Statement of Faith

(Matthew 7:24-27, James 1:21-25)

I. WE BELIEVE that there is one living and true God ( Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 ; Malachi 2:10) eternally existing in three Persons, The Godhead (Acts 17:29; Romans 1:20; Colossians 2:9) the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory (Matthew 28:19 ; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:4-6; Revelation 1:4-6; see also Isaiah 48:16); that this triune God created all (Gen 1:1; Romans 11:36), upholds all (Isaiah 40:25,26), and governs all (Daniel 4:25,26,32,35; Psalm 115:3; Eph 1:11; Acts 15:18). We believe in the distinctions within the Godhead (Matthew 3:16, 17), but that these three are One. (Note the word “Us” in Genesis 1:26, 3:22, 11:7; Isaiah 6:8; see 1 John 5:7 KJV.)

II. WE BELIEVE in GOD THE FATHER, an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness (Exodus 28:36, 39:30; Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8), wisdom (Romans 11:33), power and love; that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men (Psalm 145:8,9); that He hears and answers prayer (Jeremiah 33:3; Luke 11:5-13; James 5:16; 1 Peter 5:7); and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ (John 1:12; 3:16, 4:23,24; Acts 2:38; 5:8-12; 8:26-38; 10:38-43; 16:30,31; Romans 10:8-13). Jesus taught us to call God “Our Father” (Luke 11:2), and we as His adopted children now call Him “Abba” (Romans 8:15: Gal 4:6).

III. WE BELIEVE in JESUS CHRIST, that He is God the Son (John 1:1,14), God’s “only begotten Son” (John 3:18, 3:16), fully God, fully man (Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 2:10;Isaiah 9:6) conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matt 1:20; Luke 1:35).  We believe in His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14; Matt 1:23), sinless life (Heb 4:15; Heb 7:25), miracles and teachings (John 20:30,31; Acts 10:38), His substitutionary atoning death (2 Corinthians 5:21;1 Peter 1:18-21; Luke 24:44-47; John 1:29, 3:14-17; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4), bodily resurrection (John 20:27; Luke 24:36-39), ascension into heaven (Acts 1:9-11; Luke 24:51), perpetual intercession for His people as High Priest, Advocate (Hebrews 7:25;1 John 2:1), and Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 8:6; 9:15). We believe in Christ’s personal, visible return to earth (Revelation 1:7; Zechariah 14:4; Daniel 7:13, 14; Matthew 24:27-31).

IV.  WE BELIEVE in the HOLY SPIRIT, Who came forth from the Father (Acts 1:4; 2:16-18) and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:7-9), and to regenerate (Ezekiel 36:26,27; Titus 3:5), sanctify (1 Peter 1:2), seal (Ephesians 1:13,14; 4:30), and empower for ministry (Luke 10:19,20; 24:49; Acts 1:8) all who believe in Christ. We believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16), and that He is an abiding Helper, Teacher and Guide (John 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:13,14; 1 John 2:20,27). We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and in the exercise of all the Biblical gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12; 1 Corinthians 14; Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:8-11; 1 Peter 4:10,11).

V.  WE BELIEVE that the GODHEAD as found in Genesis 1:1 is our CREATOR (Eccl 12:1; Isaiah 40:28; 1 Peter 4:19) who created everything in six literal days. This creation is a visible display of His eternal power (Romans 1:20) and glory (Psalm 19:1-2). Scriptures teach that God created out of nothing all that exists, including every animal according to its kind, apart from any form of evolution whatsoever (including theistic evolution and the “gap” theory). Male and female, for example, were created just as they appear today, (Mark 10:6; Gen 1:27) and the flesh of animals and the flesh of man have always been as they were created. (1 Cor 15:39) Mankind was created to bring our Creator pleasure (Rev 4.11), and our highest joy is found in knowing Him (John 17:3) personally through His Son Jesus Christ. The refusal to acknowledge God as Creator and Savior leads to reprobate thinking and living (Romans 1:18-32). When God fulfills His eternal purpose and final judgment (Rev 20), He will create a new heaven and earth (2 Peter 3:13; Rev 21:1), this first creation being destroyed (Heb 1:10,11; 2 Peter 3:10-12; Rev 21:1).

VI.  WE BELIEVE that the SCRIPTURES of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, fully inspired without error in the original manuscripts, and the infallible rule of faith and practice, to be interpreted in context and taken literally, unless written in obviously symbolic or apocalyptic fashion. Scripture interprets Scripture. (Daniel 10:21; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Luke 24:27, 32, 45; 2 Peter 3:16; John 10:35). Jesus Himself said, “It is written” (Matt 4:4, 7, 10).

VII.  WE BELIEVE that all MEN after the fall (Gen 3:6-8) are sinners by nature (Psalm 51:5; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Ephesians 2:1-3) and choice (John 3:19; 2 Timothy 3:4), and, therefore, are under condemnation; that God regenerates by the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26,27) those who repent of their sins (Mark 1:15) and confess Jesus Christ as Lord (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30,31) and are at that time baptized into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). We do believe in the continual filling or refilling of The Spirit (Acts 2:4; 4:31), and empowerment of The Spirit of God as we live lives of worship (Ephesians 5:18,19) and walk in obedience to The Lord (1 Peter 1:14-16). We adhere firmly to the biblical teaching of God’s sovereignty (Deuteronomy 29:29; Psalm 103:19) and man’s responsibility (Deuteronomy 30:19, 20; Joshua 24:14,15; Galatians 6:7,8). We avoid any theological systems of belief that go beyond the written Word and thereby divide the body of Christ.

VIII.  WE BELIEVE in the universal CHURCH, the body of The Lord Jesus Christ, of which Jesus is the Head (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22), and all regenerated persons (John 3:3-8; 1 Peter 1:23) are members. (John 17:20-23; Romans 12:4,5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Eph 1:10, 2:13-22; Colossians 3:15). Christ gave Himself for His Church (Eph 5:25), which is His bride (Revelation 19:7). We are not a denominational church, nor are we opposed to denominations as such, only their over-emphasis of the doctrinal differences on non-salvation, non-sin issues that have led to the division of the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:10-13; Philippians 2:1,2).

IX.  WE BELIEVE that the Lord Jesus Christ committed two ORDINANCES to the Church: 1) *water baptism and 2) the Lord’s Supper. We believe in baptism by immersion which follows conversion and faith in The Lord Jesus (Acts 2; 8; 10; 16), and communion open to all believers. (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:3,4; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29) * We do not believe in baptismal regeneration. The clear teaching in the light of every scripture is that we are saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 2:8-9; Romans 3:20-28; John 3:15-18; Galatians 3:22-26).

X.  WE BELIEVE also in the LAYING ON OF HANDS for the empowering of the Holy Spirit, for ordination of pastors, elders and deacons, and for receiving gifts of the Spirit or healing as led by The Spirit of God (Acts 6:5,6, 8:13-17, 13:1-3; 1 Timothy 4:14, 5:22; 2 Timothy 1:6; James 5:14; Mark 6:13). We believe that God in His providence may impart this work to His people apart from the laying on of hands, should He so design it (Acts 2; 10:44,45 for examples).

 XI.  WE BELIEVE in the personal, visible RETURN OF CHRIST to earth and the establishment of His Kingdom, in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, and eternal blessing of the righteous and endless suffering of the wicked (Zechariah 14:4; Daniel 7:13,14; Matthew 24:27-31; Revelation 1:7; Revelation 20).

XII.  WE BELIEVE that there will be a time of great tribulation (Revelation 6-19; Matt 24; Mark 13; Luke 21), known as Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7); we believe that this is the 70th week of Daniel (Daniel 9:26,27), and that it is during this time in which God will deal directly again with His chosen people, the nation Israel, and before which time the Church will be raptured (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18;1 Corinthians 15:50-53). We do not believe in Replacement or Kingdom Theology, which states that the church has replaced Israel as God’s chosen people (Jeremiah 31:35, 36; 33:25,26).

Our supreme desire is to know The Father through The Lord Jesus Christ and to be conformed into His image by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Revised & edited 11/2/2009