Statement of Faith

What we believe

We believe in one God eternally existing in three persons—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—who have the same nature and attributes but who are distinct in office and activity, and who are worthy of the same homage, confidence and obedience (Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14).

We believe God created the universe and all that is in it out of nothing, thus manifesting the glory of His power, wisdom and goodness. By His sovereign power He continues to sustain His creation, and by His providence He orders the affairs of humankind and nations according to His own wise, eternal plan (Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:15-17).

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary in order to reveal God to man and redeem (or pay the price for) sinful humans. We believe that He accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice, and we believe He overcame dead as evidenced through His resurrection. We believe that our redemption and salvation is guaranteed—for those who trust in Him—by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (John.1:1; Romans 3:24-26; 4:25).

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is now in heaven, exalted to the right hand of God, where as High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of intercession and advocacy for His people (Hebrews 1:3; 3:1; I John 2:1–2).

We believe that God, the Holy Spirit, is that person of the Trinity who restrains evil in the world and convicts humankind of sin. He also regenerates, baptizes believers into the Church (the Body of Christ), indwells them permanently, seals them unto the day of redemption, bestows one or more spiritual gifts on each believer, and empowers those yielded to Him (John. 16:8; 14:16–17; I Corinthians 12:7,13; Ephesians.1:13).

We believe the Bible consists of the 39 Old Testament and 27 New Testament books; that every word has been inspired by God and thus, in the original manuscripts, the Bible is without error. Because the Bible is inspired by God it is the supreme and final authority for our faith and conduct. There are no other writings similarly inspired by God (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21).

We believe that man was created innocent and in the image of God, but that he sinned, bringing both physical and spiritual death to himself and his posterity. We believe that humankind has inherited a sinful nature, is alienated from God, and thus unable by his own efforts to please God and is in need of salvation (Genesis 1:27, Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3).

We believe that salvation is a gift of God and is received by a person through personally trusting in Jesus, knowing that He died and rose again, as the only and adequate substitute for the penalty of their sin. We believe that a person is justified by grace through faith apart from works. We believe that as a part of accomplishing salvation, God draws all of humankind throughout all time in a constant and variety of ways and saves those who respond in faith. (Ephesians 2:8–9; John12:32-33; John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; Romans 5:8; John 3:16; Psalm 19:1-4). Those who have been justified through faith by His grace will spend eternity in heaven, while the unregenerate will suffer doom.

We believe that all who have received Christ as Savior are kept secure forever (Romans 8:38–39; John 10:27-30).

We believe that sanctification is a setting apart of a person's life unto God’s glorification.

Since the believer retains his sinful nature, however, there is need for progressive sanctification whereby the Christian grows in grace by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 2:2).

We believe that the universal Church, the Body and Bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism, made up of all born-again persons of this present age.

We believe that the local church is an assembly of professed believers in Jesus Christ who are voluntarily joined together in one locality for the purpose of loving God and people as they worship, study the Bible, observe the ordinances, participate in the fellowship, and are being equipped by God for Christian service (Acts 2:42; Ephesians 4:11-13).