Statement of Faith
Holy Bible
We believe that the Holy Bible is the very word of God inspired by the Holy Spirit as written in its original form and language. As such, it is the only infallible and inerrant authority for the Christian faith and contains all knowledge necessary concerning God’s own glory, man’s salvation and a life of faith and holiness. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Proverbs 30:5; Romans 16:25-26)
Trinity
We believe that there exists but one true and living God, self-revealed in the Scriptures as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, forming one Godhead, equal in essence, eternity, perfection, glory, and power but distinct in personhood who together are deserving of equal honor for the salvation and redemption secured by the Gospel. (1 John 5:7; Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6; Hebrews 3:7-11)
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, equal in essence to the Father, chosen and ordained to reconcile man to God, who in the fullness of time took upon Himself both the nature of God and man, being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, thus sharing in all of man’s characteristics yet without sin. Through His perfect obedience to the Law, His sacrificial death on the cross, His resurrection on the third day, and His ascension to the right hand of God Almighty, Christ became the Head and Savior of His Church, redeeming a people chosen for Him from all eternity by satisfying completely the justice of His Father and purchasing for them salvation and an eternal inheritance in the kingdom of heaven. (John 1:1, 14, 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Philippians 2:5-6; 1 Timothy 2:5)
Nature of Man
We believe that all humanity was made in the image of God, good and upright, but due to the original sin of Adam and Eve as well as our own voluntary transgressions, we are all under the guilt of sin and the subsequent punishment of eternal death. Due to the corrupted nature of every person, the ability to be good and to do good as defined by God has been utterly lost, and thereby causing the unredeemed will of man to be inherently corrupted by evil and wholly dependent on God’s grace to be restored. (Genesis 1:26-31; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12-21)
Salvation
We believe that God relates to fallen humanity through a covenant of grace in which He provides for every condition of redemption, making the believer both willing and able to receive His free offer of salvation. This efficacious grace is given independently of any virtue foreseen in man, bringing to life the hardened heart of the unredeemed, thereby enabling them to answer the call of the gospel and to embrace the grace offered. We affirm that God freely justifies all those who receive Christ as Lord and Savior, placing their trust in Him for their salvation through the gift of faith. In addition, all who are justified share in the grace of adoption by which they enter into a new relationship with God, enjoying all the promises and privileges of being the children of God, including the assurance of eternal salvation. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16, 3:8; Titus 3:5; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 16:31; Hebrews 9:22)
Sovereignty of God
We believe that God is the ultimate creator of all things and upholds and governs all of His creation, having freely ordained whatever comes to pass including the salvation of men for everlasting life from eternity past. Through His sovereignty and providence over creation, there is nothing that happens against His will but yet He can never be the author of sin nor impinge against the freedom and liberty of man. The purposes of God for His creation are unchanging and will come to pass without fail according to His foreknowledge and eternal decree all to the praise of His glory. (Psalm 115:3; Proverbs 16:9; Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28; Isaiah 40:23; 2 Chronicles 20:6)
Sanctification
We believe that every Christian, born again with a new heart and spirit, is further sanctified in this life through the indwelling presence of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit by which the power of sin is progressively weakened and eventually put to death. We confess that sanctification is incomplete in this life but by God’s grace, one can pursue true holiness of which good works is a vital part that gives evidence of true faith. These good works can never merit pardon of sin or eternal life but are received and rewarded by God through the work of His Son in the believer. (1 Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23; 2 Corinthians 3:18, 6:14-18, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, Romans 8:29, 12:1-2, Hebrews 2:11)
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the personhood of the Holy Spirit, by whom the believer is born again through regeneration, brought to salvation by the Gospel, sanctified to live in righteousness, and empowered for a life of ministry. We affirm the fullness of the Holy Spirit’s work until the end of this age, which includes conviction of sin, comfort in times of distress, guidance, healing, illumination of the Scriptures, and the manifestation of spiritual gifts. We understand that all believers partake in the baptism of the Spirit at the point of conversion but the subsequent filling of the Spirit must be continually pursued through a life of worship, prayer, and obedience.(Hebrews 2:4; Romans 1:11, 12:4-8; Ephesians 4:16; 2 Timothy 1:5-16, 4:14; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31, 14:1-40; 1 Peter 4:10)
The Church
We believe that the Church is both the bride and the body of Jesus Christ and consists of the communion of all believers, who are united to Him by the Holy Spirit and united to one another in love. By our common confession of Christ as Lord and Savior, the Church is called to maintain a holy fellowship and to partake together in the holy worship of our God. Yet, there is the realization that the purest churches are still a mixture of good and evil and therefore require the careful and gracious administration of discipline according to biblical guidelines when a member of the church refuses to receive correction. (Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23; John 17:11, 20-23)