, being co-equal in power and glory, equally deserving of worship and obedience. Each person is distinct in carrying out different, but harmonious functions in the works of creation and redemption. The Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Father, and the Holy Spirit is neither the Father nor the Son. They are not three gods, but one true God. (Deuteronomy 6:4 – There is only one God; Matthew 16:16-17 – The Father is fully God; John 1:1-5 – The Son is fully God; Acts 5:3-5 – The Holy Spirit is fully God; John 17:1-26 – The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three distinct persons).

God, the Father – We believe God the Father is the absolute ruler of the universe and the Creator of all things through his Son, Jesus Christ. He sovereignly knows all that will come to pass, working all things according to His own purpose and glory. The Father is the Holy Judge and Compassionate Reconciler. There is nothing above Him or behind Him. He is the Alpha and Omega. All things are from The Father and will return to Him. (Genesis 1:1-31 – God the Father is the Creator; Psalm 135:5 – God the Father does as He pleases; Ephesians 1:3-6 – God the Father is the Sovereign Ruler; John 3:16 – God the Father is the Compassionate Reconciler; 1 Peter 1:15-19 – God the Father is the Holy Judge).

God, the Son – We believe the Son is the second person of the Trinity. He is fully God, coequal and coeternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. In the incarnation, the Son of God took on human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, being conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. He lived a perfect and sinless life. He voluntarily shed his blood as a sacrifice for man, taking on the punishment for sin when he died on the cross. Three days after His death, he physically rose from the grave, demonstrating his power over sin and death. He ascended into heaven, and will return again in power and glory, as judge of the living and the dead. Jesus Christ is the one Mediator between God and man. He is worthy of all glory, honor, and praise. (John 1:1 – Jesus Christ is the Word; John 1:3 – All things were made through the Son; John 5:18 – The Son is equal with the Father; Philippians 2:5-8 – The Son assumed a human nature; Colossians 2:9 – Jesus Christ is fully divine).

God, the Holy Spirit – We believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He is fully divine, and is coequal and coeternal with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. Through illumination, the Spirit enables men to understand truth. The Holy Spirit exalts Jesus Christ. At the moment of regeneration the Holy Spirit baptizes every believer into the body of Christ and seals a believer unto the day of final redemption. The Holy Spirit comforts believers and is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide. The Holy Spirit empowers believers and gives each of them spiritual gifts in order to serve God through His church. (Mark 1:10-11 – The Holy Spirit is God, the third person of the Trinity; John 14:26 – The Holy Spirt is the Helper, bringing to remembrance God’s Word; John 15:26 – The Holy Spirit bears witness of Christ; John 16:8-15 – The Holy Spirit guides the believer into all truth; Ephesians 1:13-14 – Believers are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit).

General Revelation in Creation and Humanity – We believe God has made His existence known, revealing His power and glory through creation, so that man is without excuse. God reveals himself as the Divine Artist of all that has been created in nature. God has written his law on the hearts of man, placing the knowledge of Himself in humankind. Since God is the ultimate basis of right and wrong, man’s conscience serves as an internal witness that affirms or accuses them of keeping or breaking God’s law. (Psalm 19:1 – Creation declares that there is a Creator; Romans 1:19 – The conscience bears witness to the knowledge of God; Romans 1:20 – Creation reveals the power and glory of God; Romans 2:15-19 – The law of God is written on the hearts of man).

Special Revelation: The Scriptures – We believe the Holy Scriptures, which comprise the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament, are the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God. The Scriptures are God-breathed, authoritative, and sufficient, serving as the final and supreme authority in matters of faith, doctrine, and Christian living. The Holy Spirit directed the human authors, through their individual personalities and writing styles, such that they composed and recorded God’s Word to man without error. Scripture is the divine means by which God has disclosed himself to humanity and has most clearly revealed himself in the person of Christ. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 – The Scriptures are authoritative; Hebrews 1:1-2 – Jesus is the final speaking of God; 2 Peter 1:19-21 – The Scriptures are inspired by God; Hebrews 4:12 – God’s Word is living and active).

Humanity – We believe God created all human beings in His image. To be made in the image of God means that humankind is to be a reflection of God’s glory. There is a community of relationship within the Trinity and humankind is likewise to be in a community of relationship as male and female. Humankind’s relationship toward creation is then to be one of stewardship, designated as God’s vice-regents over His creation. Those created in God’s image are to be in fellowship with Him and with others. Christ is the image of God, taking on true humanity and leaving believers an example to follow in His steps. Christ is the exact representation of God’s glory, the one who has redeemed humanity and will restore humanity to what it was intended to be. (Genesis 1:27-28 – Human beings are to be God’s stewards over creation; Genesis 2:18 – Human beings are made for relationship with one another; Hebrews 1:3 – Christ is the image of God).

Sin – We believe sin is rebellion against God and renders humanity guilty before Him. The very essence of sin is pride, with there being a desire to exalt oneself to the place of God. Satan incurred the judgment of God by rebelling against Him and taking numerous angels with him in his fall. He introduced sin into the human race by his temptation of Eve, in which both Adam and Eve chose to rebel against the commandment of God. Their rebellion against God resulted in physical and spiritual death for humanity. Sin is a distortion of God’s good creation. Sin is the absence of good, resulting in disordered desires, and is the distrust and rejection of God. Sin is the failure to keep God’s law and uphold His righteousness, and therefore being unable to fully glorify God. (1 John 3:4 – Sin is lawlessness; 1 Corinthians 10:12 – The nature of sin is pride; Romans 5:12-21 – Sin brings universal corruption and condemnation; Romans 6:23 – The wages of sin is death).

The Nature of the Atonement – We believe that through the substitutionary atonement, Jesus Christ took upon himself the sins of humanity. It is through Christ’s all-sufficient sacrificial death on the cross where he fully satisfied the demands of divine justice, appeased the wrath of God, and secured forgiveness and reconciliation for believers. It is on the cross where Christ bore the penalty for the sins of his elect, dying in their place, with their sins being imputed to Christ and His righteousness being imputed to them. Christ’s atoning work on the cross secures the redemption of God’s elect and guarantees their eternal security. (1 Peter 2:24 – Christ bore our sins in his body; 1 John 2:2 – Christ is the propitiation for our sins; Hebrews 9:12 – Christ secured eternal redemption for believers; 2 Corinthians 5:21 – Believers have been made righteous in Christ).

Salvation – We believe salvation is a gift from God, granted by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Christ’s atoning work on the cross provides the sole basis for the forgiveness of sins, and it is by repenting and believing in the Lord Jesus Christ that a person is forgiven of their sins, reconciled to God, and given eternal life. When a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ, it is through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, bringing about a change of heart through the conviction of sin, whereby a person responds in repentance and faith in Christ. Regeneration is a one-time act, where God renews the nature, will, mind, and heart of the elect. All who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit are sealed with the Holy Spirit and cannot lose their salvation. It is apart from salvation through Jesus Christ that a person cannot be saved. (Ephesians 2:8-9 – A person is saved by grace through faith, apart from works; John 3:16 – Whoever believes in Christ is given eternal life; Romans 6:23 – Salvation is a free gift of God; John 1:12 – All who believe become children of God; Titus 3:4-7 – Regeneration is the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit).

Sanctification – We believe sanctification is the continual work of the Holy Spirt, who is conforming believers more and more to the image of Christ. This is a process of moral renewal, spiritual maturity and transformation, by which the believer produces the fruit of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Sanctification is a process whereby the Spirit makes the believer’s union with Christ increasingly real, growing in grace throughout the regenerate person’s life. Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, being renewed after the image of God, enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:13 – Believers are sanctified by the Spirit; Philippians 1:6 – God will complete His work in His children; Philippians 2:12-13 – God is working in believers, so that they would do His will; 2 Corinthians 3:18 – Believers are being transformed into the image of Christ; Ephesians 4:20-24 – Believers are to put on the new self, being renewed by the Spirit).

Second Coming – We believe that the personal, bodily, visible, and glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent. He will return to gather His elect, reveal Himself to the earth, and destroy the powers of evil; Satan will be cast into the lake of fire, as will all who die apart from Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ will resurrect the saved and the unsaved, judge them, and deliver them to their eternal destinies. After the final judgement, God will recreate the heavens and the earth; His holy city will descend from the heavens to the earth. Those who are saved will receive glorified bodies at the coming of Christ and shall forever be with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth. (Revelation 1:7 – Every eye shall see Christ’s coming in the clouds; 1 Thessalonians 5:2 – Christ’s return is imminent; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 – Jesus will judge humanity; the unsaved suffer eternal torment; Revelation 21:1-8 – God will create a new heaven and a new earth).

The Final State of Believers and Unbelievers – We believe that when those who are in Christ die, their souls leave their bodies and immediately pass into the presence of the Lord. The souls of the redeemed remain in heaven until Christ returns to rapture His elect, at which point they will be united with their glorified bodies. Those who are alive at the coming of Christ will be instantaneously transformed, receiving their glorified bodies. There will be the bodily resurrection of all men; the saved to eternal life and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. The souls of those who die without Christ are conscious of their separation from God and await their judgment at the Great White Throne where their resurrected bodies will be cast into the lake of fire. (2 Corinthians 5:8 – When a believer dies, their soul passes on to be with the Lord; Philippians 1:23 – Those who die in Christ will immediately be in the Lord’s presence; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 – Believers will be resurrected and given glorified bodies; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 – The dead in Christ rise first and those alive are caught up; Revelation 20:11-15 – All unbelievers are cast into the lake of fire).

The Church: Its Nature and Government – We believe the church is the body of Christ, consisting of all true believers, of which Christ is the head. The body of Christ is called to meet in local assemblies for Christian fellowship, accountability, and divine worship. This one true Church is a spiritual organism whose members are endowed with spiritual gifts for the maturing and building up of the saints for outreach in Christian service. The true church consists of baptized believers, who carry out the work and ministry of worship, fellowship, discipleship, and missions. The governance of the church is to be firmly rooted in the Scriptures. God’s Word is the authoritative and sufficient guide for all matters pertaining to faith and practice, including the organization and leadership of the church. Each congregation is to operate under the Lordship of Christ through democratic processes, with each member being responsible and accountable to each other and to Christ. The two biblical offices within the church are pastor/elder/overseer and deacon. Scripture restricts the role of pastor to men, who meet the biblical qualifications laid out in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 2. The pastor and elders provide spiritual leadership, pastoral care, and oversight of the congregation, with decisions for the church involving the active participation and affirmation of the congregation. (Colossians 1:18 – Christ is the head of the church. Matthew 18:15-17 – Church members are accountable to each other and Christ; 1 Timothy 3:1-13 – Pastors and deacons must meet specific qualifications; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 – The church is one body with many members).

The Church: Its Mission – We believe God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world, and discipling all believers to maturity and wisdom in their relationship with Him. The church is to worship and glorify God in all things, both individually and corporately. God has also called the church to work together in unity, ministering to the needs of others through sacrificial giving and practical service locally and abroad. (Matthew 28:19-20 – The church is called to make disciples of all nations; 1 Peter 2:9 – The church is called to proclaim the gospel; 1 Peter 4:10-11 – The church is called to faithful service; Hebrews 10:24-25 – The church is called to meet together regularly).  

Missions and Evangelism – We believe it is both the responsibility and privilege of every believer to both share the gospel and make disciples of all nations. True disciples make disciples, helping others to follow Christ and grow in spiritual maturity. The Lord Jesus Christ has commanded believers to preach the gospel to all people. All who genuinely love the Lord Jesus Christ will love those who are lost, and have a great desire to reach them with the truth of the gospel. Believers are to verbally share the good news of Christ and live a lifestyle that is consistent with the gospel proclamation. It is the duty of every believer to actively engage in missionary work, both locally and abroad. This includes both sharing the gospel and giving toward missions as well, whether it be giving financially or giving of your time in service. (Romans 10:13-15 – The preaching of the gospel is necessary for one to hear and believe; Mark 16:15 – The gospel is to be proclaimed to all people; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 – All believers have been entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation; Matthew 9:37-38 – It is the duty of believers to share the gospel and pray for the gospel to go forth).

The Church: Its Ordinances – We believe the Lord Jesus Christ has given to His church two ordinances; baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Baptism is an initial act of obedience following salvation, symbolizing the believer’s faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior. Baptism further symbolizes the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Jesus Christ. Baptism is a public confession of faith in Christ, with the public acknowledgment of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. (Matthew 28:19 – Jesus commands His disciples to baptize in the name of the Holy Trinity; Acts 2:38-41 – The people received the message, and then they were baptized; Acts 16:30-33 – The jailer believes in Christ, and then he is baptized; Romans 6:3-4 – Baptism is a confession of faith in Christ; Colossians 2:12 – Baptism is an experience of communion with Christ).

The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience, with believing members of the church partaking of the bread and the cup, in order to commemorate the death of the Lord Jesus Christ and anticipate His second coming. It is at the Lord’s Table where believers remember Christ’s suffering and His power to overcome sin and death. It is the bread which represents the body of the Lord Jesus Christ, which he gave up for his elect. It is the cup which represents the blood which Jesus shed on the cross and the new covenant in Him. The Lord’s Supper is a time for believers to meditate on what Christ has done for them on the cross and to examine their hearts before the Lord. (Matthew 26:26-29 – The institution of the Lord’s Supper; Mark 14:22-25 – The bread and wine represent the body and the blood of the Lord Jesus; Luke 22:14-20 – Believers are to partake of the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of Christ; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 – Believers commemorate Christ’s death in partaking of communion; 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 – Believers are to examine themselves before partaking of communion).

Ecumenical Relationships – We believe that Christians are to seek unity with other true Christian communities based on a shared commitment to the essential doctrines of the Christian faith, including the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the authority of Scripture, and the foundational tenets of salvation through faith in Christ alone. It is important to join together with other gospel-centered Christian communities in common mission and service. While secondary theological differences may persist, believers have a shared calling to proclaim the Gospel, alleviate suffering, and promote justice and righteousness in the world. Under no circumstances should a true biblical church align itself or partner with a church that compromises or is unfaithful to the gospel in any way, whether in adding to it or subtracting from it. (Ephesians 4:1-6 – Christians are called to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; Galatians 1:9-11 – The gospel must never be compromised, as believers are united in the truth; John 17:21 – Jesus prays for the unity of all true believers; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 – Christians are not to be yoked together with unbelievers).