Statement of Faith
What We Believe
About God
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God. (Genesis 1:1, 26, 27, 3:22, Psalm 90:2, Matthew 28:19, 1 Peter 1:2, 2 Corinthians 13:14.)
About Jesus Christ
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 the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven's glory and will return someday to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. (Matthew 1:23, Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1-5,14, 10:30, Hebrews 4:14-15, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Romans 1:3-4, Acts 1:9-11, 1 Timothy 6:14-15, Titus 2:13.)
About the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with Power for living, Understanding of spiritual truth, and Guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer a spiritual gift when they are saved. As Christians we seek to live under His control daily. (2 Corinthians 3:17, John 16:7-13, 14:16-17, Acts 1:8, 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16, Ephesians 1:13, Galatians 5:25, Ephesians 5:18)
About the Bible
The Bible is God's Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is Truth without any mixture of error. (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Timothy 1:13, Psalms 12:6, 119:105, 160, Proverbs 30:5)
About Human Beings
People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the Supreme object of God's creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called Sin . Our nature is sinful and because of that, our acts are sinful. We don't measure up to the glory, purposes, or plan of God. These attitudes and actions Separate people from God and causes many problems in life. (Genesis 1:27, Psalm 8:3-6, Isaiah 53:6a, Romans 3:23, Isaiah 59:1-2, Leviticus 17:9, Psalm 51:5, Psalms 14:1-3, 1 John 1:10, Romans 3:10-11)
About Salvation
Salvation is God's Free Gift to us but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. It is only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness that anyone can be saved from sin's penalty. When we tum from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal Life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. (Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 1:12, 14:6, Titus 3:5, Galatians 3:26, Romans 5:1.)
About Eternal Security
Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is Secure in that salvation for eternity. If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot "lose" it. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives us this Security. (John 10:28-29, 2 Timothy 1:12, Hebrews 7:25, 10:10, 1 Peter 1:3-5.)
About Christian Growth
We believe that Christians are called to live Holy lives that are worthy of our Calling to and by the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:16, Ephesians 4:1). Our lives are to be different. We are to impact the world but are not to be carried away by the world's lusts, passions, or pride. Christian growth is the work of grace that God is doing in you, the believer. Growth is not something we work up or push out. We are new creations in Him (2 Corinthians 5:17), dead to sin and alive to Christ (Romans 6:11), and unconditionally loved and made secure by Him (John 10:28). Nothing we can ever do can earn more love or favor with Him. We serve Him out of a relationship of love, not law. Walking with Christ is a process of presenting our lives and challenges daily to Him and submitting to His Lordship (Romans 12:1-2).
As we Abide in Christ (John 15:5) and Walk in His Spirit yielding control to Him daily (Galatians 5:25), He will produce fruit from our lives that will last. God uses the Scripture (correctly interpreted and applied), prayer, circumstances, and His Body to bring about fruit and growth in our lives, as we rely upon His Holy Spirit.
About Eternity
People were created to exist Forever . We will either exist eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation or exist for all of eternity separated from God. To be eternally separated from God is Hell . To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are Real places of eternal existence. (John 3:16, 5:11-13, 12:25, Romans 6:23, Revelation 20:15, Matthew 8:12, 25:41-46, Hebrews 5:9)
About the Church
We believe that a New Testament church is a Body of baptized believers who are joined together for spiritual strengthening, for evangelism, and for Christian fellowship. The church is an autonomous body, with the government of the church vested in the local body, and subject to the control of no other ecclesiastical body.
We believe the Ordinances of the church are two: Baptism (by immersion, administered to believers only as a symbol of their belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and as a symbol of the believer's death to sin, burial of the old life, and resurrection to walk in newness of life); and the Lord's Supper (to be taken by a believer in order to show forth the Lord's death till He comes).
We believe the Scriptural Officers of the church are pastor/elders, and deacons. Pastors serve through the ministry of spiritual oversight, leadership and equipping. Deacons serve through helping to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the congregation. The church is pastor led, deacon served, and every member ministering. We believe that every member, given spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit, should develop and deploy those gifts in and through the ministry of the church. (Matthew 16:13-20, 1 Peter 2:5-10, Acts 2:41-47, 1 Corinthians 12:12-28, Hebrews 10:25, 1 Timothy 3:1-13, Hebrews 13:17, 1 Peter 5:1-3)
