Statement of Faith

 

 

• We believe in one true God, consisting of three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

  • Matthew 28:19  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  (also 2 Corinthians 13:14, Genesis 1:26, 1 Peter 1:2, & Matthew 3:16-17)

 

• We believe in the Holy Scriptures as the inspired and infallible Word of God, constituted in Old and New Testaments, written by men as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.  These scriptures are without error.

  • 2 Peter 1:20-21  Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation.  For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.  (Also, Matthew 5:18 & Romans 7:12)

 

• We believe that because of Adam’s fall, all mankind is born with a sin nature, except for the person of Jesus (Colossians 2:9).  Because of this sin nature, Adam’s descendants can do nothing of their own volition to overcome their inherited depravity.

  • Romans 5:12  Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.

  • Colossians 2:9  For in Him dwells all the fullness of deity in bodily form.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

 

• We believe that salvation is by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, and in Christ alone.  It is the regenerative work of God through His Holy Spirit, by which He calls, transforms, sanctifies, and seals believers to eternal security through faith.

  • Ephesians 2:8-9  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

  • John 14:6   Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

  • Jude 24  To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy.
     

• We believe that in God’s eyes, sinners are justified only by God ascribing the righteousness of Christ as a substitution for the sinner’s own standing.

  • Romans 3:22-26  This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.  There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.   He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished--he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies the man who has faith in Jesus.

 

• We believe that good works are a result of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which every true believer has, working in us to make us more like Jesus Christ and to guide us in truth.  However, when the believer sins, he has forgiveness of sins through confession with Jesus Christ as his high priest.

  • Romans 8:16  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.

  • Galatians 4:6  Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."

  • Galatians 5:16,18 & 22  So I say, live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature...But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law...But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.

  • Also, Hebrews 10:19-22 and 1 John 1:9

 

• We believe that Jesus Christ will return to earth at the moment of God’s perfect timing and that all who serve Him should remain ever vigilant for that return.

  • Matthew 24:44  So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

  • 2 Peter 3:10-11  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.  The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.  Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?  You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.

 

• We believe that the dead will rise and face a coming day of judgment. Those judged to be secure in Christ will live forever in the glory of heaven.  Those not secured by Christ's substitutionary payment will suffer eternal punishment in hell.

  • Revelation 20:11-13  Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it.  Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.  And I saw the dead , great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.  Another book was opened, which is the book of life.  The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.  The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done.  Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.  The lake of fire is the second death.  If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

  • 2 Peter 3:13  But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.