Statement of Faith

God

God is the Eternal one and only Creator and Sustainer of all creation, the Initiator of personal salvation, and Sovereign Ruler of the universe. He has revealed Himself to mankind as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each distinct yet one in essence and being. God is infinitely perfect in love and in holiness.

Genesis 1:1; 2:7; Exodus 15:11ff; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 19:1; Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; John 4:24; Romans 8:14,15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 Timothy 1:17.

Christ

Jesus Christ is the only, unique, and eternal Son of God. He was born into this world through the Holy Spirit-impregnated virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, died as the sacrifice acceptable for the sins of mankind, satisfied forever the wrath of His Holy Father against sin, and resurrected to be forever in glory at the right hand of God. He intercedes today for all who believe in Him. Jesus Christ will return one day in power and glory according to the Scriptures.

Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 53:1-9; Matthew 1:18; Matthew 16:16; Matthew 28:18,19; Luke 1:34,35; Luke 22:70; Luke 24:46; John 1:1-18; John 11:25-27; John 16:28; John 17:5; Acts 1:8-11; Acts 2:22-24; Acts 7:55,56; Romans 5:6; Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Galatians 4:4,5; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:13-17; Colossians 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Timothy 2:5,6; Titus 2:13,14; Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:24-28; Hebrews 13:8; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 5:9-14; Revelation 19:16.

Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the personage of the Spirit of the Living God. The Holy Spirit calls people and brings about new birth into Jesus Christ. He indwells every believer, giving spiritual gifts, guiding through life, bringing to light God’s Word, sealing them unto the end, and empowering each one for service to the Lord.

Genesis 1:2; Judges 14:6; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Matthew 4:1; Matthew 28:19; Luke 1:35; Luke 12:12; Luke 24:49 (Acts 1:8); John 14:16,17,26; John 16:7-14; Acts 4:31; Acts 6:3; Acts 13:2; Acts 16:6; Romans 8:9-11; Romans 8:14-16; Romans 8:26,27; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 1 Corinthians 12:3-11; 1 Corinthians 12:12,13; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:13,14; Ephesians 4:30; Ephesians 5:18; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:13.

Scripture

The Holy Bible was written by men and authored by the Holy Spirit of God. The Bible is God’s revelation of Himself to mankind. The intent of this revelation is the salvation of mankind. The Bible is ruth without any mixture of error. The Bible is the primary and highest standard for guiding human conduct and establishing religious expression.

Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 4:1,2; Psalm 19:7-10; Psalm 119:9, 11, 89, 105; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 5:18; Matthew 22:29; Luke 21:33; Luke 24:44-46; John 5:39; John 16:13-15; John 17:17; Acts 17:11; Romans 15:4; Romans 16:25-27; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21.

Man

Man was created uniquely from all other creation by a specific act of God. Mankind was created to experience a loving relationship with God. Mankind is the crowning work of God’s creation created innocent of sin and with a free will. God’s word was violated by those first humans and sin entered into the human race. All humans are born with a sin nature and evidence that nature through sinful attitudes and actions. It is only through personal redemption by God that mankind can experience God’s intended purpose for him or her.

Genesis 1:26-30; Genesis 2:5, 7, 18-22; Genesis 3; Psalm 1; Psalm 32:1-5; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Matthew 16:26; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; Romans 3:10-18, 23; Romans 5:12,19; Romans 7:14-25; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 1 Corinthians 15:21,22; Ephesians 2:1-10; Colossians 1:21,22.

Salvation

Salvation is God’s free gift of grace to mankind. It is available to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior—who paid the full price for eternal redemption of man. This salvation includes regeneration, sanctification, and glorification. It is worth clarifying that the gift of salvation is totally apart from any efforts—regardless of the nature, the severity, or the duration of such efforts—of man.

Regeneration, or the new birth, is God’s gracious work whereby the believer is given spiritual life. Regeneration is an impartation of life within the believer. Repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are prerequisite to this salvation. Repentance and faith are inseparable aspects of grace. Repentance is a turning from one’s sinful and selfish ways to God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and all involved in His person and works in securing this salvation. Through this act of faith, the believer made a child of God.

Sanctification is the act of being set apart by God as His child for His purposes and the process of spiritual growth that marks one in his or her progression toward Christ-likeness. Sanctification is a work addressed by the indwelling Holy Spirit in each believer. The Holy Spirit empowers each believer to continue this sanctification process.

Glorification is the culmination of the salvation work. It is the final and abiding state of each child of God.

Genesis 3:15; Matthew 1:21; Matthew 4:17; Luke 1:68,69; Luke 2:28-32; John 1:11-14, 29; John 3:3-21; John 5:24; John 10:28,29; John 17:17; Acts 4:12; Acts 16:30,31; Romans 1:16; Romans 3:23-25; Romans 5:8-10; Romans 10:9,10,13; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Galatians 3:13; Galatians 5:22-25; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12,13; Colossians 3:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 9:24-28; 1 Peter 1:17-23; 1 John 5:10-13.

Missions

The injunction given to believers—one and all—is to make disciples of all nations. God’s children are to witness near and far of the great gift of salvation that has become his or her personal experience and that can become the personal experience of all recipients. It behooves every Christian to do all within the limits of Scripture to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to all mankind. Recognizing the lostness of mankind without Jesus Christ and having personally received the love of God in Jesus Christ, believers are inwardly compelled to compel others to accept Good News of Jesus Christ!

Matthew 9:37,38; Matthew 10:5-15; Matthew 13:18-30, 37-43; Matthew 22:8-10; Matthew 24:14; Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 10:1-18; John 15:8,16; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; Acts 8:26-40; Romans 10:-13-15; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Revelation 22:17.

Teaching & Training

Teaching and training of disciples into ministers and leaders in the Christian faith is imperative. Believers must learn the things of God. Training is an ongoing process that must be continued into order to have trained Christians and workers in Christ’s body.

Deuteronomy 4:1,5,9,14; Deuteronomy 6:1-10; Nehemiah 8:1-8; Psalm 19:7ff; Psalm 119:11,105; Proverbs 3:13ff; Proverbs 15:14; Ecclesiastes 7:19; Matthew 5:2; Matthew 7:24ff; Matthew 28:19,20; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Ephesians 4:11-16; Philippians 4:8; Colossians 2:3, 6-10; 1 Timothy 1:3-7; 2 Timothy 2:5; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Hebrews 5:11-14; James 1:5.