Statement of Faith

The Scriptures

We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, that it is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction, that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture of error for its matter, and that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us. It is, therefore, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.

 

The True God

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, whose name is YHWH, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth. We believe God is inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love. In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.

 

1. God the Father: We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of each person, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.

2. Jesus Christ: We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth.

3. The Holy Spirit: We believe in the Holy Spirit who has eternally coexisted with the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide.

 

The Nature and Fall of Man 

We believe that Man was created in holiness under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state. The consequence of this voluntary transgression is that all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but choice, being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil; and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse. 

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1. Concerning Gender. We believe that human beings are wonderfully made by God, as the crowning work of creation, and that each person is immutably created as male or female, as identified by phenotype. These two genders complement each other, and both reflect the image of God.

2. Concerning Human Dignity. The sacred value of humanity in every level of development, beginning with conception, is evident in that God created all in His own image and in that Christ died for fallen humanity. Our common humanity demonstrates that all people are of equal value despite differences in age, gender, ethnicity, economic status, education, aptitude, or achievement, opinions, etc; therefore, every person is worthy of respect and Christian love.

3. Concerning Marriage and Human Sexuality. We believe that Christian marriage is a sacred institution ordained by God for the happiness of mankind and the propagation of the human race. It is the spiritual and physical union of one man to one woman; this is the only legitimate sexual relationship. Accordingly, this Church will not recognize any other union as a legitimate marriage; our Church, as an organization, and our pastoral staff shall not perform or participate in any same sex marriage or unions or ceremonies of any kind; and Church facilities shall not be used for such purposes.

 

The Way of Salvation

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God; who by the appointment of the Father freely took upon him our nature, yet without sin. He honored the divine law by his personal obedience, and by his death made a full atonement for our sins. Having risen from the dead, the Son is now enthroned in heaven and unites in his wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfections, therefore, he is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all-sufficient Savior.

 

Justification

We believe that the great Gospel blessing, which Christ secures to those who believe in Christ, is justification. We believe that justification includes the pardon of sin and the promise of eternal life on principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s work on the cross, and by virtue of such faith His perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us by God. This faith also brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and secures every other blessing needed for time and eternity.

 

The Freeness of Salvation

We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a warm, penitent, and obedient faith. Nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel.

 

Regeneration

We believe that in order to be saved from the consequences of sin, sinners must be regenerated (John 3:3-7). We believe that regeneration is the divine miracle effected by the Holy Spirit (2nd Timothy 1:9; 2nd Thess 2:13-14) by which he enlightens the mind and renews the will (Ezekiel 36:26-27) in a manner above our comprehension. These are God’s means to persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ fully offered in the Gospel, and to secure our voluntary obedience to Christ resulting in the fruits of faith and repentance. (Ephesians 2:10)

 

Repentance and Faith

We believe that Repentance and Faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable graces. They are wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God; whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy and so receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, relying on Him alone as the only and all sufficient Savior.

 

God’s Purpose of Sovereign Grace

We believe that grace is the sovereign and eternal purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners. God’s grace is perfectly consistent with the free agency of man, yet includes all God’s means as well as the end of salvation. God’s grace is a most glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy and unchangeable; that it utterly excludes boasting, and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, trust in God, and active imitation of his free mercy (Eph 2:8 & 9). This grace is seen by its effects in all who truly believe the Gospel and is the foundation of Christian assurance.

 

Sanctification

We believe that sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of his holiness. Sanctification is a progressive work that begins at regeneration and is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit through the continual use of the appointed means, especially, the word of God, fellowship and encouragement of the church, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness and prayer.  We affirm that sanctification is life long process that culminating in moral perfection only after a believer is united to Christ in death. 

 

The Perseverance of Saints

We believe that only true believers endure unto the end; that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark, distinguishing them from those who superficially profess faith; that a special Providence watches over their welfare; and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

 

The Harmony of the Law and the Gospel

We believe that the Law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of His moral government; that it is holy, just, and good; and that the inability of fallen men to fulfill its precepts arises entirely from their love of sin. To deliver them from this love of sin, and to restore them to a sincere obedience to the holy Law through Christ the Mediator, is one great end of the Gospel. The Gospel is the means God uses through the church to restore sinners to obedience to Him.

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A Gospel Church

We believe that a visible church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges vested in them by His Word. The Church’s only scriptural officers are Elders or Pastors, and Deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the New Testament.

 

A Congregational Church

We believe that Almighty God, in his wisdom, has given Elders and deacons to the local church to provide leadership and direction. The congregation has been vested with final authority under God's word to govern the affairs of His local church.

 

The Ordinance of Baptism

We believe that Christian Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, in the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit. Baptism is done to show, in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior with its effect: our death to sin and resurrection to a new life. We believe that it is an act of obedience, serves as a public profession of faith, and is pre-requisite to the privileges of local church membership.

 

The Ordinance of the Lord’s Supper

We believe that the Lord’s Supper, in which the members of the church by the sacred use of bread and cup, is a commemoration of the dying love of Christ; that it should be preceded always by solemn self-examination, and that it is an act of true fellowship with other believers in Jesus Christ.

 

The Righteous and the Wicked

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that only those who are justified through faith in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem. At the same time, all who continue in impenitence and unbelief are wicked in His sight, and under the curse. This distinction holds among men and women both in and after death.

 

The World to Come

We believe that the end of the world is approaching. At the last day Christ will descend from heaven and raise the dead from the grave to final retribution. A solemn separation will then occur where the wicked will be judged to endless punishment and the righteous to endless joy. This judgment will fix forever the final state of men in heaven or hell, on principles of righteousness.

 

The Great Commission

We believe that Christ has all authority in Heaven and on earth, and that salvation is found in no one else. On that basis, His Church is commissioned to make, among all nations, disciples and worshipers of Christ by proclaiming the gospel to every people, tribe, and tongue, baptizing them into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey His Word, and gathering them into churches able to spread the gospel among their own people (Matthew 28:18-20; John 4:23; Acts 4:12; 14:23; Romans 1:5; Revelation 5:9). Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."