OUR STATEMENT OF FAITH
What We Believe about the Bible
We believe the Holy Bible was written by men, divinely inspired. It is God’s revelation of Himself to man, a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction. [1] It consists of sixty-six books, Old and New Testament, and is without error in the original Hebrew and Greek writings. [2] The Holy Bible has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth for its matter. [3] It is the true center of Christian unity and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be evaluated. [4] All Scripture is true, trustworthy, and a testimony to Jesus Christ. [5] It is the final authority for all Christian faith and life. [6]
[1] Exodus 24:4; Psalm 19:7-11; 2 Peter 1:19-21; 2 Timothy 3:14-17
[2] Romans 3:2; Galatians 1:8-9; Revelation 22:18-19
[3] 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Romans 16:25-27; John 16:13-14; 17:17
[4] Ephesians 2:20-22; 4:3-6; Matthew 22:29; Acts 17:11; 28:23
[5] 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; John 5:39
[6] Hebrews 4:12-13; Colossians 3:16
What We Believe about God
We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. [7] We believe that each Person of the Godhead is equal in essence and perfection, [8] and each executes distinct and harmonious roles in the great work of redemption. [9]
[7] Jeremiah 10:10; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 83:18; 147:5; John 4:24; 15:26; Matthew 28:19
[8] John 10:17,30; 14:23; 17:5,10; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 2:10-11; Philippians 2:5-6
[9] Ephesians 2:18; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Revelation 1:4-5
God the Father
We believe in God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth, [10] omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, immutable, perfect in holiness, [11] and rightfully deserving of all worship. [12] He concerns Himself mercifully with the affairs of men, [13] He hears and answers prayer, [14] and He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. [15]
[10] Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 3:4; Romans 1:20; Hebrews 11:3
[11] Psalm 139; Exodus 15:11; Isaiah 6:3; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:8
[12] Mark 12:30; Revelation 4:11
[13] Psalm 8:3-5
[14] Psalm 4:3; 1 John 5:14-15
[15] John 3:16-17; 14:6-7
God the Son
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, [16] through whom all things came into being, and in whom all things are held together. [17] He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, [18] and is fully God and fully man. [19] Through His sinless life, He fulfilled the divine law and in His substitutionary death on the cross fully paid for the sins of every single person who would ever believe on Him. [20] We believe in His bodily resurrection, [21] His ascension into heaven, [22] His high priestly intercession for His people, and His literal return. [23]
[16] John 1:14; 3:16a
[17] John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17
[18] Matthew 1:18,23-25
[19] John 1:1-2,14,18; Philippians 2:6-7
[20] Hebrews 4:15; 7:25-27; 2 Corinthians 5:21
[21] Romans 6:9; 1 Corinthians 15:4
[22] Acts 1:9; Colossians 3:1
[23] Hebrews 7:25-26; Titus 2:13; Acts 1:11
God the Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who inspired men of old to write the Scriptures, enables people to understand the truth, and who exalts Christ. [24] He convicts people of sin, righteousness, and judgment, [25] adopts, seals, sanctifies, comforts, regenerates, [26] and gifts each believer to build up His church, the body of Christ. [27]
[24] 2 Peter 1:20-21; John 14:26; 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:13; John 16:14
[25] John 16:8-11
[26] Romans 8:15-16; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Acts 9:31; Titus 3:5
[27] Romans 12:6-8
What We Believe about People
We believe that man was created in the image of God. [28] He sinned by disobeying God’s law and incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. [29] Therefore, all people are sinners by nature and by choice, totally void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil, and under the just condemnation of God without defense or excuse. [30]
[28] Genesis 1:26-27
[29] Genesis 2:15-17; 3:6; Romans 5:12
[30] Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:10-12,18,23; Ephesians 2:1-3
What We Believe about Salvation
We believe the way of salvation is only through the grace of Jesus Christ. [31] He took upon Himself our nature, yet was without sin, fulfilled God’s law by His perfect obedience, and through His death on the cross made full atonement for our sins. [32]
We believe the great blessing of salvation is justification, which pardons all sin and declares a person righteous in the sight of God. [33]
We believe salvation is a gift from God that cannot be earned, only received, by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. [34]
We believe salvation is made free to all by the gospel, [35] and it is the immediate duty of all to accept it through repentance and faith. [36] Nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth except his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel. [37]
We believe that to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, be born again. This is the work of the Holy Spirit who through the Word of God imparts spiritual life to the sinner. [38] This secures our voluntary obedience to the gospel which is evidenced by the fruits of repentance, faith, newness of life, and growth in Christlikeness. [39]
We believe that salvation includes our adoption by the Holy Spirit into the family of God making us children of God, [40] as well as, our guarantee to persevere until the end. [41]
[31] John 14:6
[32] Philippians 2:6-8; Hebrews 9:15; Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21
[33] Acts 13:39; Romans 5:1,9; 8:1
[34] Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 6:23
[35] John 3:16; Romans 1:16; 10:12-17
[36] Acts 2:37-38; 16:30-31; 2 Peter 3:9
[37] Matthew 11:20; John 3:19; Romans 1:18
[38] Ezekiel 36:26; John 3:3-8; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 1:23
[39] John 6:37; Ephesians 2:4-5; Galatians 5:16-24; Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18
[40] John 1:12; Romans 8:14-17
[41] John 10:28; 17:12; Ephesians 1:13-14; Philippians 1:6; Jude 1:24
We believe the true Church is a living, spiritual body in which Christ is the Head and only regenerated (Spirit-filled) people are members. We are buried with Jesus Christ in baptism and raised to a new life through His Spirit. The Church has a purpose of leading believers toward maturity through worship, discipleship, ministry, fellowship and evangelism. We believe that Christ has committed to the local church, the ordinances of Baptism and Communion to be observed until He comes and the responsibility to proclaim to a lost world their need to accept Him as Lord and Savior. We believe that human betterment and social improvement are essential products of the Church. (Ephesians 1:22-23; Romans 6:3-5; Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; and John 8:31-32)
We believe that when we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our life, we are to be baptized by full immersion, just like Jesus. Baptism is done out of obedience to Him and it symbolizes how God cleanses us of our sins, as well as how He raises us to new life in Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:37-39; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; Galatians 3:26-27; Acts 8:26-40; 9:17-19; 10:47-48; 16:15; 16:29-33)
We believe Communion is a reminder, a symbol, and a simple act that Jesus commanded us to participate in until He returns. When we take Communion, we believe that the bread and the cup represent Jesus Christ’s death on the cross. We don’t believe they actually become His body and blood. The Bible does not indicate how often each church should take Communion, therefore, we participate in this ordinance on the first Sunday of the month during our regular service. (1 Corinthians 11:17-29; Matthew 26:17-30)
We believe every member of His church has been given specific gifts and talents by the Holy Spirit. These gifts and talents are to be diligently developed and used at home, church, and in society to build up the church. (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Ephesians 4:11-13; Matthew 25:14-30)
We believe it is important to honor one day every week, generally Sunday, for the purpose of rest and worship. Our Sabbath, the Lord’s Day, will involve different activities, public and private, that focus on the Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives. (Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 12:1-12; Mark 2:27-28; Acts 20:7; Romans 14:5-10)
We believe that each church should be independent, autonomous and free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority. Church and State must be kept separate, as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties, free from the dictation or patronage of the other. We also believe that it is the responsibility of the church (individually and corporately) to live in submission to the government, as long as that does not violate Scripture or conscience and to pray for those who are in authority over us. (1 Timothy 2:1-3; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13-14; Acts 5:29; Matthew 23:10; Romans 13:1-7)
We believe that Jesus Christ came to restore not only our relationship with God, but also to bring unity and dignity to men and women of all ethnicities. All persons are made in the image of God and every disciple of Jesus Christ is to reflect that image in the world. (Galatians 3:26-29; Ephesians 2:11-22; John 17:20-26; Acts 10:9-23; Colossians 3:11-14)
We believe we are created to exist forever. We will either exist, eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through the forgiveness and salvation of Jesus Christ. To be eternally separated from God is called Hell. To be eternally in union with God is called Heaven. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence. Where we go for eternity, hinges upon our faith in Jesus Christ alone. (John 3:16; 14:17; Romans 6:23; 8:17-18; Revelation 20:15; 21:27; 1 Corinthians 2:7-9; Matthew 25:41)
We believe that 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. (Matthew 16:27; John 14:1-3; Acts 17:31; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; Revelation 20-22)