STATEMENT OF FAITH
What we believe about God, his Word, and his works in this world and the one to come
God
We believe and teach that there is one true and living God who is the creator of all things, seen and unseen. He is eternal, infinite, sovereign, all-knowing, all-powerful, unchanging, perfect, holy, righteous, just, loving, gracious, merciful, and good. God has revealed himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit— three distinct but inseparable persons, coequal and one in power, glory, honor, and nature, and equally deserving of worship and obedience.
Deut. 6:4, Col. 1:16, Ps. 90:2, Dan. 4:35, 1 John 3:20, Jer. 32:17, James 1:17, Isa. 6:3, Deut. 32:4, 1 John 4:8, Exod. 34:6, Ps. 34:8, Matt. 28:19, John 10:30, John 5:23.
The Father
We believe and teach that there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live. He is the origin of all things visible and invisible; to him, all things return. The designation ‘Father’ concerns first his relation to his Son, Jesus, then to the family of Faith, and lastly, his relation to creation. The Father concerns Himself mercifully in human affairs, hears and answers prayer, and saves from sin and death all who come to him through Jesus Christ.
1 Cor. 8:6, John 1:14, 1 John 3:1, Matt. 7:7-11, Rom. 6:23, Acts 17:28-29.
Jesus Christ
We believe and teach that Jesus Christ, the Lord, is coequal, coeternal, and consubstantial with the Father, being truly God and the express image of the Father. In him, all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. Jesus, for us and our salvation, became man without ceasing to be God, conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life and died on the cross in our place, the just for the unjust, so that all who repent and trust him are justified based on his sacrifice alone. Jesus also bodily rose from the grave on the third day and is now seated at the Father’s right hand as our High Priest. He will bodily return to establish his kingdom in righteousness and peace.
John 1:1-4, Isa. 9:6, Col. 1:16, John 1:14, Matt. 1:18- 23, Isa. 7:14, 1 Pet. 2:22, Isa. 53:4-11, 1 Pet. 3:18, Rom. 3:24-25, 1 Cor. 15:3- 4, Heb. 4:14, Heb. 10:12, Ps. 110:1, Rev. 19:11-16, Dan. 7:13-14.
The Holy Spirit
We believe and teach that the Holy Spirit is God’s personal presence, breathed forth by and distinct but not separate from the Father and Son with whom he is coequal, consubstantial, and coeternal. The Spirit regenerates or gives life to sinners and indwells believers. He is the agent by whom Christ baptizes believers into his body and the seal by whom the Father guarantees our final salvation.. The Spirit is the Divine Teacher who illumines believers’ hearts and minds as they study the Word of God.
Acts 5:3-4, Ps. 139:7-8, Titus 3:5, 1 Cor. 6:19, Ezek. 36:26- 27, 1 Cor. 12:13, Joel 2:28-29, Eph. 1:13-14, 1 Cor. 2:10-12.
The Holy Scriptures
We believe and teach that the Old and New Testaments, the sixty-six books of the Bible, are God’s revelation to humanity, given to us by the Holy Spirit and constituting the Word of God. This Word is God-breathed, indestructible, and infallible in everything it says and is inerrant in the original documents or artifacts. It has final authority, and it is sufficient for faith and practice.
2 Pet. 1:20-21, 2 Tim. 3:16- 17, Matt. 5:17-18, Prov. 30:5, Isa. 40:8, Ps. 19:7-11
Humanity
We believe and teach that God made humanity in his image as male and female, equal in moral, personal, and spiritual worth but distinct by design and duty. God created humanity sinless, but through wilful disobedience in Adam, humanity lost innocence and was separated from the life and light of God by consequence and judgment, becoming inherently corrupt and utterly incapable of choosing or doing what is acceptable to God apart from divine grace. Thus, humanity is sinful by nature and choice.
Gen. 1:27, Gal. 3:28, 1 Cor. 11:11-12, Rom. 5:12, Isa. 59:2, Ps. 14:1-3, Rom. 8:7-8, Ps. 51:5
Salvation
We believe and teach that salvation is a gracious gift and life in the Trinity. The Father invites us into his fellowship and makes us sons and daughters through union with his Son by the power of his Spirit. We believe that the life and death of Jesus fully reconciled those in Christ to God through faith, and this death gained us victory over sin, Satan, and shame. By bodily rising from the grave through the Spirit of power, Jesus also gained victory over death and darkness on our behalf. We receive these benefits by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, as revealed by scripture alone, to the glory of God alone. A life lived in fellowship with the Trinity produces good works and obedience for the glory of God and as a testimony to others.
Eph. 2:8-9, John 14:23, 1 John 1:3, Gal. 4:4-7, Rom. 5:10-11, Col. 2:13- 15, 1 Cor. 15:54-57, Gal. 2:16, 2 Tim. 3:16-17, Rom. 11:36, Eph. 2:10.
The Church
We believe and teach that the Church is the body and bride of Christ, made up of all believers throughout the ages, who, upon trusting Jesus, are united by the Spirit as children of God. The local Church is the tangible expression of believers in Christ joined together by the Spirit for the worship of God, edification through the Word, prayer, fellowship, the proclamation of the gospel, and observance of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Eph. 1:22-23, Eph. 5:25-27, Heb. 12:22-24, 1 Cor. 12:13, Gal. 3:26-28, 1 Cor. 1:2, Col. 3:16, Heb. 10:24-25, Matt. 28:19-20, 1 Cor. 11:23-26
The Last Things
We believe and teach that the Lord Jesus Christ shall bodily come again to raise the dead, both righteous and unrighteous. The righteous shall enjoy everlasting life as God, the Lamb, and the Spirit make their home among them, while the wicked will endure eternal punishment.
Acts 1:11, John 5:28-29, Matt. 25:46, 2 Thess. 1:9, Rev. 14:13; 21:1-8; 22:1-5, 17.