STATEMENT OF FAITH
It shall be the purpose of this church to maintain a house of worship in which the Bible is the inspired and infallible Word of God, to maintain a fellowship for those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, and to carry out the Great Commission to preach the Gospel.
1. We believe that the Bible, consisting of 66 books of the Old and New Testament, is God’s Word, that it was written by men divinely and uniquely inspired, that it is absolutely trustworthy and has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21
2. We believe in the Trinity of the Godhead; One God eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14
3. We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and is the true God and true man. Matthew 1:23, Colossians 2:9
4. We believe that man was created in the image of God; he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God, and all human beings are born with a human, sinful nature. Romans 3:23, Genesis 1:27
5. We believe that Jesus Christ died for sins, according to the Scriptures, as a substitutionary sacrifice; and all who believe in Him are justified by His shed blood. Romans 5:9, John 3:16
6. We believe that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit, and thereby become children of God and cannot lose his/her salvation.
John 1:12, 13; 1 Peter 1:23; Romans 8:14; John 10:28
7. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead in the body in which He was crucified, that He ascended into Heaven, and that He lives in Heaven today in the same body in which He arose from the grave. John 20:19-20, Acts 1:9
8. We believe that salvation is entirely and only by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ – that no work of any description can in any way contribute to our salvation – but good works are expected of those who have been born again. Ephesians 2:8-9, James 2:18
9. We believe that the Church consists only of those who are born again and baptized into the body of Christ, by the Holy Spirit at the time of regeneration (1 Corinthians 12:12-14)
10. We believe the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the placing of the new believer into the body of Christ, an act of God which occurs when the believer accepts Christ, and is never to be repeated (1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 4:5).
It is not an experience subsequent to salvation nor does the New Testament ever command anyone either to be baptized with the Holy Spirit or to pray for such. We believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the filling of the Holy Spirit are two distinct things, the latter being a command of God for believers (Ephesians 5:18) as well as an experience that occurs often.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are God given abilities for the purpose of serving
(1 Corinthians 12:12-31), unifying and edifying the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:7).
The Holy Spirit alone is responsible for the distribution of these abilities (1 Corinthians 12:11). Each believer has received at least one gift, and no believer has received all gifts
(1 Peter 4:10).
The gifts are to be practiced in accordance with their purpose. (Romans 12:3-12,
I Corinthians 12) and regulations (1 Corinthians 14) and do not result in disorder
(1 Corinthians 14:40), offense (2 Corinthians 6:3), disharmony (Philippians 1:27), or a poor testimony (Colossians 4:5). We further do not hold to fellowshipping with those whose stated teachings are contrary to the Word of God.
11. We believe that the saved will be raised to everlasting life and blessedness in heaven (Luke 16:25) and that the unsaved will be raised to everlasting and conscious punishment in hell. (John 5:28-29, Revelation 20:13-15).
12. We believe in the personal, imminent, pre-millennial and pre-tribulation return of the Lord Jesus Christ; first, to catch up unto Himself, the church, and then to return to earth with His resurrected saints, to establish His millennial kingdom.
(John 14:3, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Jude 14)
13. We believe that Christ commanded the Church to evangelize the world, and make disciples of those who believe by baptizing and teaching them.
(Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8)
