Statement of Faith
The Holy Scriptures
We believe the sixty-six books in the Old and New Testaments are the fully inspired, infallible, authoritative Word of God, and to be completely free from error (inerrant) in the original autographs. We believe the Scriptures should be interpreted according to the intended meaning of the original author, as it would have been understood by those who originally heard his words. (Matt. 5:18; John 16:12-13; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21)
The Godhead
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; these three being coequal in all attributes, e.g., self-existence, infinity, eternity, immutability, wisdom, holiness, righteousness, justice, power, love, goodness, truth, and sovereignty. (Deut. 6:4; 1 Kings 8:27; Ps. 90:2; Matt. 28:19; John 4:24; 14:6; Acts 17:31; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 1:8; 2:4-5; James 1:17; 1 John 1:5; Rev. 19:6)
The Person and Work of the Father
We believe in God the Father as the first person of the Trinity. The Scriptures teach that God the Father initiated a relationship of intimacy and love, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son.” The Father instituted the plan of redemption whereby He would sacrifice the Eternal Son to satisfy the requirement of His holy character to atone for the sins of man. It is the Father who secures the salvation of all who believe in Jesus Christ. It is the Father who keeps all who believe eternally safe. (Ps. 103:13; Mal. 2:10; Matt. 26:36-46; John 3:16, 6:39; 10:29, 17:21, 24-25; Acts 17:29; 1 Cor. 8:6, Eph. 3:15; Heb. 12:9; James 1:17)
The Person and Work of Christ
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. He accomplished redemption by voluntarily giving Himself as a sinless substitutionary sacrifice on the cross, thereby satisfying God’s righteous judgments against sin. He verified that redemption by His bodily resurrection from the grave and He ascended to the right hand of His Father where He intercedes on behalf of those who trust Him. (Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1-2, 14; Rom. 3:24-26; 8:34; 1 Pet. 3:18)
The Second Coming of Christ
We believe in the personal and imminent coming of Christ for His Church, and in His pre-millennial return to earth with His saints to establish His kingdom. (Zech. 14:4-11; 1 Thes. 1:10; 4:13-18; 5:9; Rev. 19:11-16; 20:1-6)
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, whose indwelling and filling enables the Christian to live a godly life. This work of the Holy Spirit in cooperation with the believer (Phil 2:12-13) is called progressive sanctification.
All believers are baptized by the Holy Spirit at the point in time they believe (1 Cor 12:13). The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the ministry of the Holy Spirit by which He places us into the body of Christ, not as a subsequent experience to saving faith.
The Condition of Man
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, in innocence and without sin, but through Adam’s sin all men fell, inherited a sinful nature, became spiritually dead and are separated from God. We believe man in his depraved condition is incapable of saving himself. (Gen. 1:26; 3:1-24; Rom. 3:10-18; 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3, 12)
Salvation
We believe that salvation is the gift of God to man. It cannot be gained by any meritorious work, but it is freely given to those who put their faith solely in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. All who repent and turn to God by trusting the Lord alone are forgiven of their sins and born into the family of God by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. (John 1:12; 3:16, 18, 36; 5:24; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-9; Rom. 4:5; I Cor. 15:1-3; 1 Pet. 1:18-19)
The Believer’s Security, Assurance, and Responsibility
We believe that all the saved, those in whom God has accomplished His transforming work of grace, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. It is the believers’ privilege to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation. However, this assurance must not be the occasion for sin, for God in holiness cannot tolerate persistent sin in His children, and in infinite love, He disciplines them. Faith in Christ is to be expressed by a fruitful, God-pleasing life and ministry. (Matt. 7:20; John 6:37-40; 10:27-29; Rom. 8:1, 29-39; 1 Cor. 1:4-8; Eph. 2:10; Tit. 2:11-15; Heb. 12:6; Jam. 2:20)
Sanctification of the Believer
We believe that the growth of every believer toward Christlikeness is a lifelong process. Every saved person possesses two natures, with provision made for victory of the new nature over the old nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit; and that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural. (Rom. 6:13; 8:12-13; Gal. 5:16-25; Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:10; 1 Pet. 1:14-16; 1 John 3:5-9)
The Eternal State
We believe in the bodily resurrection and judgment of all individuals. Believers are resurrected to enjoy eternal life with God, and unbelievers are resurrected to eternal suffering apart from God.
The Church
We believe that all who are united to the risen and ascended Son of God are members of Christ’s one invisible and universal church. We also believe that local churches exist as expressions of the universal body of Christ and are essential in the plan and purpose of God.
Ordinances
We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ instituted two special ordinances to be observed by all believers until His return–baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These are not to be regarded, however, as a means of salvation, nor as a means of grace by which special merit is obtained. (Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 11:23-26)
The Great Commission and the Great Command
The Great Commission and the Great Command—We believe that it is the responsibility of all who are saved to work toward the fulfillment of the Great Commission and to practice the Great Command. These involve the following:
a) Witnessing in the power of the Holy Spirit by preaching (i.e., proclaiming) the gospel (Acts 1:8; Mk 16:15)
b) Making disciples of all peoples, baptizing, and teaching all that Christ commanded (Mt 28:18-20)
c) Loving God with all of one’s heart, mind, and soul and loving one’s neighbor as one would love oneself. (Mk. 12: 30-31)
