Statement of Faith
I
The Scriptures
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, are infallible, inerrant, and are the only sufficient, certain, and final authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience.
II
God
There is but one God, the Maker, Preserver, and Ruler of all things, having in and of Himself all perfections and being infinite in them all; and to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience.
III
The Trinity
God is revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being. These three persons are equal in every divine perfection, and they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the works of creation, providence, and redemption.
IV
God The Father
God the Father is an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, justice, mercy, grace, power and love. We believe that He infallibly foreknows all that shall come to pass, that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears & answers prayer, and that He saves from sin & death all who come to Him only through Jesus Christ.
V
Jesus
Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, never-ceasing intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth.
VI
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide, ever-living to “spotlight” Jesus Christ and to daily minister to us and through us Christ’s life as we exercise humble, dependent faith in Him.
VII
Providence
God from eternity, decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and perpetually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and all events, while allowing the exercise of free will and responsibility of man.
VIII
The Fall of Man
God originally created man in His own image, and free from sin, but through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original holiness and righteousness. Man and all his posterity inherit a corrupt and sinful nature wholly opposed to God and His law, are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressions.
IX
Election
Election is God’s eternal choice of some persons to everlasting life—not because of foreseen merit in them, but because of His mercy in Christ – in consequence of which choice they are called, justified, and glorified.
X
The Mediator
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken on himself the form of man, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law, suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He lives forever to make intercession for His people. He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest, and King of the Church, and Sovereign of the Universe.
XI
Regeneration
Regeneration is a change of the heart brought about by the Holy Spirit, who brings alive those who are dead in sin, and enlightens the mind spiritually to understand the Word of God for the purpose of holiness and spiritual maturity. It is a work of God’s free grace alone.
XII
Repentance
Repentance is an evangelical grace, where a person made sensible by the Holy Spirit is made sensible of the sin in his life, humbles himself for it in godly sorrow, detests the sin, and purposes and endeavors to walk before God as to please him in all things by abandoning those sins that are revealed to him.
XIII
Faith
Saving faith is the belief on God’s authority of what is revealed to the believer in His Word concerning Christ; accepting and resting upon Christ alone for justification and eternal life. It is brought about in the heart by the Holy Spirit and is accompanied by all other saving graces, which lead to a life of holiness.
XIV
Justification
Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal of sinners who believe in Christ, from all sin, through the sacrifice that Christ has made; not for anything wrought in them or done by them but on account of the obedience and satisfaction of Christ’s righteousness imparted to the believer.
XV
Sanctification
Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified by God’s Word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive through the supply of Divine strength.
XVI
Perseverance of the Saints
Those whom God has accepted & sanctified by His Spirit, will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end; and though they may fall through neglect & temptation into sin, and may grieve the Holy Spirit, can be renewed again to repentance and kept through the power of God through faith to salvation.
XVII
The Church
The Lord Jesus is the Head of the Church, which is composed of all His true disciples, and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government and effective function. According to His commandment, Christians are to associate themselves with other believers, in a structure that is based on New Testament principles and guidelines. The church government and its functions shall be directed and guided through pastoral leadership and elders who seek, through prayer and the study of the Word, God’s will for the church.
XVIII
Baptism
Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, to be followed in by every believer, where by immersion in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit provides a sign of the believer’s fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins, and his surrender to God, to live and walk in newness of life.
XIX
The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the elements of bread & wine, and to be observed by His believers until His return. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but it represents His sacrifice in which the believer has faith and other Christian graces. It is to be entered into with a bond, pledge, & renewal by the believer of his communion with the Lord & with the church.
XX
The Resurrection
The bodies of man after death return to dust, but their spirits return immediately to God – the righteous to rest with Him; the sinner to be reserved under darkness until the day of judgment. At the last day, the bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised.
XXI
The Judgment
God has appointed a day in which He will judge the world by Jesus Christ, when every one shall receive according to his deeds; the lost wicked shall go to everlasting punishment; the saved righteous into everlasting life.