Our Statement of Faith
Word of God
We believe that only the 66 books of the bible are the authoritative and inspired Word of God because it reveals who God is and what he values. Therefore, it is the final authority for how we should live and for all that we believe. (John17:17; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
Trinity
We believe in the one true God who has revealed Himself as existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three persons, being one God, are equal in deity, power, and glory. (Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:21-22).
Gods Sovereignty
We believe that God created the world and that He upholds, sustains, governs, and allows or directs all that exists. He will redeem and restore all things through Jesus Christ, to bring glory unto His name. (Colossians 1:16-20; Isaiah 65:17)
Satan
We believe that Satan, originally the great and good angel Lucifer, rebelled against God, taking a multitude of angels with him. He was cast out of God’s presence and is at work with his demonic hosts to establish his counter-kingdom of darkness, evil, and unrest on Earth. Satan was judged and defeated at the cross of Christ and will at the end of the age be cast forever into the lake of fire, which has been prepared for him and his angels. (Isaiah 14:10–17; Ezekiel 28:11–19; Matthew 12:25–29; John 12:31 and 16:11; Ephesians 6:10–20; Colossians 2:15; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Revelation 12:7–9, 20:10).
Sinful Nature
We believe the human race was originally created by God in His image, righteous and without sin until sin entered by disobedience and rebellion leaving humanity totally incapable of saving itself. In consequence of their disobedience, human beings are born subject to sin, and are therefore by nature and choice the children of wrath, justly condemned in the sight of God and wholly unable to save themselves or to contribute in any way to their acceptance by God. (Genesis 1–3; Psalm 51:5; Isaiah 53:5; Romans 3:9–18, 5:12–21; Ephesians 2:1–3).
Jesus is our Savior
We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, that He was conceived and born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and offered Himself as a legal, sacrificial substitution for sinners. By His blood shed at the Cross, He obtained for us eternal redemption, the forgiveness of sins, and life everlasting. He was raised bodily on the third day and ascended to the right hand of the Father, there to forever intercede for the saints. (Matthew 1:18–25; John 1:1–18; Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:1–28; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:10–14; Ephesians 1:7; Philippians 2:6–11; Colossians 1:15–23; Hebrews 7:25, 9:13–15; 1 Peter 2:21–25; 1 John 2:1–2).
Salvation by Grace
We believe that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. No ordinance, ritual, work, or any other activity on the part of man is required or accepted in order to be saved. This saving grace of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, also sanctifies us by enabling us to do what is pleasing in God’s sight in order that we might be conformed to the image of Christ (John 1:12–13, 3:16-17, 6:37–44, 10:25–30; Acts 16:30–31; Romans 3–4 and 8:1–17, 31-39, 10:8–10; Ephesians 2:8–10; Philippians 2:12–13; Titus 3:3–7; 1 John 1:7, 9, Galatians 2:20-21)
Holy Spirit
We believe that Jesus Christ baptizes believers in the Holy Spirit, in whom we are also sealed for the day of redemption. The Holy Spirit regenerates, indwells, and equips the Christian for godly living and service. After conversion, the Spirit desires to fill, empower, and anoint believers for ministry and witness. We also believe that signs and wonders, as well as all the gifts of the Spirit described in the New Testament, are operative today and are designed to testify to the presence of the Kingdom and to empower and edify the church to fulfill its calling and mission (Matthew 3:11; John 1:12–13, 3:1–15; Acts 4:29–30; Romans 8:9, 12:3–8; 1 Corinthians 12:12–13; 2 Corinthians 1:21–22, 3:16-18; Galatians 3:1–5; Ephesians 1:13–14, 5:18).
Water Baptism & Communion
We believe that water baptism and communion are the two ordinances of the church to be observed until the time of Christ’s return. They are not a means of salvation but are channels of God’s sanctifying grace and blessing to the faithful in Christ Jesus. (Matthew 26:26–29, 28:19; Romans 6:3–11; 1 Corinthians 11:23–34; 1 Peter 3:21).
Marriage, Sexual Relationships, Gender
We believe a sexual relationship is only appropriate in a monogamous, heterosexual marriage covenant, and therefore should only be practiced in such. We believe that any sexual practice outside of a marriage covenant is sin. We believe that God created humankind in His image, intentionally male and female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. (Gen. 1:26-27) Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person. Sexuality is a wonderful gift from God to be expressed in marriage for procreation, union, and mutual delight or in celibacy in devotion to God. We believe that marriage is the union of one man (husband) and one woman (wife) through a sacred covenant designed by God to be a lifelong relationship and commitment between a husband and a wife. Our covenant-making and covenant-keeping God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16) and is opposed to it. Therefore, divorce is not permitted for a believer, with two exceptions. In cases of adultery (Matthew 5:31-32, 19:9) or abandonment (1 Corinthians 7:12-16) there is biblical grounds for a believer to divorce their spouse. However, even in these cases divorce is not mandatory but rather allowed as a final resort since God’s heart is for restoration and reconciliation. We will teach and uphold God’s marriage design as found in the Scriptures; however, we also seek to minister to those who suffer the consequences of its brokenness. We also affirm that we are called to minister to all who fall short of God’s standards with love and compassion. (Genesis 1:27, Hebrews 13:4, 1 Corinthians 7:35, Matthew 19:4-6).
The Church
We believe that the church is God’s primary instrument through which He is fulfilling His redemptive purposes in the earth. The church is a community of redeemed people worldwide under the Lordship of Jesus who meet regularly to worship, be discipled, partake of the sacraments, fellowship, and carry out the great commission together. Jesus established the local church to function with ordained leaders and a form of governance that protects, guides and releases people in their gifts to minister. The church functions under the leadership of Jesus with clearly defined elders. To equip the saints for the work of ministry, God has given to the church apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. We also affirm the priesthood of all believers and the importance of every Christian’s being joined with and actively involved in a local community of the saints. We believe that women, no less than men, are called and gifted to proclaim the gospel and to do all the works of the Kingdom (Matthew 16:17–19; Acts 2:17–18, 42; Ephesians 3:14–21, 4:11–16; Hebrews 10:23–25; 1 Peter 2:4–5, 9–10).
Role of the Church
We believe that God has called the church to preach the gospel of Christ and make disciples of all nations. The core mission of the church is to see the lost saved, the saved discipled, and the discipled sent. The church is especially called to remember the poor and to minister to their needs through sacrificial giving and practical service. This ministry is an expression of the heart of the Lord Jesus Christ and is an essential part of the Kingdom of God (Isaiah 58:6–12, 61:1; Matthew 5–7, 28:18–20; Luke 4:18, 21:1–4; Galatians 2:10; 1 Timothy 6:8).
Return of Christ
We believe in the literal second coming of Christ at the end of the age when He will return to earth personally and visibly to consummate His Kingdom. We also believe in and are praying for a great end-time harvest of souls and the emergence of a victorious church that will experience unprecedented unity, purity, and power in the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 15:20–28, 50–58; Philippians 3:20–21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:11; 2 Thessalonians 1:3–12; Revelation 7:9–14, Psalms 2:7–9, 22:27–28; John 14:12, 17:20–26; Romans 11:25–32).
Eternal Life or Death
We believe that when the Christian dies, he or she passes immediately into the blessed presence of Christ, there to enjoy conscious fellowship with the Savior until the day of the resurrection and glorious transformation of the body. The saved will then forever dwell in blissful fellowship with their great triune God. We also believe that when the unbeliever dies, they are consigned to await the Day of Judgment when they shall be punished with eternal separation from the presence of God in the lake of fire (Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:19–31; John 5:25–29; 1 Corinthians 15:35–58; 2 Corinthians 5:1–10; Philippians 1:19–26, 3:20–21; 2 Thessalonians 1:5–10; Revelation 20:11–15, 21:1–22:15).