About us
Our Statement of Faith
We accept wholeheartedly the revelation of God given in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments and confess the faith summarized in the historic statements of the Christian church, being the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed. The following doctrines are crucial to the understanding and proclamation of the gospel and to practical Christian living.
Revelation
We believe that the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of his will for the salvation of mankind, and the final authority for all Christian faith and life (Matthew 5:18, John 10:35, John 17:17, II Timothy 3:16-17, II Peter 1:20-21).
The Tri-une God
We believe that the one true God exists eternally in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that these, being one God, are equal in deity, power, and glory. We believe that God not only created the world but also now upholds, sustains, governs, and providentially directs all that exists and that he will bring all things to their proper consummation in Christ Jesus to the glory of his name. We believe that God has exhaustive foreknowledge of all future events, including the free choices of all moral agents, both angelic and human, that he hears and answers prayer, and that he saves from sin and death all who come to him through Jesus Christ (Isaiah 40:1-48, Psalms 104:1-35, Psalms 139:1-24, Matthew 10:29-31, Matthew 28:19, Acts 17:24-28, II Corinthians 13:14, Ephesians 1:9-12, Ephesians 4:4-6, Colossians 1:16-17, Hebrews 1:1-3, Revelation 1:4-6).
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, that he was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and offered himself as a substitutionary sacrifice for sinners. By the blood of his cross he satisfied the wrath of God, obtained for us eternal redemption, the forgiveness of sins, spiritual adoption as sons and daughters, life everlasting, and defeated the powers of darkness. He was raised bodily on the third day and ascended to the right hand of the Father, there to make intercession for the saints (Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 1:18-25, John 1:1-18, Romans 8:34, I Corinthians 15:1-28, II Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 3:10-14, Ephesians 1:7, Philippians 2:6-11, Colossians 1:15-23, Colossians 2:15, Hebrews 7:25, Hebrews 9:13-15, Hebrews 10:19; I Peter 2:21-25, I John 2:1-2, I John 3:8).
Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is fully God, equal with the Father and Son. The primary ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit also convicts unbelievers of their need for Christ and imparts spiritual life through regeneration (the new birth). The Spirit indwells, sanctifies, leads, illumines, and graciously empowers for godly living and service all who come to faith in Christ. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ baptizes believers in the Holy Spirit, in whom also we are sealed for the day of redemption. Subsequent to conversion the Spirit desires to fill, empower, and anoint believers for ministry and witness (Matthew 3:11, John 1:12-13, John 3:1-15, John 15:26-27, John 16:7-15, Romans 8:9, I Corinthians 12:12-13, II Corinthians 1:21-22, Ephesians 1:13-14, Ephesians 5:18).
The Gospel
We believe that the gospel is the good news of what God has accomplished for sinners through the life, death, and resurrection of his Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. The gospel is centered in Christ and is not proclaimed if his death and resurrection are not the focus of our message. The church is responsible for the declaration of this good news and the defense of it against all who would seek to distort or re-define its core truths. The gospel is the foundation for the life of the Church and our only hope for eternal life. The Gospel is not only the means by which people are saved, but also the means by which people are sanctified. The truth of the Gospel enables us to genuinely and joyfully do that which is pleasing to God and to grow in progressive conformity to the image of Christ (Mark 1:1, Luke 24:46-47, John 3:16-18, Romans 1:16-17, I Corinthians 1:18-25, I Corinthians 2:2, I Corinthians 15:1-4, II Corinthians 4:1-6, II Corinthians 9:13, Galatians 1:6-9, II Timothy 1:8-14, Jude 1:3-4).
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the ministry of the Spirit in signs and wonders continues to be as broad, tangible, and powerful among believers today as it was in the early church. We also believe that all the biblical gifts of the Spirit continue to be distributed by the Spirit today; that these gifts are divine provisions central to spiritual growth and effective ministry; and that these gifts are to be eagerly desired, faithfully developed, and lovingly exercised according to biblical guidelines (John 14:12, Acts 2:14-21, Acts4:29-30, Romans 12:3-8, I Corinthians 12:7-11, I Corinthians 12:28-31, I Corinthians 14:1-33, Galatians 3:1-5).
The Fall
We believe that Adam was created in the image of God, righteous and without sin. In consequence of his disobedience, Adam's posterity are born subject to sin and moral corruption, and are therefore by nature and choice the children of wrath, justly condemned in the sight of God, wholly unable to save themselves or to contribute in any way to their acceptance with God (Genesis 1:1-3:24, Psalm 51:5, Romans 3:9-18, Romans 5:12-21, Ephesians 2:1-3).
Justification by Faith
We believe that God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world and will, through the work of the Holy Spirit, draw the elect to faith in his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. We are therefore justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. No ordinance, ritual, work, or any other activity on the part of man is required in order to be saved. This saving grace of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, also sanctifies us by enabling us to do what is pleasing in God's sight in order that we might be progressively conformed to the image of Christ. We also believe that this salvation, once truly received, can never be lost. The elect of God are eternally secure (John 1:12-13, John 6:37-44, John 10:25-30, Acts 13:48, Acts 16:30-31, Romans 3:1-4:25, Romans 8:1-17, Romans 8:31-39, Romans 9:1-23, Romans 10:8-10, Ephesians 1:4-5, Ephesians 2:8-10, Philippians 2:12-13, Titus 3:3-7, I John 1:7-9).
Satan's Rebellion
We believe that Satan, originally a great and good angel, rebelled against God, taking a multitude of angels with him. He was cast out of God's presence and is at work with his demonic hosts to establish his counter-kingdom of darkness and evil on the earth. Satan was judged and defeated at the cross of Christ and will, at the end of the age, be cast forever into the lake of fire which has been prepared for him and his angels (Matthew 12:25-29, Matthew 25:41, John 12:31, John 16:11, Ephesians 6:10-20, Colossians 2:15, II Peter 2:4, Jude 1:6, Revelation 12:7-9, Revelation 20:10).
The Church
We believe that the Church is the Bride of Christ and is comprised of all believers in every age. The Church is also God's primary instrument through which he is fulfilling his redemptive purposes in the earth. We believe that God has called the Church to preach the gospel to all nations, and especially to remember the poor and to minister to their needs through sacrificial giving and practical service. We also affirm the priesthood of all believers and the importance of every Christian being joined with and actively involved in a local community of the saints (Isaiah 58:6-12, Isaiah 61:1, Matthew 16:17-19, Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 4:18, Luke 21:1-4, Acts 2:17-18, Acts 2:42, Galatians 2:10, Ephesians 3:14-21, Ephesians 4:11-16, I Timothy 6:8, Hebrews 10:23-25, I Peter 2:4-5, I Peter 2:9-10).
Baptism and the Lord's Supper
We believe that water baptism and the Lord's Supper are the two ordinances of the church to be observed until the time of Christ's return. They are not a means of salvation but are sacramental channels of God's sanctifying grace and blessing to the faithful in Christ Jesus. Only those who have personally and consciously placed their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are qualified to receive the sacraments (Matthew 26:26-29, Matthew 28:19, Romans 6:3-11, I Corinthians 11:23-34, I Peter 3:21).
Creation of Humanity
We believe that both men and women are together created in the divine image and are therefore equal before God as persons, possessing the same moral dignity and value, and have equal access to God through faith in Christ. We also believe that men and women are together the recipients of spiritual gifts designed to equip and empower them for ministry in the local church and beyond. We believe men and women are designed to reflect distinct characteristics of God's image, are not interchangeable, and are accountable to God to steward the gift of their gender in each season of life and to humbly serve others as Jesus Christ demonstrated love and sacrifice for His church. We believe that in God's upside down Kingdom, all are capable of great influence through even seemingly insignificant acts of service, perseverance, and sacrifice. We acknowledge that submission to Jesus Christ is generally a process that requires healing and tangible experiences of God as trustworthy and loving. As we allow Jesus to mend our wounds and secure us in the Father's love, we are able to leave behind our broken cisterns and embrace the call to lose life for His sake. (Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 2:18, I Corinthians 11:2-16, I Corinthians 7:1-40, Galatians 3:28, Ephesians 5:22-33, Colossians 3:18-19, I Timothy 2:11-15, I Timothy 3:1-7, I Peter 3:1-7, Jeremiah 2:13, Matthew 16:24-27).
Human Sexuality
We believe that God's original creative design, as set forth in Scripture, is for complete fidelity (physically, emotionally, and spiritually) within heterosexual and monogamous marriage. Regardless of one's marital status, we believe the Christian should pursue purity and abstain from sexually immoral practices such as adultery, premarital sex, and pornography. As our creator, Father God alone can speak into our identity as male or female. All other labels or constructs pertaining to our identity must be yielded to His authority. We believe that through Jesus Christ, God accepts us just as we are (broken, lost, naked, shackled, and ashamed). And because He loves us, He offers healing, freedom, a new identity as His sons/daughters, wholeness, and the fruit of the Spirit as we allow the Holy Spirit to work His restorative and redemptive purposes in the depths of our person over time (Matthew 19:4-6, Romans 1:18-32, Romans 13:13-14, I Corinthians 6:9-20, I Corinthians 10:8, Ephesians 5:3-14, I Thessalonians 4:1-8, I Timothy 1:8-10, Hebrews 13:4, I Corinthians 6:11, Romans 12:1-2).
Heaven and Hell
We believe that when Christians die they pass immediately into the blessed presence of Christ, there to enjoy conscious fellowship with the Savior until the day of the resurrection and glorious transformation of the body. The saved will then forever dwell in blissful fellowship with their great Triune God. We also believe that when unbelievers die they are consigned to hell, there to await the day of judgment when they shall be punished with eternal separation from the presence of God (Matthew 25:46, Luke 16:19-31, John 5:25-29, I Corinthians 15:35-58, II Corinthians 5:1-10, Philippians 1:19-26, Philippians 3:20-21, II Thessalonians 1:5-10, Revelation 20:11-15, Revelation 21:1-22:15).
God's Kingdom and the Restoration of All Things
We believe that the Kingdom of God came in the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, that it continues to expand by the ministry of the Holy Spirit through the Church, and that it will be consummated in the glorious, visible, and triumphant appearing of Christ when he returns to the earth as King. We believe that after Christ returns, he will bring about the ultimate defeat of Satan, the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment, and the eternal blessing of the righteous. At that time, the Kingdom of God will be completely fulfilled in the new heavens and the new earth, in which righteousness dwells and in which he will be worshipped forever (I Corinthians 15:20-28, I Corinthians 15:50-58, Philippians 3:20-21, I Thessalonians 4:13-5:11, II Thessalonians 1:3-12, Revelation 19:1-21).
Our Statement of Faith is adapted from samstorms.com.