WHAT WE BELIEVE MATTERS MOST

Our Beliefs

I. The Scriptures.

We believe that the Holy Bible is the inspired Word of God, equally in all parts and in the whole and is totally inerrant. The Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction. We further believe it is the supreme revelation from God and of God, superior to conscience and reason and therefore our infallible rule in all matters. We believe that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us, and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried.

II. The True God.

We believe the Scriptures teach that there is one, and only one, living and true God; externally existent in three persons – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, having the same nature, attributes and perfection, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible worship, praise, honor, confidence, and love.

III. The Lord Jesus Christ

We believe in the pre-existence, incarnation and virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ who came into the world to reveal the Father, and was the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person; that the Lord Jesus Christ was the Creator of all things, for by Him the worlds were made. We believe that in Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and that He was very God and very Man. We further believe in the sinless life of our Lord, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death, His bodily resurrection, His bodily ascension into heaven and His imminent return. We further believe that He is presently seated at the right hand of God the Father, interceding for His redeemed. We also acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord over all things in heaven, and in earth, and under the earth.

IV. The Holy Spirit.

We believe that the Holy Spirit, though omnipresent from all eternity, after the glorification of Jesus Christ, was sent on the day of Pentecost, dwells in every believer, unites all to Christ in one body, and is the source of all power and all acceptable service. We believe that ministries are committed to the Holy Spirit including the restraining of evil in the world; the convicting of the world respecting sin, righteousness and judgment; regenerating of all believers; the sealing of all believers unto the day of redemption; and the continued filling for power and service of those among the saved who are yielded to Him and His will. We believe that the fruit of the Spirit is the manifestation of the character of Christ in the believer’s life. We further believe that all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit are available to Christians today and that all of the gifts of the Spirit should be and must be operative in the church to manifest its full glory under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

V. Man's Fallen Condition.

We believe the Scriptures teach that Man was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker; but by voluntary transgressions fell from that holy and happy state. As a result, all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but choice; being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil; and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse. Consequently, we all must be redeemed and delivered from our state of depravity by the power of the Gospel.

VI. The Way of Salvation.

We believe that the Scriptures teach that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; by faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ; who freely took upon Him our nature, yet was without sin; honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full atonement for our sins; that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven; He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate, and all-sufficient Saviour. We further believe evidence of this saving faith is shown through repentance, confession and regeneration.

VII. The Gift of Salvation.

We believe that the Scriptures teach that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by obedient faith; and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth, but his own determined depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel; this rejection involves him in condemnation.

VIII. Regeneration.

We believe the Scriptures teach that repentance and faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable graces, formed in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God; whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, helplessness and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with genuine remorse, confession, and request for mercy; at the same time enthusiastically receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our King, relying on Him alone as the only and all-sufficient Saviour. We believe sinners must be regenerated, or born again; that this consists in giving a holy character to the mind that it is effected by the power of the Holy Spirit, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel; and that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, confession, faith, and newness of life.

IX. Justification

We believe the Scriptures teach that the great Gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification; that justification includes the pardon of sin, and the promise of eternal life on principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed, not because of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ; by virtue of our faith, His perfect righteousness is freely given to us by God; that it brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity.

X. Sanctification.

We believe the Scriptures teach that Sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of His holiness; that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration; and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means especially the word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer.

XI. God's Purpose of Grace.

XII. Perseverance of Saints.

We believe the Scriptures teach that such only are real believers as endure to the end; that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special Providence watches over their welfare; and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

XIII. The Law and Gospel.

We believe the Scriptures teach that the Law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of His moral government; that it is holy, just and good; and that the inability which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen men to fulfill its precepts, arise entirely from their love of sin; to deliver them from sin, and to restore them through a Mediator to heartfelt obedience, is one great end of the Gospel and the Grace connected with the establishment of the visible church.

XIV. A Gospel Church.

We believe that all who are united by new birth to Jesus Christ are members of the universal Church, the body of Christ. We also believe that the local celebration of Christian believers is divinely instituted and is the chosen instrument of God for the furtherance of God’s work upon the earth. We further believe in the spiritual unity of all believers and in working together for the cause of ministry to the church and unchurched. The Church observes the ordinances of Christ; is governed by His laws; and exercises the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word. We believe in the divinely called, commissioned and equipped five-fold ministry of the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers as given to the Church by the Lord Jesus Christ after His ascension for the equipping of the Saints. We further believe that all Christians are called to minister in the body according to God’s giftings and callings.

XV. Baptism and The Lord's Supper.

We believe the Scriptures teach that Christian baptism is the immersion in water and is for believers only. Baptism unites the believer with the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord’s Supper, in which the members of the church, by the sacred use of bread and the fruit of the vine, are to celebrate together the dying love of Christ; preceded always by solemn self-examination.

XVI. Civil Government.

We believe the Scriptures teach that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interest and good order of human society; and that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed; except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the Kings of the earth.

XVII. Righteous and Wicked.

We believe the Scriptures teach that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in and after death.

XVIII. The World to Come.

We believe the Scriptures teach that the end of the world is approaching; that at the last day, Christ will descend from heaven, and raise the dead from the grave for final retribution; that a solemn separation will then take place; that the wicked will be adjudged to endless punishment, and the righteous to endless joy; and that this judgment will fix forever the final state of men in heaven or hell, on principles of righteousness.

XIX. Human Sexuality.

We affirm that 1) Marriage is the original and foundational institution of human society, established by God as a one-flesh, covenantal union between a man and a woman that is life-long (until separated by death), exclusive (monogamous and faithful), and generative in nature (designed for bearing and rearing children), and it is to reflect the relationship between Christ and the Church, 2) Only such marriages that fit the above definition may be conducted on our church property and/or officiated my members/staff of our congregation, 3) Our definition of marriage is intimately connected to other foundational matters of faith as is exhibited in our Statement of Faith Article I – The Scriptures, as is written above. Therefore, we regard any restrictions and definitions we apply in our churches concerning marriage to be an exercise of the freedom of religion clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and 4) Our church seeks to respond to all individuals in love, humility, and a sense of grace as we encourage them to walk in obedience to the Holy Bible.