Our Statement of Faith

The Bible

We believe in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as verbally inspired of God and inerrant in the original writing and that they are supreme and final authority in faith and life.

2 Peter 1:21  "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Timothy 3:16-17  "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17)  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

God

We believe that within the nature of the One True God there eternally exists three co-equal persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Deuteronomy 6:4  "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:" John 10:30  "I and my Father are one." Matthew 28:19  "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"

Jesus Christ

We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, in His personal, Second Coming in power and glory.

John 1:1  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Matthew 1:18  "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost." Matthew 28:5-6  "And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. (6)  He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17  "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17)  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

Holy Spirit

We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit indwelling all believers as evident in the New Testament, and thus enabling and empowering the life and ministry of the believer.

Acts 1:8  "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." 1 Thessalonians 1:5  "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake."

Salvation

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice and that all who believe in Him are justified on the grounds of His shed blood.

Acts 13:38-39  "Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: (39)  And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." Galatians 2:16  "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." 1 Corinthians 15:1-6 "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; (2)  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. (3)  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (4)  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (5)  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: (6)  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once..."

Resurrection of Jesus

We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His Ascension into heaven, and in His present life there for us as High Priest and Advocate.

Acts 2:32-33 "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. (33)  Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." Hebrews 7:25  "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." 1 John 2:1-2  "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (2)  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."

The Return of Jesus Christ

We believe in Christ's imminent personal return in power and great glory, the blessed hope that this gives, and in His present and everlasting dominion.

Revelation 1:7  "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." Titus 2:13  "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;"

Man and Sin

We believe that man was created in the image of God; that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death which is separation from God; that all human beings are born with a sinful nature; and that those who reach moral responsibility become sinners in word and thought and deed.

Genesis 1:27  "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." Romans 3:23  "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Romans 6:23  "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:21-22  "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. (22)  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." Romans 5:12  "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"

Resurrection of Mankind

We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved and in the conscious everlasting punishment of the lost.

John 5:28-29  "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, (29)  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."

Sanctification / Christian Living

We believe that sanctification is a life-long process that begins at the point of justification, it is part of salvation.  All the saved are called into a life of separation from all worldly and sinful practices and are under obligation to all the world by life and word to the truth and proclamation of the Gospel.

Romans 12:1-2  "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2)  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Hebrews 12:14-15  "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: (15)  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;"

Evangelism / Discipleship

We believe that evangelism and discipleship are inseparable.  All believers in Jesus Christ are called to share the Gospel, which alone is God's power unto salvation.

Matthew 28:18-20  "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (19)  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20)  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Romans 1:16  "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." 1 Corinthians 15:1-6  (quoted above under the Salvation section)