Our Statement of Faith

A statement of faith recognizes essential beliefs. In these we have unity. In other beliefs there is liberty. In all beliefs there is charity.

1. We believe in the Bible as the essential and ultimate basis of our beliefs. It was uniquely, verbally, and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, was written without error in the original manuscripts, and God has substantially preserved its truths throughout history. In connection with the Holy Spirit, this written record provides an objective basis for the honest seeker to know, love, and serve God.

Scriptures: 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20–21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 12:6, 119:105, 160; Proverbs 30:5; 2 Corinthians 2:13; Matthew 5:18; 1 Peter 1:25

2. We believe in one God, infinite in power, wisdom, justice, goodness, and love; the Creator of the universe, existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Scriptures: Genesis 1:26–27; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:13

3. We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ—that He was fully God and fully man, and after having lived a sinless life, voluntarily suffered and died to pay for the penalty of our sins, thus satisfying God’s justice and enabling all those who trust in Him to experience complete forgiveness before God. Jesus Christ rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is at the right hand of God the Father. At a future unknown date, He will return to earth personally, visibly, and bodily.

Scriptures: Matthew 1:22–23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1–5; 14:10–30; Hebrews 4:14–15; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4; Romans 1:3–4; Acts 1:9–11; 1 Timothy 6:14–15; Titus 2:13

4. We believe the Holy Spirit has come into the world to reveal and glorify Christ, to convict men and women of their sins, and to impart new life to all who place their faith in Christ. He indwells believers from the moment of spiritual birth, seals them until the day of redemption, and gifts and empowers them to live a life pleasing to God.

Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13–14; Galatians 4:6–7; John 14:15, 16:7–8

5. We believe that man and woman as originally created were innocent before God, but they chose to defy God and thus separated themselves from their Creator incurring divine condemnation. This alienation has corrupted human nature making human beings totally incapable of pleasing God in and of themselves.

Scriptures: Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3–6; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1–2; Romans 5:12; 2 Corinthians 5:5

6. We believe that by God’s grace, through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ, a right relationship with Him is eternally secured, and cannot be achieved through any human endeavor. Believers should be baptized not as a requirement of salvation but rather in recognition of their newfound relationship.

Scriptures: Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8–9; John 14:6; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1; John 10:29–30; 2 Corinthians 5:21

7. We believe that the church is composed of all true believers and that its members should gather together in local churches to celebrate God’s presence, learn from God’s Word, commemorate the Lord’s Supper, and seek to express their faith in meaningful ways. The church exists to embody and advance the value of the kingdom initiated by Jesus at His first coming. The church will exist and thrive until His return at the Second Coming.

Scriptures: Ephesians 1:22, 2:19–22, 3:10, 4:11–16

8. We believe in life beyond death and the bodily resurrection of every person. For those who have received Christ: eternal conscious existence in His presence. For those who have not believed: conscious existence in isolation from God and subject to eternal suffering resulting from the voluntary forfeiture of grace realized through Jesus Christ.

Scriptures: John 3:16; John 14:17; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:17–18; Revelation 20:15; Matthew 25:46; Hebrews 9:27