Statement of Faith
I. THE SCRIPTURES
We believe the Bible, consisting of 66 Books of the Old and New Testaments (Covenants), is given by inspiration of God through the Holy Spirit and is inerrant in the originals and is wholly infallible. We recognize all Scripture as the supreme and final authority for the rules of faith and practice. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21)
II. THE TRINITY
We believe that there is one true, eternal God, perfect in all His attributes and Sovereign over all things, existing in three distinct Persons: the Father, the Son, (Jesus Christ or Messiah) and the Holy Spirit, equal in all respects. God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. (Matthew 3:16-17, 28: 8-19; John 15:26; Revelation 1:4-6)
III. GOD THE FATHER
We believe that God the Father is Perfect, Almighty, Eternal, Omnipresent, Omniscient, Absolutely Holy, Faithful and True, desiring a personal relationship with mankind. (John 4:23, 24)
IV. JESUS CHRIST
We believe Jesus Christ to be wholly God and wholly Man, the only begotten Son of God, who became man without ceasing to be God. He was conceived in Mary, a virgin, through the Holy Spirit. He lived a sinless life and died a vicarious and atoning death, shedding His precious blood for all mankind. We further believe in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension where He is now seated at the right hand of the Father as the only Mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5) and in His imminent personal return in power and glory. (John 1:1-14; Isaiah 7:14, 9:6, 53:1-12; Acts 4:12; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 20; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 4:14-16)
V. THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the divine, third Person of the Godhead, sent to indwell, guide, teach, and empower the believer and convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. (John 16:7-14; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 2:9-12, 3:16; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 1:13-14)
VI. MAN AND SALVATION
We believe that man was created in the image of God, but fell into sin and therefore is lost (separated from God). Only by repentance and through faith in Jesus Christ can he be saved from eternal punishment of sin in hell and receive eternal life. (Genesis 1:26-27, 2:7; Romans 2:5-16; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Corinthians 15:3; Romans 10:9; John 3:16; Philippians 1:6)
VII. THE CHURCH
We believe the church is composed of all who have been "born- again" through the Holy Spirit by faith in Jesus Christ, who is her Head. The mission of the church is to witness for Christ, meet as a body for worship, prayer, fellowship, edification through the Word of God, and for observance of the Lord's ordinances -- baptism and the Lord's Supper (Holy Communion). (1 Peter 2:9-10; Ephesians 1:22-23, 2:19-22, 4:11; 5:25-32; Acts 2:42)
We believe that the spiritual leadership of the church (Pastor, elder, deacon) are officers appointed to men in Scripture.
(1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16)
VIII. ANGELS
We believe that there is a great company of angels who serve God and are sent forth as ministering spirits to those who are heirs of salvation. (Luke 25:10; Ephesians 1:21; Hebrews 1:14; Revelations 7:12) We believe that there are a vast number of "fallen" angels, or demons, who, along with Lucifer, rebelled against God. Lucifer, known as Satan, the originator of sin, has been defeated at the Cross, judged and doomed to be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone for torment day and night forever and ever. (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19; 1 Timothy 3:6; Colossians 2:15; Revelations 20:1-3, 10)
IX. RESURRECTION
We believe in a bodily resurrection of the dead. Believers (those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ) pass immediately into His presence, remaining in conscious bliss, until reunited with their glorified bodies to be forever with the Lord in eternal glory. The unbelieving dead pass immediately into everlasting, punishment, and they shall be raised on the Judgment Day in bodies resurrected to face eternal conscious torment in hell. (Luke 16:19-26, 23:42; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Revelations 20:11-15)
X. CHRISTIAN LIVING
We believe that those who have accepted the redemption offered by Jesus Christ are immediately indwelt by the Holy Spirit and are called unto good works, unto separation from sin, to walk in a holy Christ-like life. (Romans 8:2, 4, 12-13; Galatians 5:16-23; Colossians 2:1-10; Ephesians 4:11)
XI. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
We believe in the imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth as He left it, visibly in person in the clouds, with power and great glory to set up His Kingdom on earth. (Ezekiel 37:21-28; Matthew 24:15-25, 46; Acts 15:16-17; Romans 11:25-27; Revelations 20:1-3)