STATEMENT OF FAITH

WHAT WE BELIEVE

ABOUT GOD

God is the loving Creator of all that exists, both seen and unseen. God is eternal and completely good, completely just, and completely holy, knowing all things, and having all power and majesty. God exists as the Trinity, in three persons, yet one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God invites us into a relationship of faith, friendship, learning, and service to Himself through the work of Christ His Son on the cross and through the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

Genesis 1:1; Matthew 28:19; John 14:6-9, 15-17, 16:7-15; II Corinthians 13:14; I John 4:9-10

ABOUT JESUS

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through Him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He existed before anything else and He holds all creation together. God in all His fullness was pleased to live in Christ (fully human and fully divine) and through Him God reconciled everything to Himself. He was born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, was crucified for the sins of all, was buried, rose from the dead, and ascended to heaven. Forgiveness of our sins and right relationship with God are found through Him alone.

Colossians 1:15-20; Matthew 1:18-23; Hebrews 7:26; I Peter 2:22; I John 3:4-5; I Corinthians 5:21, 15:4; I Peter 2:24; Acts 1:9-11; Philippians 2:9-11; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 4:12

ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT

God the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin and draws us to the Father. He baptizes us into the body of Christ, indwelling every believer. He leads us to the truth. He counsels us. He teaches us. He empowers us to witness. He continually fills us for living and walking in the Spirit. He distributes gifts to every believer. The fruit of the Spirit is the by-product of a Spirit-filled life and evidence of spiritual maturity.

John 14:16, 14:26, 16:8, 16:13; I Corinthians 12:4-13, Acts 1:8, 4:31; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 5:18

ABOUT THE BIBLE

The Bible is infallible and the authoritative rule of faith and conduct for all humanity. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses His word to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.
 
II Timothy 3:15-17; I Thessalonians 2:13; II Peter 1:21

ABOUT HUMANITY

We were all created in the image of God to have fellowship with Him but became alienated in that relationship through an act of sin. That sin committed by Adam & Eve is referred to as original sin and became part of the human condition. As a result, we are incapable of regaining a right relationship with God through our own efforts.

Genesis 2:17, 2:26, 3:6, 3:14-19, 3:23, Romans 3:23, 5:12-19; Ephesians 2:11-18

ABOUT THE CHURCH

The church is the body of Christ, of which Jesus Christ is the head. The members of the church are those who have trusted by faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross. While the church is of divine creation, it is made up of imperfect people. It will not reach perfection until the Lord’s return. The purpose of the church is to worship God, evangelize the world and to equip the community of faith for ministry.

isaiah 53:6; Mark 16:15‑16; Romans 3:23; I Corinthians 1:21, 12:27

ABOUT SALVATION

The only means of salvation (forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with the Father) is Jesus Christ. He died on the cross to pay the penalty of our sins and He offers each of us a pardon for our sins and desires all to become children of God. Salvation is available when we recognize our own sinfulness (repentance: turn from our sins) and we place our trust in Christ’s work on the cross.

Acts 4:12; John 1:12, 14:6; I Peter 2:24; Hebrews 9:26

ABOUT SALVATION

The only means of salvation (forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with the Father) is Jesus Christ. He died on the cross to pay the penalty of our sins and He offers each of us a pardon for our sins and desires all to become children of God. Salvation is available when we recognize our own sinfulness (repentance: turn from our sins) and we place our trust in Christ’s work on the cross.

Acts 4:12; John 1:12, 14:6; I Peter 2:24; Hebrews 9:26
  • When we put our faith in Christ, it triggers a spiritual chain reaction:
  • We become the Temple of the Holy Spirit. (I Corinthians 6:19)
  • Our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (Revelation 3:5)
  • We become citizens of heaven. (Philippians 3:20-21)
  • We are given eternal life. (John 3:16)
  • We are adopted and become children of God. (Galatians 4:4-7)
  • Our sins are forgiven and forgotten. (Hebrews 8:12)
  • We are credited with the righteousness of Christ. (Romans 4:4-5)
  • We are born-again. God takes ownership of us. (John 3:3; I Corinthians 6:20)
  • We receive an eternal inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14; I Peter 1:3-5)
  • We become a new creation and are being transformed into the image of Christ. (II Corinthians 3:18, 5:17)

ABOUT BAPTISM IN WATER

The scripture teaches that all who repent and believe in Christ are to be baptized. Baptism is a public profession of faith in Christ and identification with the body of Christ. It is spiritually symbolic of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. It is a declaration to all that we have died to sin and have been raised with Christ to walk in newness of life.

Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4; Galatians 3:27-28

ABOUT BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

The baptism is the Holy Spirit is a unique experience apart from belief, from baptism, from repentance.   It is evidenced by the outward demonstration of God’s power and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.   The believer is empowered to speak in tongues, interpret tongues, prophesy, and move in all the manifestations of the Holy Spirit.   The purpose of these gifts is to edify the church and to witness of Jesus Christ to the world.  

Acts 1:8; 2:3-4; I Corinthians chapters 12,13, and 14

ABOUT COMMUNION

The Lord’s Supper consists of two elements: the bread and cup. These elements are symbolic of the body and blood of Christ and when we receive these elements, we are remembering Christ’s death and payment for our sin. Communion is a memorial of Christ’s sufferings on the cross and a celebration of our salvation.

Luke 22:14-20; I Corinthians 11:23-26

ABOUT CHRIST'S RETURN

We believe in the physical second coming of Christ (the time for this cannot be known or predicted) in which He will restore all things. We believe in the resurrection of the dead for judgment and in the resurrection of the dead in Christ and transformation of every living believer for life everlasting.

Matthew 24; Revelation 19- 21; I Corinthians 15; I Thessalonians 4:13 ‑18

ABOUT MARRIAGE, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY

God creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. Rejection of one’s biological sex rejects the image of God within that person. (Genesis 1:26‑27)

The term marriage has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as described in Scripture. (Genesis 2:18‑25)
God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman married to each other. God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. (I Corinthians 6:18, 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4)

Any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God. (Matthew 15:18‑20; I Corinthians 6:9‑10)

God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:19‑21; Romans 10:9-10; I Corinthians 6:9-11)

We must show compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity to everyone. We will not accept hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual. (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31)

ABOUT LIFE

God creates all human life in His image. Human life is sacred and of immeasurable worth in all its dimensions, including the pre-born baby, the poor, the orphan, the widow, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are called to defend, protect, and value all human life.

Genesis 1:26‑27; Matthew 25:34-46, Luke 14:12-14; James 1:27

ABOUT BIBLICAL AUTHORITY

The Board is the final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application regarding our faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline.