STATEMENT OF FAITH
THE BIBLE
The Bible is sixty-six books written by at least forty authors over fifteen hundred years. The Bible has many themes, but one central theme is Jesus Christ’s person. (Matt. 5:18; Lk 24:44-49; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21). God inspired the biblical authors to convey the message of Jesus Christ. (Lk 24:44-49)
GOD
The Godhead exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; these three are distinct persons in one God. (Gen. 1:1, 26; Deut. 6:4; Mat. 28:19-20; John 4:24; 2 Cor. 13:14).
God is not three persons in one person (that would be a contradiction), but God is three persons in one Being.
This Being we call God, we sometimes call the “Godhead.” Many times we refer to the Father when we refer to God. However, it is appropriate to refer to each person of the Godhead as God.
GOD
THE FATHER
The Father is the source of all God does. He causes all things by His will. Most importantly, the Father sent the Son to save us from our sins.
Jesus said no one has seen the Father except the Son, prayed to the Father, said he and the Father are one, and if you have seen him, you have seen the Father. (John 5:36-37; 14:6-13; 15:26; 17:21-24)
JESUS
CHRIST
Jesus Christ is God’s only Son (John 3:16) and our sole mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5). Scripture teaches His pre-existence (John 1:1), He is truly God. His incarnation (John 1:1-14), He is truly Man. His virgin birth (Matt. 1:23-25), His sinless life (Heb. 4:15), His substitutionary atonement (Rom. 3:23-25), His death on the cross, His resurrection from the dead (Acts 2:24-27), His ascension to the right hand of the Father (Acts 1:9-11), and His return from heaven (Titus 2:13).
HOLY
SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead, who regenerates, indwells, and seals all those who have faith in Christ at the time of conversion (baptizes them into Jesus) and fills those believers (baptism with the Holy Spirit for those who yield to God). All four Gospels introduce Jesus as the one who will baptize his followers with the Holy Spirit. (Mat. 28:19; John 3:3-7; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 2:12; 6:19; 12:13; Eph. 4:30; Titus 3:5).
MAN & SIN
God created man in His image, man sinned in Adam, and he is now a sinner by nature and by choice, yet maintains the essence of God’s image in his fallenness. Man’s sin is disobedience to God. Isaiah said it best when saying: “All we like sheep have gone astray; each one turning to his way.” (Isaiah 53:6) God’s image is disfigured in man because of sin, but not destroyed. (Gen 1:26-27; 3:1-6; Rom. 10:18, 5:12-14; James 3:9; Isaiah 53:6).
SALVATION
God offers salvation by grace through faith to all humanity in Jesus Christ. Human works, merit, or ceremonies cannot contribute to salvation. (Acts 4:12; 16:31; Eph. 2:8-9).
CHURCH
The church is a spiritual and physical body made up of all believers, past, present, and future. Jesus Christ is the Head of the church, and there is a two-fold aspect to the church, the universal and the local (Eph. 1:22-23; Philem. 2; 1 Thes. 1:1; Rev. 2:3).
Ordinances of the local church are two in number: Water Baptism (a public identification of the believer with Christ) and the Lord’s Supper (a memorial of the atoning death of Christ until He comes) (Mat. 28:19; Acts 2:41; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-24).
CHRIST'S RETURN
The resurrection of all people will occur at the return of Christ. Divine judgement, reward, and punishment will take place at the return of Jesus. (John 5:25-29; 11:25-26; 1 Cor. 15:51-57; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:11-15).
SPIRITUAL GIFTS
Every believer has at least one spiritual gift (1 Cor. 12:7-11).
God the Holy Spirit, sovereignly bestows the gift or gifts to each believer.
When each believer properly exercises his gift in the assembly, he contributes to the Body of Christ’s working and maturing (Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-31; Eph. 4:1-16).
GREAT COMMISSION
Believers are sent into the world by Christ as the Father sent Jesus. We are ambassadors to go and make disciples and make Christ known to every people.
Christians must proclaim Christ’s excellencies and refute those who contradict the truth of the Gospel. (Mat. 28:18-20; John 15:8; 17:18; 20:21; 2 Cor. 5:20-21; 1 Peter 3:15; Jude 3).
ANGELS
Angelic beings are personal beings, created holy, these remain servants of God, but now some exist as fallen, including Satan. Satan and his minions intend to supplant God and frustrate His purposes.
Satan’s ultimate end is consignment to eternal punishment (Ps. 148:2-5; Mat. 25:41; Eph. 6:11-12; Col. 1:16; 1 Tim. 5:21; Jude 6; Rev. 12:7-12; 2 Cor. 4:1-6; Eph. 2:17; Rev. 12:7-12).
