Our Statement of Faith

What We Believe

• In essential beliefs — we have unity. “There is one Body and one Spirit...there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of us all...” Eph. 4:4-6

• In non-essential beliefs — we have liberty. “Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters... Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls... So then each of us will give an account of himself to God... So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.” Romans 14:1,4,12,22

• In all our beliefs — we show love. “...If I hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but also the very secrets of God, and if I have the faith that can move mountains — but have no love, I amount to nothing at all.” 1 Cor. 13:2 (Ph)

 

The Essentials We Believe:

1. About God

God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three are The Holy Trinity, co-equal and are one God.

Genesis 1:1,26,27, 3:22; Deut. 6:4; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14

2. About God the Father

God the Father, the first person of the Trinity, orders and disposes (puts into place) all things according to His own purpose and grace. As the absolute and highest ruler in the universe He is sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption. Because of His great love, He saves from sin all who come to Him through faith alone in Jesus Christ, and He relates Himself to His own as their Father.

Psalm 103:19;I Chronicles 29:11; John 1:18; Romans 11:33; I Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 1:3-6; Hebrews 4:13; I Peter 1:17.

3. About God the Son 

The second person of The Holy Trinity is Jesus Christ the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

Matthew 1:22, 23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14,15; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13

4. About God the Holy Spirit

The third person of The Holy Trinity is The Holy Spirit who is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer a spiritual gift (or gifts) when they are saved. As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily.

2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18

5. About the Bible

The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error.2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5

6. About Human Beings and the sin nature

People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by a sin nature as evidenced by a heart attitude of disobedience toward God which He called “sin”. This “sin nature” separates people from God and causes many problems in life, and results in eternal spiritual death.

Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1, 2; Ephesians 2:3 

7. About Salvation 

Salvation is God’s free gift to us which we must personally accept. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. We must be born again. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be born again and thus be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved.

Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 1:12; 3:1-16; 14:6; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1 

8. About Eternal Security

Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. If you have been genuinely saved, that is born again, you cannot “lose” it, for salvation means to be born into God’s family as a new creature in Christ – literally a child of God. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is God’s grace and sustaining power that gives us this security.

John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25, 10:10,14; 1 Peter 1:3-5; II Cor. 5:17; I John 3:1

9. About Eternity

People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through repentance, confession, forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.

Matthew 3:2; John 3:16; John 14:17; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:17-18; Revelation 20:15; 1 Corinthians 2:7-9 

10. About Baptism and Communion

Baptism by immersion is an act of obedience to Christ’s command in Matthew 28;19-20. It symbolizes our identity with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection as declared in Romans 6:1-10. So for the believer it symbolizes death to the old life, and a resurrection to a new life in Christ.

Colossians 2:12; I Peter 3:21

Communion, or The Lord’s Supper is to be celebrated in memory of the sufferings of Christ and the promise of His return. All who have personally accepted Christ as Lord and Savior are invited to participate. All who participate in the Lord’s Supper are to examine themselves before they eat to insure open fellowship with God and their fellow believers.

I Corinthians 11:23-34; I Corinthians 10:16; Acts 2:42 

11. About Marriage and Sexuality

Out of God’s love for His creation, humankind, He established the marriage bond. God’s pattern for marriage is for it to be a faithful lifelong commitment between one man and one woman. This church defines “marriage” as a covenantal union of one man and one woman. Only marriage ceremonies consistent with this definition will be performed in this church or by our pastors. A civil government’s sanction of a union will be recognized as a legitimate marriage by this church only to the extent that it is consistent with this definition. 
Genesis 2:23-24; Malachi 2:13-15; Matthew 19:1-12; 1 Corinthians 7; Ephesians 5:22-33

 

We believe that God created humankind male and female (Genesis 1:27) which is biologically demonstrated at birth. We believe that changing the biological sex as determined at birth (male or female) is contrary to God’s design and will.

 

Legitimate sexual relations are exercised solely within the bounds of Biblical marriage. Sexual activities outside of marriage (referred to in the New Testament as “porneia”) including but not limited to, adultery, premarital sex, homosexuality, pedophilia, transgender sexual behavior, and pornography are inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible which is our guiding authority from God. Therefore, persons actively practicing such activities are not allowed to be a church member, staff member or leader of any sanctioned ministry of the church. 
Leviticus 18, Romans 1:24-32, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 18-20