Statement of Faith

Our Beliefs

Statement of Faith

1. The Word of God. We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2Pet 1:20-21), and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. (Ps 119:89; 2Tim 3:16; Jn 17:17; Heb 4:12). Its central purpose is to glorify God by bringing life and joy to man. (Ps 119:9, 11, 105, 107; Jn 8:31, 32; 20:31; Acts 20:32).

2. The Trinity. We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation (Gen 1:1, 26; Jn 1:1, 3), providence (Gen 2:1-3; 1Sam 12:12; Mat 2:6; Eph 4:5,6; 1Tim 6:15; Rev 1:5; 3:14; 21:5), and redemption ( Mat 28:19; Jn 4:24; Rom 1:19, 20).

3. God the Father. We believe in God, the Father ( Matthew 23:9), an infinite, personal spirit ( John 4:24), perfect in holiness ( Revelation 4:8), wisdom, power (Revelation 7:12) and love (1John 4:8). We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men ( Heb 4:15-16), that He hears and answers prayer (1Jn 5:14-15), and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (Lk 10:21,22; Jn 3:16; 6:27; Rom 1:7; 1Tim 1:1, 2; 2:5, 6; 1 Pet 1:3; Rev 1:6).

4. Jesus Christ<. We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son (Jn 3:16), conceived by the Holy Spirit, fully God and fully man ( Jn 1:1, Rom 9:5; Phil 2:5-8). We believe in His virgin birth ( Lk 1:26-38; 2:6, 21; Mat 1:18-25; Rom 1:3), sinless life ( 2Cor 5:21; 1Pet 2:21-23), miracles ( Jn 20:30-31), and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death ( Eph 1:4; Mat 20:28; Rom 5:6-8; 6:9-10; 8:32), bodily resurrection ( Jn 20:27-28), ascension into heaven ( Acts 1:11), perpetual intercession for His people ( Heb 7:25), and personal visible return to earth ( Mat 16:27; 24:30; 1 Tim 3:16).

5. The Holy Spirit. We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (Jn 14:16-17, 26; 15:26, 27; 16:17-12; 1Thes 1:5); and to regenerate ( Rom 8:9-10), sanctify ( 1Cor 3:16-17; 6:19), and empower (Rom 15:13; Gal 5:22-26; Eph 3:16; 2Tim 1:7) all who are called according to the purpose of God. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide.

6. Regeneration. We believe that man was created by God in His own image (Gen 1:26; 5:1-2); that he sinned and thereby incurred physical, spiritual, and eternal death (Gen 2:17; 3; Ecc 2:11; Eph 2:1; Col 2:13; 2Thes 1:9; Rev 20:10), which is separation from God; that as a consequence, all human beings are born with a sinful nature (Jer 17:9; Rom 5:19) and are sinners by choice (Jas 1:4) and therefore under condemnation (Rom 3:19; 20:14-15). We believe that regeneration is a "gift from God" by the Holy Spirit which enables men to repent of their sins (Prov 28:13; 1Jn 1:9) and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior (Jn 1:13; 3:14-15; 5:24; 8:12; Rom 9:18-22; Rev 1:5). As a result they become new creatures (2Cor 5:7), delivered from condemnation (Rom 8:1), and receive eternal life. (Jn 3:16; 10:27-29).

7. The Church. We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members (1Cor 12:13-27; Eph 2:19-22). We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible confession of faith, and associated for worship, teaching, breaking of bread, prayer, and fellowship (Acts 2:42). We believe that the primary task of the members of the local church is to glorify God as they love Him, one another, and a lost world ( Eph 5:19-21; Acts 1:8 1Pet 2:12).

8. Christian Conduct. We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God (1Cor 10:31; John 14:15) and the well-being of his fellowmen (Phil 2:3,4; Gal 6:10; 1Cor 10:24); that his conduct should be blameless before the world (1Pet 2:12); that he should be a faithful steward of all God has entrusted him with - gifts, time and talents (1Cor 4:2), and that he should seek to know God (Col 1:9-10; 1Jn 2:3-6) and to realize for himself and others the full stature of maturity in Christ (Eph 4:13). We believe that all of life is sacred, lived out as an spiritual act of worship before God and men (Rom 12:1-2).

9. The Ordinances. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the triune God in identification with the death and resurrection of Christ (Mat 28:18-20; Rom 6:3-5). We believe that the Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death (1Cor 11:23-26). We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

10. Religious Liberty. We believe that every man is directly responsible to God alone (Rom 14:12) through Jesus Christ (1Tim 2:5) in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that therefore Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage of the other. (1Tim 2:5).

11. Church Cooperation. We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in a denominational organization. Such an organization, whether a regional or district conference, exists and functions by the will of the churches. Cooperation in a conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. Churches may likewise cooperate with interdenominational fellowships on a voluntary basis. (Acts 15:36, 41; 1Cor 16:1-3; Gal 1:1-3; Rev 1:4, 10, 11).

12. The Last Things. We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth (Acts 1:11) and the establishment of His kingdom (Mk 14:62; Phil 3:20). We believe in the resurrection of the body (1Thess 4:15-17), the final judgment (2Tim 4:1; 1Cor 4:5), the eternal felicity of the righteous (2Cor 4:15; Tit 2:13; Rev 21:4), and the endless suffering of the wicked (2Thess 1:7-10; Rev 20:4-6, 11-15).