Statement of Faith

We believe in the Triune Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  They are equal in nature and stature, yet play separate roles in the salvation of men while remaining united in essence.  (Hebrews 1:1-2; John 1:3, 10:30; Psalm 104:30)

The Father is the completely sovereign head of the Trinity.  He is the creator of all and the ruler and Sustainer over existence.  (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 36:9) Where the Son is eternally begotten of the Father, He is no less eternal or God.  He simply works under the perfect will of the Father in the economy of salvation.  (Luke 2:49; John 17:1-3)

The Son is eternal in existence and power, yet chose to humble Himself in the form of man so that He might live a mortal life, die as the sacrifice for our sins, and be raised from the dead (John 10:17, 1 Corinthians 6:14, Romans 8:11).  He was present in the beginning as the divine Word, aiding in the creation, and rules at the right hand of the Father.  (Philippians 2:7-9; John 1:1-4, 14)

The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity, and is equally unique in His personhood and function.  He eternally proceeds from the Father and the Son.  He is present within all of creation, aiding in life and order.  It is through the Spirit that mankind finds New Birth and life.  The Spirit lives within Christians, reminding them of the things of Christ, leading them as they walk the Christian walk, and mediating for them in communication with the Father.  It is through the indwelling power of the Spirit that Christians are continually sanctified in holiness. (Genesis 1:2; John 14:6, 3:3-8; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 4:4-5)

God is the Creator of all things.  It is through Him that the heavens and earth came about.  We believe in a literal interpretation of the Genesis Creation account; that all of creation came ex nihilo /“out of nothing” (Genesis 1:1, Psalm 33:6 & 148:5) within seven literal days: six days of creation and one day of rest.  Though God did not create evil, the rebellion of Satan and the fallen angels, paired with the intentional disobedience of Adam and Eve brought sin into this world.  (Genesis 1-11)

The Bible is the inspired Word of God.  All of Scripture is “God-breathed” while maintaining the individual personalities of the various Biblical writers.  Both the Old and the New Testaments are equal in value, regardless of the “dispensation” or “times” that man may be in.  It is through an accurate, hermeneutical exegesis that we are able to read the text of the Bible within the original context in order to understand the truths that it speaks about God’s character, the ways of the world, and the ministry and truths of Christ as they pertain to Christian living.  We believe that no portion of the text contradicts another, and it is through accurate exegesis that we are to understand all text fourfold: within the context of the chapter, then the book, then the testament, and the entirety of the Scriptures.  (2 Timothy 3:16; Psalm 119:160; John 17:17; Luke 21:33)

Adam, the first man, brought sin into humanity.  Through disregarding his role as the spiritual leader, he allowed his wife, Eve, to fall into temptation.  Then he intentionally chose to partake as well, bringing sinful nature into the rest of the world.  Through this nature, we are all born “of Adam,” being sinful in our own human nature.  (Genesis 3:1-7; Romans 5:12)

We believe that Christ lived a perfect human life.  He was conceived of the Spirit, through the Virgin Mary.  Though Mary was the human mother of Christ, and was picked by God, she is not holy on her own regards.  She and Joseph, like all of humanity, depended just as much on Christ’s sacrifice as all of us.  (1 Peter 2:22; Luke 1:26-38; Acts 1:13-14)

Though faultless, Christ willingly gave Himself as the perfect and final sacrifice for mankind.  It is through a belief in His godliness, one’s own sinful nature, and the sacrifice and self-resurrection of Christ that we are justified unto God.  We affirm the Protestant doctrine of Penal Substitutionary Atonement.  (Mark 10:45; 1 Peter 3:18; Hebrews 9:28, 10:10)

The steps of salvation are: realizing that we are lost and in need of a Savior (Romans 3:23, 6:23; John 3;3); realizing that Jesus paid for our sin debt (Romans 5:8); repenting / changing, willfully turning from sin (Luke 13:3); trusting and believing in Jesus and His perfect cross work [death, burial, and the resurrection on the third day] (John 3:16, Acts 16:31), asking for forgiveness of sins and salvation – believing with both the mind and the heart (1 Corinthians 15:3-6; Romans 10:9-10, 13)

The Holy Spirit indwells believers upon their justification and it is through Him that we are able to continually grow more sanctified in Christ-likeness.  (1 Corinthians 3:16; John 16:13)

God the Father is eternally sovereign, and it is through His power and control that He is able to perfectly complete His eternal will. In His love He has allowed for man to partake in His creation.  Because of sin’s indwelling presence, man is in bondage and slavery and openly chooses to rebel and hate God.  Graciously, the Holy Spirit illuminates the sins of the lost, convicting them of their sinful state.  He also works within the lives of believers to give them the words and actions that will impact those that do not know the Gospel of Christ. Regardless of man’s willful actions against the Father, we are unable to thwart God’s ultimate plan of bringing His own back to Him. (John 3:16; Matthew 7:7-8; 2 Peter 3:9; Revelation 22:19)

We affirm that a church is a local assembly of baptized believers, under the discipline of the Word of God and the lordship of Christ, organized to carry out the commission to evangelize, to teach, and to administer the ordinances of believer’s baptism and Communion. These are to be performed regularly as communal celebrations.  (Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:17-29; Acts 20:7)

Its offices are pastors / elders and deacons, and it is self-governing, by a plurality of leaders.  (Acts 6:1-6 & 1 Timothy 3:8-13; 1 Timothy 3:1-7 & Titus 1:6-9)   It functions through the ministry of gifts given by the Holy Spirit to each believer. (Though the Holy Spirit is all powerful, able to do what He wants, through anyone that He wants [all yielding to the commands of the Father], we do believe that the signs gifts have ceased within the church (1 Corinthians 13:8-10) after the full establishment of the church and the completed apostolic era).

We affirm the bodily return of Christ and the coming judgment of all men. (1 Corinthians 115:50-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 & 1:10; Revelation 4:1)  The unsaved will be raised and judged according to their works and separated forever from God in hell. (Revelation 20)  The saved, having been raised, will live forever in heaven in fellowship with God. (Revelation 21-22)