Statement of Faith

Bible – the Gospel

The Bible is God’s Word to all mankind. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is complete in its present form, and we should not add to it or subtract from it. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truthful, inerrant and infallible – the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions should be tried.

Romans 1:20; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Timothy 1:13; Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18-19; Psalm 119:105; Psalm 12:6; Proverbs 30:5

God

God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He eternally exists in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. These three comprise the Trinity, are co-equal and are one God. God the Father is the First Person of the Trinity. The Son and the Holy Spirit are equal with the Father, but voluntarily submit to His will. The Father is an invisible spirit who is all-knowing and present everywhere at all times. Immortal and eternal, he perfectly and exhaustively knows the end from the beginning, sustains and sovereignly rules over all things, and providentially brings about his eternal good purposes to redeem a people for himself and restore his fallen creation.

Genesis 1:1, 26-27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Philippians 2:5-11; Romans 1:20

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He is the second person in the trinity. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all by dying on the cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory where He sits at the right hand of the Father. He will one day return to assume complete rule over His kingdom.

Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Luke 1:27, 34; John 1:1-5; John 14:10-31; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is a Divine Person, equal with the Father and the Son. He is present in the world to make mankind aware of our need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with sanctification – power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily.

2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-14; John 14:25-26; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:13, 5:18; Galatians 5:25

The Creation and Fall of Man

God created man, male and female, in His own image and in righteousness and holiness, to be like Him in character. Because the first man Adam disobeyed the revealed will of God in the Garden of Eden, he passed down to mankind a sinful nature. All people are sinners by nature and by choice and are therefore spiritually dead, in need of salvation.

Genesis 1-3; Psalms 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Isaiah 59:1-2; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:9-19; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12-19; Ephesians 2:1-10

Salvation (Regeneration)

Salvation is by God’s grace – a free gift to us; but we must accept it in order to obtain eternal life. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we repent, turn from our self-ruled, sin-filled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one trusts Jesus Christ as Savior by faith.

Ezekiel 36:26-27; John 1:12; John 3:16-17; John 14:6; Romans 5:1; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 3:26; Titus 3:5

Eternal Security

Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is justified and secure in his or her salvation for eternity. If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot “lose” it. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and power of God that gives this security.

John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 10:10,14; 1 Peter 1:3-5

Baptism

Water baptism is the symbol used to describe our salvation experience and to publicly declare our commitment to Christ. We practice baptism by immersion – in the manner Jesus was baptized and in the manner the Bible commands. The example of Jesus Christ crucified, buried, and risen, with its effect, in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life.

Acts 8:36-38; Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:11-12; Acts 2:41-42; Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22

The Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s Supper consists of two elements; the bread and the cup. The bread symbolizes the broken body of Jesus, and the cup represents the blood He shed. We as believers are to take the bread and cup in a worthy manner, after a period of self-examination, to remember what Jesus did for us on the cross.

Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:17-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32

Marriage

Marriage is a covenant relationship designed and ordained by God from the very beginning of creation as a union between one man and one woman. God instituted marriage between male and female as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society. Redefining marriage would be contrary to the word of God.

Genesis 2:24-25; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:22-33