Statement of Faith

God

We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory.

(John 10:30; Colossians 1:15-17; Psalm 111:9)

The Bible

We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged.

Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.

(I Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; I Corinthians 2:13)

The Human Condition

We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image, but they sinned when tempted by Satan. In union with Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under His wrath. Only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ can we be rescued, reconciled and renewed.

(Romans 3:23-24; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 5:12-15)

Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures. Jesus—Israel’s promised Messiah—was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead, was witnessed by over 500 people, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate. He is the only sacrifice for sins and way to eternal life, the Savior of all who would turn to him in repentance and faith.

(I Timothy 2:5; Philippians 2:6-11; Hebrews 12:2)

The Work of Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation. Salvation, the complete atonement for sins and God’s ultimate forgiveness of our transgressions, is entirely a work of God’s free grace to everyone who repents of their sins and accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Salvation is not achieved by religious or human efforts to do good deeds. We are justified by faith through Jesus Christ. The work of Christ justifies us to be seen as holy and righteous before God, and to enter into eternal life, as well as to have a personal relationship with the Lord throughout our lives on earth.

(Acts 4:12; John 14:6; Titus 3:4-7)

The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates sinners, and in Him they are baptized into union with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God. He also indwells, illuminates, guides, equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service.

(John 16:12-15; Galatians 5:22-23; Acts 1:8)

The Church

We believe that the true church comprises all who have been justified by God;’s grace through faith alone in Christ alone. It is the spiritual unity of all believers. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. The true church is manifest in local churches, whose membership should be composed only of believers. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel.

Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer.

(Ephesians 2:19-22; Romans 12:5; Luke 22:19-20)

Satan

We believe that Satan is a real being and that he, the enemy of God, is also the enemy of the Church, which comprises all true believers in Jesus Christ. He is “the father of lies” and the opponent of the work ordained by God for believers to carry out. He is the adversary of the advancement of God’s mission on the earth, the spreading of the gospel to all nations. He is the great deceiver of mankind, and his ways lead only to destruction. His fate, along with all who follow him and do not turn to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, is eternal judgment by God.

(John 8:44, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Revelation 20:10)

Christian Living

We believe that God’s justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our faith with care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the oppressed. As believers we are to dedicate our lives to God and service to Him, submitting ourselves to His authority and leading in our lives. With God’s Word, the Spirit’s power, and fervent prayer in Christ’s name, we are to combat the spiritual forces of evil. In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed.

(Colossians 3:12-14; Ephesians 5:1; Matthew 28:18-20)

Christ’s Return

We believe in the personal, bodily and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.

(Revelation 22:12; Hebrews 9:28; Matthew 24:44)

Response and Eternal Destiny

We believe that God commands everyone everywhere to believe the gospel by turning to Him in repentance and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace. Amen.

(John 5:28-29; Mark 1:15; Revelation 21:1-5)