Statement of Faith

Holy Bible
The Bible is the Holy Scripture given by God and is the final authority in defining a Christian’s beliefs. These Holy writings make up the 66 books of the OT & NT. The scriptures are God breathed, alive, and infallible. Obedience to God’s sacred Word, revealed by the Holy Spirit is essential in following Jesus Christ. (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Proverbs 30:5; Romans 16:25-26; Deuteronomy 4:2, 6, 17:19; Exodus 34:27;  Psalms 19:7-8 119:89 119:105, Hebrews 4:12, Revelation 22:7 & 18-19)

Godhead
There is one God who is the creator of all things, manifested in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are coequal and co-eternal. (Genesis 1:1; Matthew 3:16-17; Romans 1:20; Colossians 2:9; 1 John 5:7)

Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God. On earth, Jesus was fully God and fully man and lived a perfect, sinless life. He performed miracles, died on the cross to save mankind and atoned for our sins through the shedding of his blood. He rose from the dead on the third day, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return again in power and glory. (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 53:5; Matthew 16:16; Mark 1:11; Luke 4:18; John 1:1, John 8:38 John 10:30; John 14:9; John 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:16; Philippians 2:5-11; Acts 20:28; Hebrews 12:2; Titus 2:13)

Virgin Birth
Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, therefore, He is the Son of God. (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-35 Isaiah 7:14; Hebrews 1:5-6)

Redemption
God created the first human beings in His image and made them good. Through their disobedience, death entered the world, they were separated from God and His gift of eternal life. Man’s only hope of salvation is through the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (Genesis 1:26-27; 5:2, Genesis 3, Ephesians 1:7, Romans 5:12-21, Romans 3:24)

Salvation
God’s free gift made available to all people by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. When a person repents, believes and confesses that Jesus is Lord, God saves them from the consequences of sin including God’s wrath and eternal judgment. (John 3:16-17; Ephesians 2:1-9; Romans 10:9-10,13; Acts 4:12; Titus 3:5; 1 Thess 1:10)

Repentance
The Bible teaches that repentance is our heart responding to God to turn away from sin and follow Jesus Christ. Because of God’s gift of repentance, we receive the forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38, Acts 20:21, Acts 3:19, 2 Timothy 2:25, 2 Corinthians 7:10)

Sanctification
At salvation, a believer is made Holy and set apart unto God through Christ. Through the christian’s lifelong commitment and surrendering to God’s word and His Holy Spirit, God transforms the Christian and develops Christ’s character in them. (2 Corinthians 3:18 Romans 8:29-30 Hebrews 12:1-2; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 4:7 & 5:23-24; John 3:30) 

Baptism in the Holy Spirit
God the Father pours out His Spirit and immerses the believer, empowering them to be a witness and preach the good news of Jesus Christ. (Acts 1:5, 1:8 2:1-4, 2:17, 4:31, 8:14-17, 11:15-17, 19:1-6, John 1:33 Joel 2:28-29)

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts in every believer, to build and sanctify the church and confirm the power of the gospel as a witness to the world. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire and minister these gifts to others as given by God.  These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of biblical parameters. (Ephesians 4:8; Hebrews 2:4; 2 Timothy 1:6; 1 Peter 4:10; 1 Corinthians 1:7; Romans 1:11; Romans 12:6-8; James 1:17; 1 Corinthians 12 & 14:1)

Resurrection
Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead 3 days after his death on the cross. Christ’s resurrection means all will rise and will stand before Him on judgment day. He will separate the saved to eternal life in Heaven with God and the unsaved to eternal death and separation without God. (Luke 24:23, 36-39, 45-46; John 2:19-22, 5:28-29, 11:25-26; 20:26-28, 21:1; Acts 1:3, 24:15; 1 Corinthians 15:12-17, 12-17, 42-44, 51-54; Philippians 3:20-21; Romans 8:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16)

The Church
The body of believers that meets together to worship and experience the presence of God to be edified, trained, equipped and sent out on mission to preach the gospel by the power and counsel of the Holy Spirit. Composed of diverse and unified members, the church functions in the world as the body and bride of Christ. (Acts 2:42-47; Romans 12:4-5; Eph 1:22; Hebrews 10:24-25)

Second Coming
No one knows the day or the hour when Jesus Christ will literally and personally return to earth to gather His church. Those that are alive will be caught up, those dead will be resurrected unto Christ. The responsibility of believers in Christ is to prepare themselves for His glorious return.  (Matthew 24:30, 42-44; Acts 1:10-11; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 22:20

Marriage
Marriage is a representation of how the Lord loves His church, the Bride of Christ. The marriage relationship between husband and wife is a lifelong covenant to be held in highest honor. (Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:22-27; Hebrews 13:4; Revelation 21:2)

Heaven
Heaven, also called paradise, is the promised eternal dwelling place and kingdom for all believers in Jesus Christ. (Luke 23:43; Matthew 25:1; 2 Corinthians 5:1-8; Revelation 22:1-5)

Hell
A place of eternal torment, where unbelievers dwell forever facing wrath and separation from God with the devil and the fallen angels. (Matthew 13:50, 25:41; Hebrews 9:27; John 3:36; Revelation 20:10, 13-15)

Two Sacraments:

Water Baptism
After the decision to follow Jesus Christ, the new believer is commanded by the word of God to be immersed in water in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This step of obedience is an outward expression of the inward commitment to Jesus Christ and represents His death, burial and resurrection. (John 1:31; Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21; Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:27)

The Lord’s Supper
A time of communion with God when the elements representing the body and blood of Jesus Christ are taken in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross until He returns. (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-29)