Statement of Faith

The Word of God

We believe the Holy Bible is the Word of God, without error in the original manuscripts, penned by men under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. We believe it contains the full revelation of God’s will for the salvation of men, and that it sufficiently provides all the knowledge man needs for life and godliness. It is therefore the divine standard for Christian faith and conduct. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:3; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; Mark 13:31; John 8:31, 32; John 20:31; Acts 20:32)

The Trinity

We believe there is one true God, eternally existing in three persons; one in essence and perfection but operating in the distinct offices of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1, 26; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1, 3; John 4:24; Romans 1:19, 20)

God the Father

We believe in God the Father, an infinite, immutable, holy being, perfect in wisdom, power, and love. We believe He is omniscient, that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and eternal death all who come to Him through relationship with Jesus Christ. (Luke 10:21, 22; Matthew 23:9; John 3:16; 6:27; Romans 1:7; 1 Timothy 1:1, 2; 2:5, 6; 1 Peter 1:3)

Jesus Christ

We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, who became fully man without ceasing to be fully God through His miraculous conception and virgin birth. We believe He is the perfect image of God, sinless in life, perfect in His teachings, and that He worked miraculous signs and wonders. We believe in His voluntary and substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, continual intercession for His people, and forthcoming return to earth as the triumphant King. (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1; 20:28; Romans 9:5; 8:46; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:21-23; John 20:30, 31; Ephesians 1:4; Acts 1:11; Romans 5:6-8; 6:9, 10; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Timothy 3:16)

The Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit who came from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. We believe He regenerates, sanctifies, and empowers every believer in Jesus Christ. We believe He resides in every Christian providing comfort, guidance, and instruction. (John 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26, 27; John 16:9-14; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; Galatians 5:22-26)

Man

We believe original man, Adam, was created holy and sinless in nature; and that of his own volition, he transgressed against God and fell from that blessed and holy state. We believe the consequence of that action resulted in man being utterly void of holiness and given over to the gratification of the world, Satan, and his own sinful passions. While we believe man naturally gravitates toward sin, he is not forced to sin. Man’s depravity is his desire, and he is therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without excuse or defense. Man cannot see nor enter the kingdom of God until he is born again. (Genesis 2:7, 8, 15-25; Genesis 3:16-19; Genesis 6:5; Romans 1:19-25; Romans 3:9-18; Romans 5:12-19; Romans 7:18, 23-25; Ephesians 2:1; Titus 3:5-6)

Salvation

We believe man’s salvation from eternal judgment is wholly a work of God’s grace through Christ’s atoning death and resurrection. It is not the work of man, his efforts, or human ceremony. We believe man becomes a new creation by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. We believe man enters into relationship with God through faith and repentance – both gifts from God. (John 3:16; Romans 3:24; Romans 6:23; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5; Romans 2:4; Romans 12:3)

The Church

We believe the Body of Christ – the Church – is comprised of all persons living and dead who have been joined to Christ through faith in His atonement and baptized by the Holy Spirit into His Body. This relates believers to one another spiritually regardless of other distinctions. We believe the Bible affirms the local church as a God-ordained instrument for worship, discipline, spiritual edification, and encouragement. We also believe the Scriptures warn that the assembling together of God’s people is not to be forsaken. (Romans 12:4, 5; Ephesians 2:15, 16, 19-22; Ephesians 4:1-3; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 10:25)

Christian Conduct

We believe the Christian should live for the glory of God and the well-being of his fellow man being motivated by love and empowered by the Holy Spirit; that his conduct should be blameless and that he should seek to realize the full stature of maturity in Christ. (Matthew 22:37-40; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Ephesians 4:11-16; Ephesians 5:1-16; Philippians 3:7-17)

The Ordinances

We believe the Lord Jesus committed two ordinances to the church – baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe baptism is the immersion of the believer in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe baptism symbolizes the believer’s death to sin and new life in Christ. We believe the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His atoning death. We believe these ordinances are to be practiced and observed until Christ’s return. (1 Corinthians 10:31; Romans 12:1-3; Hebrews 12:1-2; John 14:15, 23, 24; 1 John 2:3-6; 2 Corinthians 9:6-9; Colossians 1:9, 10)

Church Government

We believe the New Testament teaches that a local church is to be governed by a plurality of elders. The Bible requires elders to be faithful, "one-woman" kind of men, lead their own households well, are spiritually mature, above reproach and able to teach. We believe the position of pastor is that of an elder. We believe in a vocational (full-time ministerial staff) / bi-vocational (serves as an elder but is employed outside of the church) eldership. We believe the deacon position is a non-governmental "helps" ministry. Deacons report to the elders and "help" them minister to the congregation by performing and/or administering specific areas of responsibility delegated by the elders. (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; Acts 6:1-6)

Family Government

We believe God has ordained the husband as the head of his wife; that he is accountable to God for the spiritual state of everyone in his household; that he is responsible for the protection and provision of his family; and, that he is to love his wife sacrificially as Christ loved the church. We believe God calls the wife to minister to her husband and children; to be a homemaker, managing her home well; that her virtues for carrying out her functions are to include generosity, hospitality, dignity, wisdom, and faithfulness. We believe children are to honor and obey their parents. We believe God has charged the husband and wife to train their children with a godly understanding of the world in which they live. To this end, a thoroughly Christian education is essential. (Ephesians 5:22-33; Proverbs 31:10-31; 1 Timothy 5:8; Titus 2:3-5; Ephesians 6:1-4; Deuteronomy 6:1-6; Psalm 78:1-8; Proverbs 1:8-9)

Civil Government

We believe civil government is divinely appointed for the purposes of God; that magistrates are to be prayed for, honored, and obeyed except in the case where civil authorities directly overstep the boundaries of God’s will as clearly defined in the Scriptures. The Christian’s first allegiance is to Christ, the Lord. (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:17; 1 Timothy 2:1, 2; Acts 4:18-20)