STATEMENT OF FAITH
WHAT WE BELIEVE
GOD
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There is only one God who exists for all eternity (Dt. 6:4; Ps. 90:2; Is. 43:10).
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Although God is one, he exists in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – who are equal in nature, power, and glory (Mt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14)
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God is distinct from his creation, being the Creator and Sustainer of all things. He has revealed Himself to mankind through:
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His works (Ps. 19:1; Ro. 1:20)
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His Word (2 Tim. 3:16,17), and
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His Son (Heb. 1:1,2)
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HOLY SPIRIT
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The Holy Spirit is a personal being who works in the world today convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (Jn. 16:8).
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He comforts and strengthens Christians through his indwelling presence. (Jn. 14:16,17; 2 Cor. 3:18)
SALVATION
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We are saved by grace through faith, not through our own works (Eph. 2:8,9).
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A living faith expresses itself through confessing that Jesus is Lord (Ro. 10:9,10), and repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38).
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Baptism is by immersion (Rom. 6:4) and for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).
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Those in Christ have great assurance (Rom. 8:1)
WE ALSO BELIEVE
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Love should be the distinguishing characteristic of Christ’s followers (Jn. 13:35).
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The mission of the church is to make disciples of all nations (Mt. 28:19,20) and bring Christians to spiritual maturity (Col. 1:28).
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Remembering Jesus by celebrating Communion weekly is both scriptural and beneficial (1 Cor. 11:23-26; Acts 20:7).
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The local church should be independent, yet interdependent with the church as a whole.
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Holding certain Bible teachings is essential to being a Christian, while the Bible itself allows for differences of opinions in other areas (Rom. 14:1-15:7).
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Christians are to be moral and live a lifestyle that is pleasing to Christ (1 Pet. 1:15,16).
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Infants and young children are innocent in the eyes of the Lord; therefore, we only baptize people who are old enough to make their own decisions for Christ (Mt. 19:14).
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Every Christian has received a spiritual gift to serve others and glorify God (1 Pet. 4:10,11).
JESUS
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Jesus Christ is both God (Jn . 1:1) and man (1 Tim. 2:5).
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He is the only begotten Son of God (Jn. 3:16).
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He was miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary (Lk. 1:34,35).
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He was sinless (Heb. 4:15).
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His death on a cross atoned for mankind’s sin and made reconciliation with God possible (1 Jn. 2:2; 2 Cor. 5:19,21).
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He is mankind’s only hope for salvation (Jn. 14:6; Ac. 4:12).
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After his death on the cross, he bodily resurrected, appeared to others, then ascended into heaven (1 Cor. 15:3-8; 1 Tim. 3:16).
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Jesus is the only mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 7:25).
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One day, he will personally, bodily, and visibly return to judge the world (Rev. 1:7; 22:12).
MAN
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Man is created in God’s image (Gen. 1:27).
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Death and sin entered the world following Adam’s sin (Rom. 5:12).
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Through our own efforts, we cannot be righteous in God’s sight (Rom. 3:20); we all depend on God’s grace given us in Christ’s death (Gal. 2:21).
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Having been saved, we are to grow and become more like Jesus (Rom. 8:29).
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Through Jesus we have eternal life, but whoever rejects him is condemned (Jn. 3:36).
BIBLE
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The 66 canonical books of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God (2 Pet. 2:20,21).
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These alone serve as the authoritative basis for our faith and practice (2 Tim. 3:16,17).