Our Statement Of Faith
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God. Genesis 1:1-2, 26-27; Psalm 19:1; 33:6; 90:2; Micah 5:2; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-3; Romans 11:36; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:10-12; Revelation 1:8
God the Father is the head of the Trinity. He sent the Son; He sent, and still sends, the Holy Spirit. It was His will and words that Jesus came to accomplish and teach. It is to the Father that we typically pray. He will receive all things in the end. Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 22:42; John 3:16-17; 5:19, 30, 36-38, 6:38; 7:16; 8:25-29; 12:44-50; 14:26; 1 Corinthians 15:22-28
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from death after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to heaven’s glory and will return again someday to Earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 24:1-7; John 1:1-5, 12, 29; 14:9-12; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 1:3-4; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 Timothy 6:13-15; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 4:14-15; Revelation 19:16.
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son. He makes people aware of their need for Jesus, and lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides believers with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, guidance in holy living, and a spiritual gift when they are saved. As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily. John 14:16-17, 26; 16:7-15; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12-13; 3:16; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:13-26; Ephesians 1:13-14
The Bible is inerrant, infallible, and inspired in its original writing. Here is a helpful syllogism: (God cannot err. The Bible is the word of God. Therefore, the Bible cannot err.) Human authors wrote it as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit. It alone is the source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Psalm 12:6-7; 119:105, 160; Proverbs 30:5; Isaiah 55:10-11; Matthew 5:18; 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21
Human beings were made in the image and likeness of God, designed to multiply and rule over God’s creation. A willing fall into temptation led to sin, resulting in curses, spiritual separation from God, and death. Humans needed a way to be reconciled back to God, which was realized in the person and sacrifice of Jesus. Genesis 1:26-30; 3:1-19; Psalm 8:3-8; Isaiah 53:4-6; Romans 3:9-18, 23; 5:12; 6:23
Salvation is God’s free gift to us, but we must accept it. We can never pay for our sins by good works. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Scripture says that salvation will produce certain fruit in the life of a true believer. This includes repentance, obedience, love, etc. John 1:12-13; 3:16-21; 13:34-35; 14:6; Acts 16:29-31; 26:20; Romans 6:23; 10:8-11; Galatians 5:22-25; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5-7; 1 John 1:6-10; 2:3-6
Eternal security is a guarantee of everlasting life with God based on His power and promise. We do not believe that one can lose salvation like one loses a coin. It is a separate issue whether someone has truly given their life to Jesus. God will judge that one day. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the effort of the Christian. John 6:37-40; 10:27-29; Romans 8:38-39; Ephesians 1:13-14; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 10:14; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Jude 24
Heaven and hell are real places. Based on Revelation, hell, as we now know it, is a holding place absent of the presence of God for those who reject Jesus; whereas, heaven is a place where believers are in God’s presence. One day, death, hell, and all who are there will be thrown into the “lake of fire,” which is the “second death.” On the other hand, a “new heaven,” “new earth,” and “new Jerusalem” will be created. All four of these will be places of eternal existence. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin into judgment or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation into joy. Psalm 16:11; Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:22-31; John 3:16-21; Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:1-2; 22:3-5
Baptism is an act of obedience that symbolizes the believer’s faith in Jesus, who was crucified, buried, and raised from death. Through baptism, the believer publicly declares their death to sin, the burial of their old life, and their resurrection into a new life with Christ. This is to be done in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Baptism does not save a person. Due to the personal and conscious nature of baptism, we do not baptize infants. Matthew 3:13-16; 28:19; Acts 8:34-39; 10:43-48; Romans 6:3-7; 1 Corinthians 1:14-17; Colossians 2:12
The Lord’s Supper is an act of obedience to remember and proclaim Jesus’ death for the forgiveness of our sins. We also commonly call this communion. This act is meant only for believers, and even they are to be careful how they observe it. Matthew 26:26-29; Luke 22:17-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34
