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Statement of Faith

God and the Trinity

We believe that there is only one true and living God who is the eternal, infinite, perfect, sovereign, all powerful, all knowing, independently self sustaining and self sufficient, immutable, and uncreated. He is a spirit who works all things according to the counsel of his own perfect will for His own glory. He is unaffected by anything outside of Himself, infinite in all of His attributes, incapable of sin, and perfectly gracious, loving, merciful, forgiving, faithful, long suffering, and abundant in rewards to those that diligently seek Him, and withal most just and terrible in his judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty.  

We believe the Scriptures teach that the only true and living God, who is a spirit, is eternally existent in three distinct persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit and yet one being. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are co-existent, co-equal, and co-eternal. The Father is not the Son and the Son is not the Holy Spirit, yet each possess all the attributes of Deity. The Father is neither proceeding nor begotten; the Son is eternally begotten from the Father, is self existent, and uncreated; the Holy Spirit has eternally proceeded from the Father and the Son, is self existent, and uncreated. One God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - is the foundation of Christian faith and life. (Genesis 1:26; Deuteronomy 6:4-8; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30; John 17:22; I Corinthians 2:1-16; Romans 1:4; II Corinthians 13:14; John 14:16-26; 1Corinthians 6:19)

God the Father is neither begotten nor proceeding within the Godhead. By His Word and for His glory, He without any deficiency or having any incompleteness within Himself, freely and supernaturally created the heavens and the earth out of nothing. God the Father made man for fellowship with Himself and chose to display His glorious attributes by redeeming a people for Himself out of the creation. He rules over all in perfect unity with the Son and the Holy Spirit. His plans and purposes cannot be thwarted. He is faithful to every promise and works all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. In His unfathomable grace, He gave His Son Jesus Christ to redeem a people from humanity of every tribe, tongue, and nation by faith. He then raised Him from the dead seating Him at His right hand where He rules and reigns. He subsequently sent His Holy Spirit to earth to dwell in all who have faith in Jesus Christ. (John 14:26; John 15:26; Genesis 1; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-16; Isaiah 43:1-7; Isaiah 44:6-8; Isaiah 46:8-11; Ephesians 1:3-14; John 10:30; John 8:28; John 16:12-15; John 6:35-47; John 10:1-18; John 3:16)

Jesus Christ the Son of God

Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God. He is the eternal Word made flesh, supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary. He is perfect in nature, teaching and obedience. He is fully God and was fully man. He was always with God and is God. Through Him all things came into being and were created. He was before all things and in Him all things hold together by the word of His power. He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation and in Him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily. He is the only Savior for the sins of the world (Solus Christus) having shed His blood and died a vicarious death on Calvary's cross. By His death in our place, He revealed the divine love of the Godhead, upheld divine justice by absorbing the wrath of God, removed our guilt by paying our penalty of death, and gave us His righteousness therefore reconciling man to God. Having paid our ransom required by divine justice, He redeemed us from sin, and the third day He rose bodily from the grave, victorious over death and the powers of darkness and for a period of 40 days appeared to more than 500 witnesses performing many convincing proofs of His resurrection. He ascended into heaven where, at God's right hand, He rules and reigns the everlasting Kingdom of God and intercedes for His people. He is the Head of His body, the church, and should be adored, loved, served and obeyed by all. (John 3:16-18; John 1:1-14; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-24; Colossians 1:15-20; Colossians 2:8-9; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2; Acts 1:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:56; Revelations 1:17-18; Matthew 28:18)

The Holy Spirit is fully God and has eternally proceeded from the Father and the Son. Depraved man is reconciled to God by being born again by the Holy Spirit. He was sent to the world to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. He is the revealer of all Truth. All Scripture was written by men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit and the content of Scripture is only interpreted by the Holy Spirit. He has given gifts to all men who possess saving faith and all gifts present in Scripture are still available for use as God sees fit since they have never been revoked. Through the proclamation of the gospel the Holy Spirit persuades men to repent of their sins and confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit brings about the new birth and dwells within regenerated mankind. By the same Spirit a person is led to trust in divine mercy. The Holy Spirit has come to glorify the Son who in turn came to glorify the Father. He will lead the church into a right understanding and rich application of the truth of God's Word. He is to be respected, honored and worshipped as God, the third person of the Trinity. He secures and seals our salvation and is the guarantee of our inheritance.  (John 14:26; John 15:26, Ephesians 5:18; Ephesians 4:13; John 16:7-15; II Corinthians 13:14)

We believe the Bible, including the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament (listed below), is the inspired written Word of God and is inerrant as originally given. God has also providentially preserved the text of Scripture, so that as we have it now, is completely trustworthy for all matters of life and Godliness. The writers of the Scriptures were inspired by God to write all that Scriptures contain. The Bible is the infallible record of God's self-disclosure to mankind. The Bible leads us to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and is the authoritative and normative rule and guide of all Christian life, practice, and doctrine. In specific matters that the Bible does not specifically address, truth must be consistent with the explicit and implicit teachings of the Bible. Each book is to be interpreted according to its context and purpose and in reverent obedience to the Lord who speaks through it in living power. However no proper interpretation can be obtained without revelation from the Holy Spirit. The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself; and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not explicit in and of itself), it must be searched in other Scriptural texts that speak more clearly. The Scriptures are totally sufficient and must not be added to, superseded, or changed by later tradition, extra-biblical revelation, or worldly wisdom (Sola Scriptura). Every doctrinal formulation, whether of creed, confession or theology must be put to the test of the full counsel of God in Holy Scripture. (II Timothy 3:16,17; II Peter 1:19-21; Psalm 119:105; Revelation 22:18,19)

OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings, I Chronicles, II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, The Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

OF THE NEW TESTAMENT: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, The Acts of the Apostles, Paul's Epistle to the Romans, I Corinthians, II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I Thessalonians, II Thessalonians, I Timothy, II Timothy, To Titus, To Philemon, The Epistle to the Hebrews, Epistle of James, The first and second Epistles of Peter, The first, second, and third Epistles of John, The Epistle of Jude, The Revelation 

God made man upright and without sin, both male and female, in His own image, as the crown of creation, that man might have fellowship with Him and have dominion over the rest of creation. Tempted by Satan, man rebelled against God by disobeying God’s commandment and brought the judgment of death on himself and all humanity. Because of man’s sin God expelled man from direct communion with Him and left man no access to the Tree of Life; therefore, subjecting him to divine wrath. Man was now, because of sin, out of communion with God and inwardly depraved having fallen short of the glory of God. All humanity since the fall have inherited this sin nature by being born of corrupted humanity. Apart from a special work of grace, man is utterly incapable of returning to God (Sola Gratia). This depravity is radical and pervasive. It extends to his mind, will and affections. Unregenerate man lives under the dominion of sin and Satan and is unable to seek after God apart from the drawing of God through the miraculous regeneration by the Holy Spirit of God. All humanity in his fallen nature is at enmity with God, hostile toward God, and under divine wrath because of sin. Fallen, sinful people, whatever their character or attainments, are lost and without hope apart from the grace of God in granting salvation through faith in Jesus Christ by conviction and regeneration of the Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:26-31; Genesis 3:1-24; John 3:1-21; John 6:44; John 14:6; Romans 3:20-26; Romans 5; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2)

The Gospel is the good news that God in His unfathomable love and mercy chose to offer man salvation from sin and wrath through the sacrifice of His own Son Jesus Christ. The good news is revealed in Christ's birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension. God in His infinite wisdom and grace, and because of His love, sent His Son into the world in the likeness of sinful flesh to reconcile man back to Himself. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, took on flesh that He might, in His body, pay the penalty of death required by God's Holy Justice. Christ's death is a substitutionary and propitiatory sacrifice to God for our sins. It satisfies the demands of God's holy justice, appeases His holy wrath, and grants us His perfect righteousness. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man. There is no other name by which men must be saved. At the heart of all sound doctrine is the cross of Jesus Christ and the infinite privilege that redeemed sinners have of glorifying God because of what He has accomplished. All who by grace repent of their sins and trust in The Lord Jesus Christ for salvation by faith will be saved (Sola Fide). Therefore, we want all that takes place in our hearts, churches and ministries to proceed from and be related to the cross. (Ephesians 1:4-13; Ephesians 2; John 1:1-14; John 3:16-18; Acts 14:12; Romans 3:21-26; Romans 5:18-19; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 5:21; Colossians 1:19-21; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 1:5-2:3)

Any person desiring salvation must repent of his/her sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and His work on the cross. Man's response to the gospel is rooted and grounded in the free and unconditional election of God for His own pleasure and glory. It is also true that the message of the gospel is only effectual to those who genuinely repent of their sins and by God's grace put saving faith in Christ. This gospel of grace is to be sincerely preached to all men in all nations. Biblical repentance is characterized by a changed life, and saving faith is evidenced by kingdom service or works. (Acts 2:37-39; John 6:44; Romans 8:28-30; Romans 10:14-17; Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 1:4-13; Ephesians 2; Matthew 28:18-20; James 2:14-26; 1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 3:4-10)

Salvation, the free gift of God, is provided by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone, found in the Scripture alone, and for the glory of God alone. Anyone turning from his/her sins by repentance and looking to Christ and His substitutionary death, receives the gift of eternal life and is declared righteous by God as a free gift. The righteousness of Christ is imputed to him and he is justified and fully accepted by God. Through Christ's atonement for sin an individual is reconciled to God as Father and becomes His child through adoption. The believer is forgiven the debt of his sin and, via the miracle of regeneration, liberated from the law of sin and death into the freedom of God's Spirit. Everyone who has been saved through the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ receives the inheritance of eternal life and the promise of future glory and every spiritual blessing in heavenly places. (Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Romans 5; John 3:16; Isaiah 43:1-7; Ephesians 1)

The Holy Spirit is the active agent in our sanctification and seeks to produce His fruit in us as our minds are renewed and we are conformed to the image of Christ. Though indwelling sin remains a reality, we are led by the Spirit and we grow in the knowledge of the Lord, freely keeping His commandments and endeavoring to so live in the world that all people may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven. We are sanctified by the Spirit of God through the Word of God. All believers are exhorted to persevere in the faith knowing they will have to give an account to God for their every thought, word and deed. The spiritual disciplines, especially Bible study, prayer, worship, and confession, fellowship, and discipleship are a vital means of grace in this regard. Nevertheless, the believer's ultimate confidence to persevere is based in the sure promise of God to preserve His people until the end, which is most certain. (Matthew 7:15-23; Matthew 13:18-23; John 17:17; Romans 6:22; Galatians 5:16-25; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:1-2; 2 Peter 1:5-11)

God, by His Word and Spirit, builds the church by calling sinful men out of the whole human race into the fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ who is the head of the church, His body. By the same Word and Spirit, He guides and preserves that new redeemed humanity. The church is not a religious institution or denomination. Rather, the church universal is made up of those who have become genuine followers of Jesus Christ and have personally appropriated the gospel. The church exists to worship and glorify God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Soli de Gloria). It also exists to serve Him by faithfully doing His will in the earth. This involves a commitment to see the gospel preached in the entire world for a testimony to all men in order to make disciples. Upon conversion, newly redeemed men and women are added to the universal church and then begin fellowship with a local body of believers. This local body functions as the manifestation of Christ on earth in their particular location by devoting themselves to worship, teaching and preaching, fellowship, serving, the Lord's Supper, baptism, evangelism, and prayer. All members of the church universal are to be a vital and committed part of a local church by seeking to obey the Word of God, trust the authority of the local church, regularly gather together with its members, and use his or her gifts for the benefit of the church. In this context they are called to walk out the New Covenant as the people of God and demonstrate the reality of the kingdom of God. The ascended Christ has given gift ministries to the church leadership (including apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers) for the equipping of the saints of Christ for the work of the ministry. (Matthew 16:18; John 6:44; Romans 8:28-30; Colossians 1:15-23; John 10:27:27; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Matthew 22:37; Romans 12:4-6; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Acts 2:42-47; Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:18-20)

Baptism

Water baptism is only intended for the individual who has repented of his/her sins and made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Therefore, in obedience to Christ's command and as a testimony to God, the church, and the world, a believer should be immersed in water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Water baptism is a profession of one's faith and a visual demonstration of a person's union with Christ in the likeness of His death, burial, and resurrection. It signifies that his former way of life has been put to death, buried with Christ, and vividly depicts a person's release from the mastery of sin by being raised from the dead and washed clean of sin. By being baptized a person professes their obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ, their submission to the authority of the church, and their commitment to the body of Christ as written in the Scriptures. Water baptism has no saving power but is merely symbolic as described above. (Matthew 28:19,20; Acts 2:41; Romans 6:1-4; Matthew 3:13-17)

The Lord's Supper

The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of the New Testament instituted by Jesus Christ which proclaims the Lord’s death until He returns, and is a means of the grace whereby the believer confronts the reality of the finished work of Christ by partaking of the bread and juice, symbolizing the broken body and the blood of Jesus. The Lord's Supper is to be observed only by those who have become genuine followers of Christ. This ordinance symbolizes the breaking of Christ's body and the shedding of His blood on our behalf, and is to be observed repeatedly throughout the Christian life as a sign of continued remembrance of the atoning benefits of Christ's death. As we partake of the Lord's Supper with an attitude of faith and self-examination, we remember and proclaim the death of Christ, receive spiritual nourishment for our souls, and signify our unity with other members of Christ's body. (Matthew 26:26-28; I Corinthians 11:23-27)

The bodies of men after death return to dust, and see corruption; but their souls, which neither die nor sleep, having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who created them. The souls of the righteous being then made perfect in holiness by the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, are received into paradise, where they are with Christ, and behold the face of God in light and glory. They receive new bodies because flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. The souls of the wicked are cast into hell; where they remain in torment and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day; besides these two places, for souls separated from their bodies, the Scripture speaks of none. At the last day, the saints that are found alive, shall not sleep, but be changed given new bodies, and all of these shall be with Christ forever in the Kingdom of God.