Statement of Faith
We Believe the Bible, including the 39 books of the Old Testament and 27 books of the New Testament, as the written Word of God.
The Bible is an essential and infallible record of God revealing Himself to mankind.
The Scriptures are the authoritative and normative rule and guide of all Christian life, practice and doctrine.
Every doctrinal formulation, whether of creed, confession or theology, must be tested by the full counsel of God in Holy Scripture.
The Triune God
Mat 28:19-20 ; 1 Corinthians 12 : 4-6 ; 2 Corinthians 13:14 ; Gen 1 :1-2 ; 1 Peter 1:1-2 ; Romas 14:17-18 ; Isaiah 44:6
There is one God: infinite, eternal, almighty and perfect in holiness, truth and love.
In the unity of the Godhead, there are three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, co-existent, co-equal and co-eternal.
The Father is not the Son. The Son is not the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not the Father. Yet each is truly Deity. One God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—is the foundation of Christian faith and life.
As God, the Third Person of the Trinity.
Man
Acts 17:26 ; Gen1:26 ; Isaiah 64:8 ; Mat 19:4 ; Hebrew 2:7
God made man—male and female—in His own image, as the crown of creation so that man might glorify Him through enjoying fellowship with Him.
Tempted by Satan, man rebelled against God.
Unregenerated man lives under the dominion of sin and Satan.
He is at enmity with God, hostile toward God and hateful of God.
Fallen, sinful people, whatever their character or attainments, are lost and without hope apart from salvation in Christ alone.
The Gospel
Rom 1:16 ; 1 Corinthians 15:1-28 ; Romans 10:14 ; Acts 2:38.
The gospel is the good news of God’s grace invading the darkness of this world.
Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man.
There is no other name by which men can be saved.
At the heart of all sound doctrine is the cross of Jesus Christ and the infinite privilege that redeemed sinners have in glorifying God because of what He has accomplished.
Therefore, we want all that takes place in our hearts, churches and ministries to proceed from and be related to the gospel.
Man’s Response to the Gospel
Acts 13 :38-39 ; Acts 16 :29-32 ; Romans 3:21-26
The proper response to the gospel is faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ, a faith that is naturally accompanied by repentance from sin. Biblical repentance is characterized by a changed life, and saving faith is evidenced by kingdom service and works.
While neither repentance nor works save, unless a person is willing to deny himself, pick up his cross and follow Christ, he cannot become His disciple. This response to the gospel is rooted and grounded in the free and unconditional election of God for His own pleasure and glory. This gospel of grace is to be sincerely preached to all men in all nations.
Sanctification
2 Thessalonians 2:13 ;1 Peter 1:1-2 ; John 17:17 ; 1
Timothy 6: 11-12
The Holy Spirit is the active agent in our sanctification, seeking to produce His fruit in us. All believers are exhorted to persevere in the faith, knowing they will have to give an account to God for their every thought, word and deed.
The spiritual disciplines, especially Bible study, prayer, worship and confession, are a vital means of grace in this regard.
Empowered by the Spirit
Romans 12:3-8 ; 1 Corinthians 12-14 ; Ephesians 4 : 1-16
The Holy Spirit desires to continually fill each believer with power to bear witness to the gospel and imparts His gifts for the edification of the body and the work of ministry in the world.
All the gifts of the Holy Spirit at work in the first-century church are available today and are to be earnestly desired and practiced in an orderly manner.
This includes those gifts that are considered miraculous, as well as those which might be seen as more ordinary, as both are works of the Spirit.
The Church
Colossians 1:24 ; Ephesians 1:22 ; Mat 16 : 18 ; 1 Peter 2:5
The Church is not a religious institution or denomination.
Rather, the Church is made up of those who have become genuine followers of Jesus Christ and have personally appropriated the gospel.
The ultimate mission of the Church is to bring glory to God by making disciples.
Newly redeemed men and women are added to a local church in which they devote themselves to teaching, fellowship, the Lord’s Supper and prayer.
All members of the Church are to be a vital and committed part of a local church.
Ordinances of the Church
Matt 28:18-20 ; Acts 2:38 ; Romans 6:1-11
Water baptism is only intended for the individual who has received the saving benefits of Christ’s atoning work and become His disciple.
In obedience to Christ’s commands of water baptism a believer should be immersed in water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
It signifies that a former way of life has been put to death and vividly depicts a person’s release from the mastery of sin.
As with water baptism, the Lord’s Supper is to be observed only by those who have become genuine followers of Christ.
This ordinance symbolizes the breaking of Christ’s body and the shedding of His blood on our behalf and is to be observed repeatedly throughout the Christian life as a sign of continued participation in the atoning benefits of Christ’s death.
As we come to the table with an attitude of faith and self-examination, we remember and proclaim the death of Christ, receive spiritual nourishment for our souls and signify our unity with other members of Christ’s body.