Statement of Faith

The Scriptures 

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We believe that all Scripture was given by the inspiration of God. This means the entire Bible was written by people whom the Holy Spirit guided to record God’s exact words. We believe this divine inspiration applies fully and equally to every part of Scripture—whether historical, poetic, doctrinal, or prophetic—as it was written in the original manuscripts.

 

Because of this, we believe the original writings of the Bible are completely without error. We believe that All of Scripture centers on the Lord Jesus Christ—His person, His work, and His first and second coming. Therefore, even the Old Testament can only be rightly understood when it points to Him. We also believe that all Scripture was written for our practical instruction and daily living.

​(Mark 12:26, 36; Luke 24:27, 44; John 5:39; 16:13; Acts 1:16; 17:2–3; 18:28; 26:22–23; 28:23; Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 2:13; 10:11; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21) 

Salvation Only Through Christ

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We believe that because sin brought both physical and spiritual death to all humanity, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born again. No amount of personal improvement, moral achievement, education, baptism, or religious practice can atone for sin or reconcile a sinner to God. Salvation requires a new nature given from above—a new life created by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. Only those who have been born again in this way are truly children of God and can enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

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​​We also believe that our redemption was accomplished entirely and solely through the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. He became sin for us and took the curse we deserved by dying in our place on the cross. Nothing—no repentance, emotion, faith effort, good intention, obedience to church rules, or combination of church traditions throughout history—can add anything to the worth of His blood or the saving power of His finished work. In Him alone, who is both fully God and perfectly a sinless man, our salvation is complete. (Lev. 17:11; Isa. 64:6; Matt. 26:28; John 3:7–18; Rom. 5:6–9; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13; 6:15; Eph. 1:7; Phil. 3:4–9; Titus 3:5; James 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:18–19, 23)

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We believe that a person is spiritually reborn and saved only by faith in Jesus Christ. True faith involves acknowledging we are sinners in need of a savior, recognizing that we cannot determine what is good and evil for our life apart from God, and turning away from self-rule to submit to Christ as our Lord. This initial repentance — a surrender of our claimed right to live independently of God’s Living Word — is the natural posture of a heart that trusts Him. It acknowledges that as sinners our own judgment is flawed and submits fully to Christ’s authority and word, opening the door for the Holy Spirit to take up residence inside our hearts, produce true repentance from sin, empower us to walk in obedience, and transform us into the image of Jesus Christ. (John 1:12; 3:16, 18, 36; 5:24; 6:29; Acts 13:39; 16:31; Rom. 1:16–17; 3:22, 26; 4:5; 10:4; Gal. 3:22, Acts 3:19, Acts 17:30-31, Luke 13:3-5, Matthew 3:2, 4:17, Titus 3:5-6)

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The Godhead

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We believe that God is the all-powerful Creator and Sustainer of all things visible and invisible, who eternally exists in three Persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and that these three are one God, having precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections, and are worthy of precisely the same worship, honor, reverence confidence, and obedience. (Matt. 28:18–19; Mark 12:29; John 1:14; Acts 5:3–4; 2 Cor. 13:14; Heb. 1:1–3; Rev. 1:4–6)

The Holy Spirit

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We believe that the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the blessed Trinity, though present everywhere from all eternity, came to live in the world in a special way on the day of Pentecost, as God had promised. He now dwells in every believer and, through His baptism, unites all believers to Christ in one body. As the Indwelling One, He is the source of all power, and of all worship and service that is pleasing to God.

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We believe that the Spirit never leaves the church, nor even the weakest believer, but is always present to testify of Christ, guiding believers to focus on Him rather than on themselves or their own experiences. His special presence in the world will end only when Christ comes to take His own at the completion of the church. (John 14:16–17; 16:7–15; 1 Cor. 6:19; Eph. 2:22; 2 Thess. 2:7)

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We believe that, in this age, certain specific ministries are entrusted to the Holy Spirit, and that all Christians should understand them and align their lives with them. These ministries include:

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• restraining evil in the world according to God’s will;

• convicting the world regarding sin, righteousness, and judgment;

• regenerating all believers;

• indwelling and anointing all who are saved, thereby sealing them for the day of redemption;

• baptizing all believers into the one body of Christ; and

• continually filling believers with power for service, teaching, and ministry, as they yield to Him and submit to His will. (John 3:6; 16:7–11; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 4:30; 5:18; 2 Thess. 2:7; 1 John 2:20–27)