Our Statement of Faith

After a brief discussion, our team unanimously agreed there was no reason for us to make any changes to our statement of faith. We all believe this is the most important part of the document, and the one element of the document that should be more timeless than the others. Therefore, our hope is that the congregation will affirm the same statement of faith we currently hold.

Statement of Faith (cited verses available in formal version)

THE BIBLE

We believe the Holy Bible, the entire sixty-six Books of the Old and New Testaments, to be the verbally inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, and preserved by God's care as the complete revelation of God's will for our faith and practice . The Bible is to be interpreted literally according to the customary rules of grammar.

GOD

We believe in the one true God1, infinitely perfect2 in every way, Creator3 and Sustainer4 of all things, eternally existing5 in three equal Persons6: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He is perfect in holiness7 and justice8, truth9 and grace10, wisdom11 and power12, mercy13 and love14.

A. THE FATHER: We believe that the Father is the First Person1 of the Trinity. The Son and the Spirit are equal2 with the Father, but voluntarily submit3 to His will. The Father is an invisible spirit4 who is present everywhere5 at all times.

B. THE SON: We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, is both fully God1 and fully man2, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit3 and born of the virgin Mary4. He grew and developed as a man5, without sin6. He died by crucifixion to pay the penalty for mankind's sin7, was buried8, rose bodily from the grave on the third day9, and ascended to Heaven10 where, at the Father's right hand,11 He prays12 for and defends13 His children. He will return14 and ultimately establish His kingdom on the earth.15

C. THE HOLY SPIRIT: We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Third Person1 of the Trinity who convicts the world of sin2, and who regenerates3, baptizes4, indwells5, seals6, and gives spiritual gifts7 for service to believers at the moment of their salvation. Some miraculous gifts of the Spirit served as temporary confirming signs8 during the formative years of the church,9 and gradually passed out of use10 as the New Testament revelation was completed.11 He further sanctifies12, comforts13, leads14, empowers15, teaches16, and produces Christ-like character17 in believers who surrender to His control.18

ANGELS

We believe that angels are spirit beings1, made by God2 before the creation of the world3. They are personal4, powerful5, and highly organized6. The good angels perform God's will7 including providing special care for believers8. Satan was created holy9 but fell through pride and evil ambition10. Those angels who followed Satan's rebellion11 became his agents for evil12 in the world in opposition to God, His work, and His people13. Believers are warned against the great subtlety14 and danger of Satan's continual efforts to destroy them15. Satan and his demons, though very powerful16, are under the authority of God17, may be resisted and overcome by Christians18, and will ultimately be judged and condemned eternally by God19.

MANKIND

We believe that man, the culmination of the six day creation of all things1, was made directly by God2 in His own image3. As a result of the sin of Adam4, all men are sinners by nature5 and by choice6, and are therefore separated7 from the favor and fellowship of God, spiritually lost and justly condemned to eternal punishment in hell8.

SALVATION

We believe that God the Son shed His blood to pay for man's sin1 and was raised from the dead to provide perfect righteousness2 for those who believe3. Salvation is a free gift4 of God's love5, mercy6, and grace7, which cannot be earned by any virtue or work of man8, but may only be received by personal faith9 in Jesus Christ. All those who repent10 of their sin and believe in and receive11 Christ as Savior are completely forgiven12, born into the family of God13, and receive eternal life14. All those who are genuinely saved are kept eternally secure15 by God, and should demonstrate their salvation by living in obedience to God16.

THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS

We believe that God has made every believer a priest1 with direct access by prayer into His presence2 through Jesus Christ alone3. With the help of the Holy Spirit, every believer has the privilege and responsibility to personally study4, understand5, and obey6 the Scriptures.

THE CHURCH

A. THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH: We believe that the Universal Church1is made up of all true believers in Jesus Christ from the beginning of the church on the day of Pentecost2 until the completion of the church at the Rapture3.

B. THE LOCAL CHURCH: We believe that local churches are to be made up of baptized believers1, with Biblical offices2 (pastors3 and deacons4). The purpose of the local church is: (1) to meet together5 for worship6, fellowship7, teaching8, and edification9; (2) to spread the Gospel throughout the world10 through local evangelism and global missionary outreach; and (3) to practice the Biblical ordinances11 (baptism12 and the Lord's Supper13). Under the authority of Christ, who is the Head of the Church14, the local church is to be governed by the congregation15, independent of any external religious authority16. Pastors are given to the church by Christ to provide leadership17, pray18, teach the Word of God19, and train believers for service20. The church and civil government21 are both established by God with distinct and separate spheres of responsibility.

THE ORDINANCES

We believe that Christ gave the church two ordinances as memorials of important Biblical truths:

A. BAPTISM is by the immersion1 in water of confessing believers2. It pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, and consequently, the Christian's death to sin and new life of righteousness3.

B. The LORD'S SUPPER pictures the death of Christ through the elements portraying His broken body and shed blood1. Following self-examination2 and confession of sin, believers partake of Communion in remembrance of His death until He returns3.

THE FUTURE

We believe that the Bible, literally interpreted, predicts the following sequence of future end-time events:

A. The RAPTURE: at any moment1, Christ will come in the clouds for His Church -- resurrecting church-age dead believers2 and translating living believers3 to meet Him in the air and return to Heaven with Him4.

B. The JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST: the works1, words2, thoughts, and motives3 of believers will be examined4 in Heaven resulting in gain or loss of reward based on their service for Christ5.

C. The TRIBULATION1: during these seven years2 after the Rapture, God's judgments will be poured out on earth3 to punish men's sins and to bring the nation of Israel back to God4. The Antichrist will rise to world power5 until his armies are defeated by Christ at the Battle of Armageddon6.

D. The REVELATION: Christ will return to earth1 with the armies of Heaven2 to defeat His enemies3, resurrect the pre-church and Tribulation believers4, and establish His kingdom of peace on earth for a thousand years (the MILLENNIUM)5.

E. The GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT: 1the works of all the unsaved of all time will be examined to determine the degree of their eternal punishment in Hell (the Lake of Fire).

F. The ETERNAL STATE: 1God's people will live in the new Heaven and new earth in which they will worship and serve Him forever in perfect fellowship, joy, and fulfillment.