Statement of Faith
The supernatural, verbal, and plenary inspiration of the Scriptures; that they are inerrant, and that their teachings and authority are absolute, supreme, and final. (Jn. 10:34b; 1Cor. 2:13; II Tim. 3:16,17; 2Pet. 1:20,21)
The Trinity of the Godhead: God, the Father; God, the Son; and God, the Holy Spirit; eternal in being, identical in nature, equal in power and glory, and having precisely the same attributes and perfections, yet distinct in their functions. Hence in relation to the world and the salvation of men - the Father is the planner and initiator; the Son is the Bearer and the proclaimer of the plan and initiation of Salvation; the Holy Spirit is the applicator, applying the plan of Salvation to men in all areas from Conviction to Regeneration. (Deut. 6:4; Isa. 48:16,17; Matt. 28:19; John 6:38-40; 16:8-15; Acts 5:3, 4; 2Cor. 13:14; Gal. 4:4-6; Eph. 1:13, 14; Titus 3:5-7)
The person and work of Jesus Christ. The eternal Son of God became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a propitiatory and substitutionary sacrifice, and that our redemption is made sure to us by His resurrection from the dead in the identical, though glorified body in which He was crucified. (Lk. 1:35; Jn. 1:1,2,14; 16:7-15; Rom. 3:24,25; Phil. 2:5-11; 1Pet. 1:3-5)
The atoning work of Jesus Christ that He became the sinner's sacrifice before God and that His sacrifice is sufficient for all, but efficient only for those who believe. (Matt. 26:27, 28; Jn. 1:12; Rom. 3:21-26; 1Cor. 5:21; Eph. 2:13; 1Tim. 2:3,4; 1Pet.1:18,19; 2:9,24; 2Pet. 3:9; Heb. 9:11-22)
The Lord Jesus Christ is now in heaven exalted at the right hand of God, where as High Priest for His people, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. (Heb. 7:25; 9:25; Rom. 8:34; 1Jn. 2:1,2)
The Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead, in the present age regenerates and indwells all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, baptizes them in the Body of Christ at the time of Salvation and seals them unto the day of redemption. Every believer is commanded by God to be filled with the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 8:9, 1Cor. 12:12-24; Eph. 1:13,14; 5:18-20)
The sinfulness of man; that all human beings because of Adam's sin are born with a sinful nature, are totally depraved, and need a Savior from sin. (Isa. 64:6; Jer. 17:9; Rom. 3:10, 23; 5:12; Eph. 2:12,13)
That God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God's gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one's gender by surgery or appearance. (Gen. 2:24; 19:5,13; 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1:26-29; 1Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1Th. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4). We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. (Gen. 2:24; Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23).
The necessity of the new birth. That salvation is the gift of God offered to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that this faith is manifested in works pleasing to God and that all who are truly saved shall be kept by God forever. (Jn. 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1,38,39; Eph. 2:8-10; Tit. 2:11-14; James 2:14)
The literal resurrection of the body, both of the just and the unjust. The everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting punishment of the lost. (Mk. 9:43-48; Acts 24:14,15; Rev. 20:11-15; 21:1-8)
A literal heaven, a place of blessedness to which the righteous in Christ go, where they will consciously enjoy God in His presence forever. (Jn. 14:1-6; 1Th. 4:13-18; Rev. 21:1-5)
A literal hell, a place of torment, to which the unsaved go, and in which they will consciously experience punishment and separation from the presence of God forever. (Matt. 10:28; 18:8,9; 25:41-46; Luke 16:19-25; Rev. 20:10-15)
In the existence of angels in this universe, who are created spirit beings and therefore not infinite or reproductive. They are God's agents in executing His will towards mankind, nations and demons, including Satan. The ministry of the angels involves the Lord Jesus Christ, the nation Israel, Gentile nations, unbelievers, and believers. (Gen. 19:1-15; Dan. 10:10-21, 12:1; Matt. 13:41-42,49,50; 18:10; 26:53; Mk. 12:25; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:13, 14; Rev. 8: 9,12:7-9,14:6,7,16, 20:1-3)
In the personality and reality of Satan and demons upon this earth, who are created beings and therefore, not omniscient and infinite. Satan was judged at the cross and his ultimate destiny along with his demons, who are fallen angels, is to be cast into the lake-of-fire forever. (Matt. 4:1-11; 13:36-39; Mk. 5:1-16; Jn. 12:31; Acts 5:3; 2Cor. 4:4; Eph. 6:11; Col. 2:14,15; Heb. 2:14,15; 1Pet. 5:8; Jude 1:6; Rev. 12:9,10; 20:1-10)
The Universal Church, the Spiritual Organism of which Christ is the Head and is composed of all regenerated people from Pentecost to the Rapture irrespective of their affiliation with Christian-organizations. (Matt. 16:18; 1Cor. 12:12-24; Eph. 1:22,23; 3:10; 5:25,27; Col. 1:18; 1Pet 2:4-8)
The Local Church, whose Head is Christ, functions through scripturally qualified Elders, Deacons, and Deaconesses. Its ministry is to equip the Saints, preach the Word, and apply church discipline with love, reverence and gentleness. (Matt. 18:15-20; Acts 6:1-7; Rom. 16:1,2; Gal. 6:1; Eph. 4:4-13; 1Tim. 3:1-16; Tit 1:5-9)
The evangelization of the world, the supreme mission of the church through every believer is to present the gospel of Jesus Christ to all mankind during this age. (Matt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15; Acts 1:8; 2Tim. 4:5)
That Baptism and the Lord's Supper are the two ordinances practiced by Christ's Church. Baptism is by immersion and is not essential for salvation. (Matt. 3:13-17; 28:19,20; 1Cor. 11:23-30; Eph. 2:8-10)
The personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal happiness of the righteous and the endless suffering of the wicked. (Mt 16:27; Mk 14:62; Jn 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1Co 4:5, 1Co 15; Php 3:20; 1Th 4:15; 2Th 1:7-10; 2Ti 4:1; Tit 2:13; Re 20:4-6; 11-15)
The Trinity of the Godhead: God, the Father; God, the Son; and God, the Holy Spirit; eternal in being, identical in nature, equal in power and glory, and having precisely the same attributes and perfections, yet distinct in their functions. Hence in relation to the world and the salvation of men - the Father is the planner and initiator; the Son is the Bearer and the proclaimer of the plan and initiation of Salvation; the Holy Spirit is the applicator, applying the plan of Salvation to men in all areas from Conviction to Regeneration. (Deut. 6:4; Isa. 48:16,17; Matt. 28:19; John 6:38-40; 16:8-15; Acts 5:3, 4; 2Cor. 13:14; Gal. 4:4-6; Eph. 1:13, 14; Titus 3:5-7)
The person and work of Jesus Christ. The eternal Son of God became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a propitiatory and substitutionary sacrifice, and that our redemption is made sure to us by His resurrection from the dead in the identical, though glorified body in which He was crucified. (Lk. 1:35; Jn. 1:1,2,14; 16:7-15; Rom. 3:24,25; Phil. 2:5-11; 1Pet. 1:3-5)
The atoning work of Jesus Christ that He became the sinner's sacrifice before God and that His sacrifice is sufficient for all, but efficient only for those who believe. (Matt. 26:27, 28; Jn. 1:12; Rom. 3:21-26; 1Cor. 5:21; Eph. 2:13; 1Tim. 2:3,4; 1Pet.1:18,19; 2:9,24; 2Pet. 3:9; Heb. 9:11-22)
The Lord Jesus Christ is now in heaven exalted at the right hand of God, where as High Priest for His people, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. (Heb. 7:25; 9:25; Rom. 8:34; 1Jn. 2:1,2)
The Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead, in the present age regenerates and indwells all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, baptizes them in the Body of Christ at the time of Salvation and seals them unto the day of redemption. Every believer is commanded by God to be filled with the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 8:9, 1Cor. 12:12-24; Eph. 1:13,14; 5:18-20)
The sinfulness of man; that all human beings because of Adam's sin are born with a sinful nature, are totally depraved, and need a Savior from sin. (Isa. 64:6; Jer. 17:9; Rom. 3:10, 23; 5:12; Eph. 2:12,13)
That God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God's gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one's gender by surgery or appearance. (Gen. 2:24; 19:5,13; 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1:26-29; 1Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1Th. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4). We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. (Gen. 2:24; Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23).
The necessity of the new birth. That salvation is the gift of God offered to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that this faith is manifested in works pleasing to God and that all who are truly saved shall be kept by God forever. (Jn. 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1,38,39; Eph. 2:8-10; Tit. 2:11-14; James 2:14)
The literal resurrection of the body, both of the just and the unjust. The everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting punishment of the lost. (Mk. 9:43-48; Acts 24:14,15; Rev. 20:11-15; 21:1-8)
A literal heaven, a place of blessedness to which the righteous in Christ go, where they will consciously enjoy God in His presence forever. (Jn. 14:1-6; 1Th. 4:13-18; Rev. 21:1-5)
A literal hell, a place of torment, to which the unsaved go, and in which they will consciously experience punishment and separation from the presence of God forever. (Matt. 10:28; 18:8,9; 25:41-46; Luke 16:19-25; Rev. 20:10-15)
In the existence of angels in this universe, who are created spirit beings and therefore not infinite or reproductive. They are God's agents in executing His will towards mankind, nations and demons, including Satan. The ministry of the angels involves the Lord Jesus Christ, the nation Israel, Gentile nations, unbelievers, and believers. (Gen. 19:1-15; Dan. 10:10-21, 12:1; Matt. 13:41-42,49,50; 18:10; 26:53; Mk. 12:25; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:13, 14; Rev. 8: 9,12:7-9,14:6,7,16, 20:1-3)
In the personality and reality of Satan and demons upon this earth, who are created beings and therefore, not omniscient and infinite. Satan was judged at the cross and his ultimate destiny along with his demons, who are fallen angels, is to be cast into the lake-of-fire forever. (Matt. 4:1-11; 13:36-39; Mk. 5:1-16; Jn. 12:31; Acts 5:3; 2Cor. 4:4; Eph. 6:11; Col. 2:14,15; Heb. 2:14,15; 1Pet. 5:8; Jude 1:6; Rev. 12:9,10; 20:1-10)
The Universal Church, the Spiritual Organism of which Christ is the Head and is composed of all regenerated people from Pentecost to the Rapture irrespective of their affiliation with Christian-organizations. (Matt. 16:18; 1Cor. 12:12-24; Eph. 1:22,23; 3:10; 5:25,27; Col. 1:18; 1Pet 2:4-8)
The Local Church, whose Head is Christ, functions through scripturally qualified Elders, Deacons, and Deaconesses. Its ministry is to equip the Saints, preach the Word, and apply church discipline with love, reverence and gentleness. (Matt. 18:15-20; Acts 6:1-7; Rom. 16:1,2; Gal. 6:1; Eph. 4:4-13; 1Tim. 3:1-16; Tit 1:5-9)
The evangelization of the world, the supreme mission of the church through every believer is to present the gospel of Jesus Christ to all mankind during this age. (Matt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15; Acts 1:8; 2Tim. 4:5)
That Baptism and the Lord's Supper are the two ordinances practiced by Christ's Church. Baptism is by immersion and is not essential for salvation. (Matt. 3:13-17; 28:19,20; 1Cor. 11:23-30; Eph. 2:8-10)
The personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal happiness of the righteous and the endless suffering of the wicked. (Mt 16:27; Mk 14:62; Jn 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1Co 4:5, 1Co 15; Php 3:20; 1Th 4:15; 2Th 1:7-10; 2Ti 4:1; Tit 2:13; Re 20:4-6; 11-15)