| Faith Statement |
The Holy Scriptures
We believe that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God" (2 Timothy 3:16). We understand this to mean that the whole Bible is inspired, in that holy men of God "were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21) to write the very words of Scripture. We believe that this divine inspiration extends equally and fully to all parts of Scripture, as it appeared in the original manuscripts. We believe that the whole Bible, in the original language, is therefore without error. We believe that all the Scriptures center around the Lord Jesus Christ, in His person and work, in His first and second coming, and hence that no portion, even of the Old Testament, is properly read or understood until it leads to Him. We also believe that all Scripture was designed for our practical instruction. (Luke 24:27 and 44; John 5:39; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11; 2 Timothy 3:16)
The Triune Godhead
We believe in the one true and living God, the Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer and Ruler of all things. He is infinite, eternal and unchangeable and is revealed to us as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
God the Father - God, as Father, reigns over all of His universe with providential care. He is all-powerful, all loving, all knowing and all wise. He is fatherly in attitude toward all men, but is Father indeed to those who have become His children through Jesus Christ, Who will deliver them into the Father's hands. (Genesis 1:1; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 6:9; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:14-15; 1 Corinthians 8:6 and 15:24; Ephesians 4:6)
God the Son - We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. He accomplished this redemption by voluntarily giving Himself as a sinless, substitutionary sacrifice on the cross, thereby satisfying God's righteous judgment against sin. After substantiating the accomplishment of that redemption/justification by His bodily resurrection from the grave, He ascended to the right hand of His Father where he intercedes on behalf of those who trust Him. (Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1-2, 14 and 18; Romans 3:24-26 and 8:34)
God the Holy Spirit - We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Divine Person who convicts the world of sin (righteousness and judgment); that He alone brings new life to those who are spiritually dead; that He baptizes (or places) all believers into the one true Church, which is the Body of Christ; that He indwells and seals them unto the day of final redemption, bestows spiritual gifts upon them and fills (controls) those who are yielding to Him. Every believer is called to live so in the power of the indwelling Spirit, that he will not fulfill the lust of the flesh, but will bear fruit to the glory of God. (John 3:3-8; 14:16-17; 16:7-11; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 and 13; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18)
Creation
We believe that man was created directly by and in the image of God. We believe that God created the heavens and the earth, including all life, by direct act. (Genesis 1:1; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17)
Although man was created in the image of God, he fell into sin and is lost. This is true of all men, and except a man be born again by the Holy Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (Genesis 1:26-27; John 3:3; Romans 3:10 and 23)
We believe that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God" (2 Timothy 3:16). We understand this to mean that the whole Bible is inspired, in that holy men of God "were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21) to write the very words of Scripture. We believe that this divine inspiration extends equally and fully to all parts of Scripture, as it appeared in the original manuscripts. We believe that the whole Bible, in the original language, is therefore without error. We believe that all the Scriptures center around the Lord Jesus Christ, in His person and work, in His first and second coming, and hence that no portion, even of the Old Testament, is properly read or understood until it leads to Him. We also believe that all Scripture was designed for our practical instruction. (Luke 24:27 and 44; John 5:39; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11; 2 Timothy 3:16)
The Triune Godhead
We believe in the one true and living God, the Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer and Ruler of all things. He is infinite, eternal and unchangeable and is revealed to us as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
God the Father - God, as Father, reigns over all of His universe with providential care. He is all-powerful, all loving, all knowing and all wise. He is fatherly in attitude toward all men, but is Father indeed to those who have become His children through Jesus Christ, Who will deliver them into the Father's hands. (Genesis 1:1; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 6:9; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:14-15; 1 Corinthians 8:6 and 15:24; Ephesians 4:6)
God the Son - We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. He accomplished this redemption by voluntarily giving Himself as a sinless, substitutionary sacrifice on the cross, thereby satisfying God's righteous judgment against sin. After substantiating the accomplishment of that redemption/justification by His bodily resurrection from the grave, He ascended to the right hand of His Father where he intercedes on behalf of those who trust Him. (Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1-2, 14 and 18; Romans 3:24-26 and 8:34)
God the Holy Spirit - We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Divine Person who convicts the world of sin (righteousness and judgment); that He alone brings new life to those who are spiritually dead; that He baptizes (or places) all believers into the one true Church, which is the Body of Christ; that He indwells and seals them unto the day of final redemption, bestows spiritual gifts upon them and fills (controls) those who are yielding to Him. Every believer is called to live so in the power of the indwelling Spirit, that he will not fulfill the lust of the flesh, but will bear fruit to the glory of God. (John 3:3-8; 14:16-17; 16:7-11; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 and 13; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18)
Creation
We believe that man was created directly by and in the image of God. We believe that God created the heavens and the earth, including all life, by direct act. (Genesis 1:1; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17)
Although man was created in the image of God, he fell into sin and is lost. This is true of all men, and except a man be born again by the Holy Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (Genesis 1:26-27; John 3:3; Romans 3:10 and 23)