Statement of Faith
The Godhead
We believe in one Triune God. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good. He eternally exists and reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; co-eternal in being, without division of nature, essence, or being.
(Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Genesis 1:1)
God the Father
God as Father reigns over the universe as eternal king, ultimate provider, and providential caretaker. He is the creator of all things. He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
(1 Timothy 1:17; Exodus 34:6-7; Jeremiah 29:11; Isaiah 14:24)
Jesus
We believe in Jesus of Nazareth, a historical man, the Son of God, the eternal Word, the one and only Savior for humanity and the world. He is fully God and man, becoming man without ceasing to be God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit through the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, suffered and was crucified as an atonement for sin, accomplishing our redemption as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice. Our justification and salvation is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Rom 3:24; 1 Peter 2:24; Eph 1:7). He ascended to heaven, reigning at the right hand of God where He acts as our High Priest, fulfilling the ministry as Intercessor, Mediator, and Advocate – and will return in victory to rule forever.
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He baptizes all believers into the body of Christ, indwells them, and guides them toward truth and holiness in all things.
(John 16:8-11)
The Scriptures
We believe the scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the inspired word of God, written by men guided by the Holy Spirit, totally true and trustworthy, final in their authority, inerrant in the original writings, infallible in purpose, and testifying to Christ – the ultimate focus of this divine revelation.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 5:17-18; Psalms 19:7-10)
The Gospel
The gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ. This message that we live by declares that Jesus, who is God, came in fulfillment of the scriptures to be King and Savior of the world. He lived a sinless life, died a substitutionary death for our sins, and rose from the grave that we might share in His resurrection life. It’s through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection that we are saved, and are reconciled to God and given eternal life.
This good news is exclusive (there are no other means of salvation), biblical (according to the scriptures), historical (if the saving events did not happen, our faith is worthless, we are still in our sins, and we are to be pitied more than all others), and intensely personal (where it is received, believed, and held firmly, individual persons are saved).
Man
Man is the special creation of God and is made in His image, but through Adam’s sin all of humanity fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God. Man is utterly incapable of remedying his own nature, and it’s only by the grace of God that man can be brought back into His holy fellowship.
We believe that all humans are born bearing the imago dei, the image of God, granting them a unique dignity, rationality, relationship, and dominion.
As a part of God’s design, Adam and Eve were made male and female, complimenting each other in a one-flesh union. This covenant stands as the only normative pattern of sexual relations for men and women, anything outside of the unity of marriage operates against God’s perfect design. Marriage ultimately serves as a type of the union between Christ and His Church.
(Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:22-23; Isaiah 6:5; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12)
The Church
We believe in the church, the body and bride of Christ, which includes all born-again believers of all the ages, from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. We believe in the establishment and continuance of local, autonomous congregations. Each congregation is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord, free of external authority and control.
The church is not a religious institution but a people, sinners made saints who have been adopted as God’s children. We are unified as a body to link arms – not just in defense but in offense – against the gates of hell and the powers of darkness in the world. We are devoted to missions, prayer, baptism, worship, and evangelism.