Statement of Faith

Scripture
We believe that the Bible is the verbally inspired, inerrant word of God.  It is our full, final and only authority in all matters of which it speaks.  (2 Tim 3:16-17)

God
We believe in one triune God:  Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They are co-equal and co-eternal. (1 Pet 1:2; Matt 28:19)

God the Father
We believe that God the Father is creator of all things. He is the sovereign ruler of the universe and orders all things according to his own purpose and grace. He is the initiator of the plan of salvation. He has graciously chosen his own from all eternity and saves from sin all who come to him through Christ. By redemption and adoption he is the loving Father of all believers (Gen. 1:1; Psalm 145:8-13; Isaiah 46:9-11; John 3:16; 6:35-40; Romans. 8:28-30; 1 Corinthians. 8:6; Gal. 3:26; Ephesians. 1:3-11).

Jesus
Jesus Christ being the eternal son of God, became man.  He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, thus being true God and true man. (John 1:14; Luke 1:35) He alone lived a sinless life (the unblemished lamb 1 Pet 1:19) and died on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice for sin in obedience to the Father’s will.  He arose from the dead, ascended into heaven and now fulfills the role of intercessor and advocate for all believers. (Rom 3:23, 2 Cor 5:21, Heb 7:25)

Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, convicts people of sin and regenerates and indwells all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. He permanently indwells every believer sealing them unto the day of redemption.  He is the source of power for godly living, worship and service.  He bestows spiritual gifts which should be used to edify others in love.   (Eph 1:13-14, Titus 3:5-7,  Rom 8:1-14, 1 Cor 12:11-13, 14:1-5, Gal 5:16-25)

Mankind
Man, created in the image of God, fell into sin by disobeying God.  As a result, all people experience physical and spiritual death.  All people are sinners by nature and practice and are alienated from God.  They cannot make themselves acceptable to  God. (Gen 1:26-27, 3:6-7, Rom 5:12-21, Eph 2:1-3)

Salvation
Salvation is by grace through faith.  It is a gift from God and not earned in any way through human merit or good works.  All true believers who have personally received Jesus Christ possess eternal life and are kept secure in Christ forever by God’s power.  (Eph 2:8-10; 4:30)

The Church
The Church is the body of Christ, a spiritual organism made up of all born again believers in Christ in this present age.  Individual believers identify with Christ in Baptism and remember His death in the Lord’s Supper.  The primary mission of the Church is to witness concerning the Head, Jesus Christ, and to preach the gospel among all nations.    (Matt 28:19-20, Eph 1:22-23)

The Future
We believe in the imminent return of Jesus Christ for the Church and his subsequent coming to earth in power and glory to set up his millennial kingdom.  The saved will be eternally blessed and the unsaved will experience eternal condemnation.  (1 Thes 4:13-18, 2 Thes 1:6-9, Acts 1:11, Rev 20:1-15