DECLARATION OF FAITH
SCRIPTURES
We believe in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as verbally inspired by God and inerrant in the original writing, and of supreme and final authority in faith and life. (I Tim. 3:16,17; II Peter 1:20-21)
THE TRINITY
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit - Each being of the same essence and actively involved in creation and redemption. (Genesis 1:1,2; Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:18-19; John 1:1-3; II Cor. 13:14; Eph. 1:2-6; Col. 1:15-16; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 1:1-3)
GOD THE FATHER
We believe that the Father is the first person of the Trinity. He is the planner, sustainer, and director of the world. He is the author of salvation and the father of His people. (I Chron. 29:11-12; Psalms 100:3; Daniel 2:21; Daniel 4:34-35; Ephesians 1:3-6; Hebrews 12:5-9)
GOD THE SON
We believe that Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity is the eternal Son of God and the virgin born son of Mary. He lived a sinless life, died on the Cross as a substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of the world, rose bodily from the grace and ascended into Heaven where he now intercedes on behalf of all believers and will personally return visibly to establish his worldwide kingdom. (Matt. 1:18; John 1:1-18; Romans 1:4; Romans 6:4-10; II Cor. 5:17-21; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 4:14-16; I Peter 2:21-24)
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity, is God who executes the divine will and reveals Jesus Christ. The Spirit was active in the creation of the universe, the inspiration of the Scripture, the virgin birth of Jesus Christ and the redemption of mankind. The Spirit baptizes, indwells, and gifts every believer. (Gen. 1:2; Matt. 1:18; John 3:5-7; John 16:7-9; I Cor. 3:16-17; I Cor 6:19; I Cor. 12:4-13; Gal. 3:27-29; I Peter 4:10-11; II Peter 1:20-21)
MAN
We believe that man was created in the image of God but through choice and sinful inheritance, became separated from God, under his righteous judgment and in need of personal redemption. Every man will face judgment, the unbeliever will be committed to eternal conscious punishment in hell. The believer will enter the eternal state of glory with God. (Gen. 1:26-28; Gen. 3:1-19; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3; Revelations 20-22)
MARRIAGE
Marriage is always to be between one man and one woman only. Homosexual unions and same-sex marriages, even if sanctioned by the Civil authorities, are aberrations of God’s law (Leviticus 18:22, 20:13; Deuteronomy 23:18; Romans 1:27; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Timothy 1:10 ); neither is it lawful for any man to have more than one wife at the same time, nor for any woman to have more than one husband at the same time. (Genesis 2:24, Malachi 2:13-15, Matthew 19:5-6)
SATAN
We believe that Satan is a created being who is the declared enemy of God and man. He was judged and defeated by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ yet he still seeks to supplant God and to destroy mankind. He will be consigned to everlasting punishment at the final judgment. (Gen. 3:1-7; John 12:31; II Cor. 11:13-15; Eph. 6:12; Col. 2:13-15; I Peter 5:8; Rev. 12:9-10; Rev. 2:10)
SALVATION
We believe that salvation is based on the elective grace of God and was purchased by Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection, which is to be proclaimed to all men. This salvation is received by grace through the gift of faith apart from any human effort and results in the believer’s eternal security. (John 1:12; John 3:16; John 10:27-29; Rom. 5:8-19; Rom. 8:28-30; Rom. 10:8-13; Eph. 1:4-5; Eph. 2:8-10; Titus 3:5-6)
JUSTIFICATION
Those that God, by His Holy Spirit, supernaturally and effectually calls to newness of life, He also freely justifies. This He does not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins and by accounting and accepting them as righteous. This acceptance is not for anything wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ’s sake alone. It is not achieved by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other obedience to them as their righteousness; but by imputing Christ’s meritorious active obedience unto the whole law, and passive obedience in His death for their whole and sole righteousness. Christ and His righteousness are thus received by faith alone. No man has faith of himself; it is the gift of God. This faith is the sole instrument of justification; yet it is never alone in the person justified, but is always accompanied with all other saving graces. It is not a dead faith, but necessarily produces fruit in sanctification. (Romans 3:21-31, 4:5-8, 5:17-19; Ephesians 1:7, 2:8-10; Philippians 3:8-9; James 2:14-26)
THE CHURCH
We believe that all who place their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately baptized by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual body, the Church. The members of this body are directed to associate with local assemblies for the purpose of worship, fellowship, discipleship evangelism and missions. (Matt. 16:18; Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:41-47; I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 2:19-22; Eph. 4:11-16; Heb. 10:25)
THE SACRAMENTS
We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ has ordained two sacramental observances for His church, namely Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These are signs and confirmations of the saving grace of God in the work of his son Jesus Christ. These do not of themselves accomplish the salvation of the participant, though they are the ordinary means by which the atoning grace of Christ is signified and confirmed. These sacraments are commanded by Christ to be observed by his Church, and are to be given due place in the worship services.
*We believe that Christ is in no way present corporeally (physically or bodily) in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, but that he is present spiritually and that the believer truly partakes of him by faith. (1 Cor. 10:16)
*We believe that only those who have made a credible profession of faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ may be considered members of the covenant community and are therefore the only proper recipients of the sacrament of baptism. (Matt. 28:19)
ESCHATOLOGY
We believe in the future return of Jesus Christ personally, bodily, and visibly to establish His kingdom, resurrect the dead, and execute the final judgment of all people, followed by the creation of a new heaven and a new earth. (Titus 2:13; Rev. 19:11-19; Rev. 20:11-14; Rev. 21,22)