Statement of Faith
Our statement of faith is not an exhaustive explanation of all that we believe, however it is the doctrine which generally unites us as a church. Beyond this we try to embody the well known adage "in essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, and in all things charity."
The Scriptures
We believe in the Scriptures of the Old and the New Testaments as verbally inspired by God and inerrant in the original writing, and that they are of supreme and final authority in faith and life.
Psalm 119:89, 140, 151-2, 160; John 10:35; 1 Corinthians 14:37; Galatians 1:12; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21.
The Triune God
We believe in one God, creator and preserver of all things, eternally existing in three Persons: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; Mark 12:29; Luke 3:22; 2 Corinthians 13:14
God the Father
We believe that God the Father is an infinite, personal spirit. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. As Father, He reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men.
Genesis 1:1; 2:7; Exodus 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11-27; 20:1-26; Leviticus 22:2; Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:6; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Psalm 19:1-3; Isaiah 43:3, 15; 64:8; Jeremiah 10:10; 17:13; Matthew 6:9-34; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6-13; 17:1-8; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:14-15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:6; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 11:6; 12:9; 1 Peter 1:17; 1 John 5:7.
God the Son – Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation He was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and is true God and true man. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, identifying Himself completely with mankind, yet without sin. He honored God’s divine law by His personal obedience, and in His substitutionary death on the cross has made provision for the redemption of men from sin. We further believe in His bodily resurrection from the dead on the third day, His ascension into Heaven, His continuing priestly ministry and His future return to earth.
Isaiah 53:4-5; Luke 1:27; 1:35; 24:5; John 1:1-3; 1:14; 10:30; 20:28-29; Acts 2:31; Romans 3:23-24; 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:7-8; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 4:16-17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 2:14; 4:15; 7:25; 9:24; 9:28; 1 John 1:1-4; 4:2-3
God the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person, who possesses an influence in convicting of sin before and after salvation, indwells every believer after salvation, and is our abiding Comforter and Helper; that He never departs from the weakest believer, but is ever present to testify of Christ.
Genesis 1:2; John 14:16-17; 16:7-11; Romans 8:9, 16; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 4:6; 5:16-18; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 4:8.
Man
We believe that man was created in the image of God in a state of original righteousness, but fell from this state through disobedience, and as a result of this, his moral nature was corrupted and spiritual and physical death ensued. This nature was transmitted through Adam, resulting in the total depravity of all mankind. Man’s restoration to fellowship with God is made possible only by the new birth.
Genesis 1:26; 3:6-8; 5:1; 9:6; 17:9; John 2:2, 6-7; Romans 3:10-20; 3:21-24; 5:12; 1 Peter 1:3-4
Salvation
We believe that salvation through Christ brings freedom from the guilt, penalty, and power of sin. Christ, having died for our sins, bore the wrath of God, completely satisfying God’s righteous requirements, so that all men may be fully reconciled to Him by grace. Salvation results when an individual receives Jesus Christ in faith. The believer immediately stands perfect in Christ, and may be assured of his standing by the inner witness of the Holy Spirit, and the testimony of the Scriptures.
Isaiah 1:18; Acts 13:38-39; Romans 4:7-8; 4:22-25; 5:1-2; 6:12-14; 6:23; 8:1; 8:16-17; 10:9-13; 15:4; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:3-4; Hebrews 9:26; 1 Peter 2:24-25; 3:18; 1 John 5:7-12
The Intermediate State
We believe that the soul of the believer who dies before the personal return of Christ enters immediately into Christ’s presence, there awaiting his resurrection body. Unbelievers depart into a place of conscious torment, there awaiting final judgment.
Luke 16:19-28; 2 Corinthians 5:1-8; 2 Peter 2:9; Revelation 20:11-15
Sanctification and a Godly Life
We believe that the Christian, who is immediately justified and sanctified at the moment of his conversion, is called to a life, which reflects his spiritual position in Christ. He should do all things to the glory of God, being careful to conform his life and conduct to the principles set forth in Scripture. We believe this involves a separation from habits and conduct which may cause others to be adversely influenced and to stumble, together with a separation unto God, which will reflect his new life in Christ.
Romans 14:13-23; 1 Corinthians 6:9-20; 10:31; 2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1; Ephesians 4:1-3; Philippians 3:17; Colossians 3:1-4; 1 Peter 1:13-19
The Church
We believe that a local New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the two ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws; exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His word; and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. Each local congregation operates under the Lordship of Christ. In such a congregation each member is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord. Its scriptural offices are pastors/elders and deacons. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, only the office of pastor/elder is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.
The New Testament speaks also of the universal church as the Body of Christ, which includes all of the redeemed of all the ages, believers from every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation.
Matthew 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42, 47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23,27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11, 21; 5:22-32; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:9-14; 3:1-15; 4:14; Hebrews 11:39-40; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 2:1-3:22; 21:2-3
The Ordinances
We believe in two ordinances given to the church: baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism symbolizes the believer’s union with Christ in His death, burial and triumphant resurrection. It is a pledge on the part of the believer that he intends to live a new life in Christ. We believe infants should be dedicated to the Lord by Christian parents, and that baptism should be reserved for responsible individuals who have experienced saving faith. The Lord’s Supper is a memorial of the Lord’s death and of His promised return. It is to be partaken of in a spirit of solemnity and of self-examination. These are matters of obedience to the Lord, but are not essential to salvation.
Matthew 28:19; Mark 10:14-16; Luke 2:27-28; John 4:2; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians 1:17; 11:23-32
The Lord’s Day
We believe the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should include exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private. Activities on the Lord’s Day should be commensurate with the Christian’s conscience under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 12:1-12; 28:1-50; Mark 2:27-28; 16:1-7; Luke 24:1-3, 33-36; John 4:21-24; 20:1, 19-28; Acts 20:7; Romans 14:5-10; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Colossians 2:16; 3:16; Revelation 1:10.
The Kingdom
We believe the Kingdom of God includes both His general sovereignty over the universe and His particular kingship over men who willfully acknowledge Him as King. Particularly the Kingdom is the realm of salvation into which men enter by trustful, childlike commitment to Jesus Christ. Christians ought to pray and to labor that the Kingdom may come and God’s will be done on earth. The full consummation of the Kingdom awaits the return of Jesus Christ and the end of this age.
Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 9:6-7; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Matthew 3:2; 4:8-10,23; 12:25-28; 13:1-52; 25:31-46; 26:29; Mark 1:14-15; 9:1; Luke 4:43; 8:1; 9:2 12:31-32; 17:20-21; 23:42; John 3:3; 18:36; Acts 1:6-7; 17:22-31; Romans 5:17; 8:19; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 11:10, 16; 12:28; 1 Peter 2:4-10; 4:13; Revelation 1:6, 9; 5:10; 11:15; 21-22.
Last Things
We believe that God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised, and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.
Isaiah 2:4; 11:9; Matthew 16:27; 18:8-9; 19:28; 24:27,30,36,44; 25:31-46; 26:64; Mark 8:38; 9:43-48; Luke 12:40,48; 16:19-26; 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15:24-28,35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:5; 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 5:1-28; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-12; 2; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:27-28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7-18; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Revelation 1:18; 3:11; 20:1-22
Evangelism and Missions
We believe it is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations. The new birth of man’s spirit by God’s Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others. Missionary effort on the part of all rests thus upon a spiritual necessity of the regenerate life, and is expressly and repeatedly commanded in the teachings of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ has commanded the preaching of the gospel to all nations. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by verbal witness under girded by a Christian lifestyle, and by other methods in harmony with the gospel of Christ.
Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5-6; Isaiah 6:1-8; Matthew 9:37-38; 10:5-15; 13:18-30, 37-43; 16:19; 22:9-10; 24:14; 28:18-20; Luke 10:1-18; 24:46-53; John 14:11-12; 15:7-8, 16; 17:15; 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2; 8:26-40; 10:42-48; 13:2-3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 3:1-11; 1 Thessalonians 1:8; 2 Timothy 4:5; Hebrews 2:1-3; 11:39-12:2; 1 Peter 2:4-10; Revelation 22:17.