This is our fundamental, unchangeable statement of faith.  We accept Scripture in its entirety as authority in matters of faith and practice

 

A. Bible

We believe the Holy Scriptures, both the Old and New Testament (the sixty-six [66] books from Genesis to Revelation), divinely inspired by God through the Holy Spirit, to be without error and to be the final authority in faith and life.  (Isaiah 40:8, 2 Peter 1:21, 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

 

B.  God

We believe that God is eternally existent, coequal, and coexistent in three persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (The Trinity).  (Genesis 1:26, Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:19, Luke 3:22, John 1:1)

 

          1.  The Father

God the Father is the first person of the Trinity and the Father of Jesus Christ.  He is one with and equal to the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Through adoption and the redemptive act of Christ, He is the Father of all who believe on Christ.  (Mark 14:36, John 10:30, Romans 8:15-17, Galatians 4:4-5, Ephesians 1:3-5)

 

          2.  Jesus Christ

We believe in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, His virgin birth, and sinless life.  We believe Him to be true God and true man; that He died as a redeeming substitute for our sins, was buried and bodily resurrected to the right hand of the Father, and will personally, physically return in power and glory.  (Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 53:5, Matthew 1:23, John 1:14, John 8:58, John 10:25-30, 1 Corinthians 15:1-9, Acts 1:9, Galatians 3:13, Philippians 2:5-11, Colossians 1:15-20, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 4: 15)

 

           3.  Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit as the third person of the Trinity, whose present ministry is convicting us of our sin.  He indwells Christians, thereby comforting, teaching, empowering them to lead a Godly life, and to be witnesses of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  (Ezekiel 36:26-27, Matthew 3:11, John 14:16-17, John 16:7-11, Acts 1:8)

 

C.  Man

We believe that man was created in the image of God, but fell due to his disobedience, and is now sinful, both by nature and by choice.  (Genesis 1:27, 3:1-7, Romans 3:23, 5:12, Romans 8:5)

 

D.  Salvaton

We believe that salvation is a free gift of forgiveness from sin.  It is given freely by the grace of God, as a result of faith, being expressed in the shed blood of Christ.  It cannot be earned.  The recipients of salvation become the adopted children of God.  (John 3:16, Acts 4:12, Romans 10:9-10, Romans 13, Ephesians 2:8-9)

 

E.  Resurrection

We believe in the resurrection of the dead: the believer to life everlasting in Heaven, and the unbeliever to the resurrection of judgment of everlasting punishment in hell.  (Matthew 6:19-20, Matthew 25:46, Revelation 20:11-15, 21:8)

 

F.  Satan

We believe that Satan is the author of sin, the cause of the fall of man, the enemy of God and man, and that he and his followers shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire.  (Genesis 3:1-7, Isaiah 14:12-15, Ezekiel 28:11-15, Matthew 4:1-11, Ephesians 6: 11-12, Revelation 20:10)  G.  Church

We believe the church is the collective body of believers instituted by God, of which Christ is the head.  It is established for worship, discipleship, fellowship, and to reach lost.  (Matthew 28:16-20, Acts 2:42-47, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, Ephesians 2:20-22, Colossians 1:18, Hebrews 10:25)

 

H.  Ordinances

 

          1.  Baptism

We believe that baptism is an outward expression of the acceptance of God’s gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.  We believe it is not necessary for salvation, but that the believer should desire to be baptized in obedience to Christ.  (Matthew 28:19-20, Luke 3:21-22, Acts 8:36-38, Romans 6:1-11)

 

          2.  Communion

We believe in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, communion, in remembrance of His ultimate sacrifice on our behalf.  We celebrate communion openly with all those who have professed their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior.  We do not believe that participation in communion removes sin.  It is a celebration of His love.  (Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:14-22, 1 Corinthians 11:23-33)

 

I.  Marriage & Family

We believe that the only legitimate marriage is between one man and one woman.  We believe God has commanded that no sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage between a man and a woman.  We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God, but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and the church.  The husband is to be the spiritual leader of the home, and men are to be the spiritual leaders of the church.  We believe God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society.  The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church.  The wife is to submit herself to the scriptural leadership of her husband as the church submits to the headship of Christ.  Children are a heritage from the Lord.  Parents are responsible for teaching their children spiritual and moral values and leading them through a consistent lifestyle example and appropriate discipline.  (Genesis 2:18-24, Mark 10:6-9, Romans 1:24, I Corinthians 5:1, 6:9, 7:1-16, Galatians 3:28, Ephesians 5:21-33, 6:1-4, Colossians 3:18-21, I Thessalonians 4:3-8, I Timothy 2:8-15, Hebrews 13:4, I Peter 3:1-7)

 

**The inerrant Word of God is translated in many languages, dialects, and along many points in history.  For purposes of continuity, the version primarily used for teaching, and in this document, is the New International Version (NIV).  This is not to say that the NIV translation holds special authority over another translation.  It simply is the version chosen as the baseline from which we seek understanding as a body of believers.  All glory to the one and only King of Kings.