ABOUT OUR CHURCH
Our Statement of Faith
God
1. We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory. (Gen. 1:1-2:2; Isa. 40:28; Matt. 3:16, 17; Eph. 3:18; 1 Tim. 6:15, 16; Rev. 4:11)
The Bible
2. We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, is sufficient alone for instruction and counsel in the Christian life, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises. We hold to a literal, grammatical-historical interpretation of Scripture. (2 Tim. 3:15-17; 2 Pet. 1:21)
The Human Condition
3. We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image—male and female He created them. They sinned when tempted by Satan. As descendants of Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under His wrath. Only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ can we be justified, reconciled, and renewed. (Gen. 1:27, 3:6, 7; Rom. 3:10, 20; 2 Cor. 5:17)
Jesus Christ
4. We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, two natures in one Person. Jesus—Israel’s promised Messiah—was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified, arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate. (Luke 1:35; 1 Cor. 15:3-6; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 2:5-11; Heb. 8:1, 9:25)
The Work of Christ
5. We believe that Jesus Christ, as our substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation. (Matt. 28:9; John 1:12; Acts 4:12; Rom. 3:24, 25; 1 Pet. 2:22-25)
Salvation
6. We believe that Jesus Christ died for all and that salvation is in Him alone by grace through faith. Believers receive Christ by faith and repentance. In Christ Jesus the believer has eternal security. (John 1:12, 5:24, 10:28-29, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Eph. 2:8-9; 1 John 2:1-2)
The Holy Spirit
7. We believe that the Holy Spirit glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ in all that He does. He convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates sinners, and in Him believers are baptized into union with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God. He also dwells within us, illuminates, guides, equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service. (John 3:3, 8:14, 16:8-11; Rom. 8:13; Gal. 5:16, 22-24; Eph. 1:13)
The Church
8. We believe that the true church comprises all who have been justified by God’s grace through faith alone in Christ alone. Believers are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. The true church is manifest in local churches, whose membership should be composed only of believers. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Baptism is the outward expression of the believer having been crucified and risen with Christ. The Lord’s Supper is celebrated in remembrance of Christ, proclaiming Him until He comes again. (Luke 22:17-20; Acts 2:41; Rom. 6:3; 1 Cor. 1:2, 11:23-27, 12:13; Col. 1:18)
Christian Living
9. We believe that God’s justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength and to love others as Christ has loved us. Believers are called to live holy and pure lives in the fear of the Lord. In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed. (Matt 28:19-20; Mark 12:30; John 13:34; Acts 2:42, 20:17-28; 2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Pet 1:15-16)
Sexual Conduct and Marriage
10. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between one man and one woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance (Gen. 2:24, 19:5, 13, 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Deut. 22:5; Rom. 1:26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1, 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4). Such sinful patterns, if not repented, will be a barrier to membership, employment, and leadership in the body of believers, and may subject a member to church discipline.
We believe that marriage unites one man and one woman in a lifetime commitment to each other (Gen. 2:23-24; Matt 19:4-6). Marriage provides for intimate companionship, pure sexual expression (Gen. 2:25; Eph. 5:31-33), procreation, and reflects the relationship of Christ and the church (Gen. 1:28; Prov. 5:15-19; 1 Cor. 7:1-5).
The Rapture and Christ’s Return
11. We believe that the Rapture of the Church is imminent. We believe in the personal, bodily, and premillennial return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The imminency of Christ coming for the church, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service, and energetic mission. (1 Cor. 15:51, 52; 1 Thess. 4:16-18; Titus 2:11-13; 2 Pet. 3:11; 1 John 3:1-3; Rev. 20:6)
Response and Eternal Destiny
12. We believe that God commands everyone everywhere to believe the gospel by turning to Him in repentance and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge believers at the judgment seat of Christ; they will forever be with the Lord, living in eternal blessedness and joy. Nonbelievers will also be raised bodily and will be judged at the Great White Throne, destined to eternal conscious punishment in the lake of fire. The believer will experience the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace. Amen. (Rom. 6:8, 9; 8:11; 1 Cor. 3:12-15; 2 Cor. 5:10; 1 Thess. 1:8, 9; Rev. 20:11-15)