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Statement of Faith
WE BELIEVE that only the sixty-six books of the Bible are the
inspired, and therefore inerrant, Word of God. It is the final
authority for all we believe and how we are to live. Matthew 5:18;
John 10:35; 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21.
WE BELIEVE that the one true God exists eternally in three persons,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that these, being one God, are
equal in deity, power, and glory. We believe that God not only
created the world but also now upholds, sustains, governs, and
providentially directs all that exists and that He will bring
all things to their proper consummation in Christ Jesus to the
glory of His name. Psalm 104; Psalm 139; Matthew 10:29-31; 28:19;
Acts 17:24-28; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 1:9-12; 4:4-6; Colossians
1:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 1:4-6.
WE BELIEVE that Satan, originally a great and good angel, rebelled
against God, taking a multitude of angels with him. He was cast
out of God's presence and is at work with his demonic hosts to
establish his counter-kingdom of darkness and evil on the earth.
Satan was judged and defeated at the cross of Christ and will,
at the end of the age, be cast forever into the lake of fire which
has been prepared for him and his angels. Matthew 12:25-29; 25:41;
John 12:31; 16:11; Ephesians 6:10-20; Colossians 2:15; 2 Peter
2:4; Jude 6; Revelation 12:7-9; 20:10.
WE BELIEVE that Adam was originally created in the image of God,
righteous and without sin. In consequence of his disobedience,
Adam's posterity are born subject to both imputed and inherent
sin, and are therefore by nature and choice the children of wrath,
justly condemned in the sight of God, wholly unable to save themselves
or to contribute in any way to their acceptance with God. Genesis
1-3; Psalm 51:5; Isaiah 53:5; Romans 3:9-18; 5:12-21; Ephesians
2:1-3.
WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and
fully man, that He was conceived and born of a virgin, lived a
sinless life, and offered himself as a penal, substitutionary
sacrifice for sinners. By the blood of His cross He obtained for
us eternal redemption, the forgiveness of sins, and life everlasting.
He was raised bodily on the third day and ascended to the right
hand of the Father, there to make intercession for the saints.
Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1-18; Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:1-28;
2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:10-14; Ephesians 1:7; Philippians
2:6-11; Colossians 1:15-23; Hebrews 7:25; 9:13-15; 10:19; 1 Peter
2:21-25; 1 John 2:1-2.
WE BELIEVE that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone,
in Christ alone. No ordinance, ritual, work, or any other activity
on the part of man is required in order to be saved. This saving
grace of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, also sanctifies
us by enabling us to do what is pleasing in God's sight in order
that we might be progressively conformed to the image of Christ.
John 1:12-13; 6:37-44; 10:25-30; Acts 16:30-31; Romans 3-4; 8:1-17,31-39;
10:8-10; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; Titus 3:3-7; 1
John 1:7,9.
WE BELIEVE that the Lord Jesus Christ baptizes believers in the
Holy Spirit, in whom also we are sealed for the day of redemption.
The Holy Spirit regenerates, forever indwells, and graciously
equips the Christian for godly living and service. Subsequent
to conversion the Spirit desires to fill, empower, and anoint
believers for ministry and witness. We also believe that signs
and wonders, as well as all the gifts of the Spirit described
in the New Testament, are operative today and are designed to
testify to the presence of the kingdom and to empower and edify
the church to fulfill its calling and mission. Matthew 3:11; John
1:12-13; 3:1-15; Acts 4:29-30; Romans 8:9; 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians
12:12-13; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22;Galatians 3:1-5; Ephesians 1:13-14;
5:18.
WE BELIEVE that water baptism and the Lord's Supper are the two
ordinances of the church to be observed until the time of Christ's
return. They are not a means of salvation but are channels of
God's sanctifying grace and blessing to the faithful in Christ
Jesus. Matthew 26:26-29; 28:19; Romans 6:3-11; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34;
1 Peter 3:21.
WE BELIEVE that the church is God's primary instrument through
which He is fulfilling His redemptive purposes in the earth. To
equip the saints for the work of ministry, God has given the church
apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. We also
affirm the priesthood of all believers and the importance of every
Christian being joined with and actively involved in a local community
of the saints. We believe that women, no less than men, are called
and gifted to proclaim the gospel and do all the works of the
kingdom. However, final governmental authority in the church has
ideally been entrusted to men. Matthew 16:17-19; Acts 2:17-18,42;
Ephesians 3:14-21; 4:11-16; 1 Timothy 2:11-15; Hebrews 10:23-25;
1 Peter 2:4-5,9-10.
WE BELIEVE that God has called the church to preach the gospel
to all nations, and especially to remember the poor and to minister
to their needs through sacrificial giving and practical service.
This ministry is an expression of the heart of the Lord Jesus
Christ and is an essential part of the kingdom of God. Isaiah
58:6-12; 61:1; Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 4:18; 21:1-4; Galatians
2:10; 1 Timothy 6:8.
WE BELIEVE in the literal second coming of Christ at the end
of the age when He will return to the earth personally and visibly
to consummate His kingdom. We also believe in and are praying
for a great end-time harvest of souls and the emergence of a victorious
church that will experience an unprecedented unity, purity, and
power in the Holy Spirit. Psalms 2:7-9; 22:27-28; John 14:12;
17:20-26; Romans 11:25-32; 1 Corinthians 15:20-28,50-58; Ephesians
4:11-16; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11; 2 Thessalonians
1:3-12; Revelation 7:9-14.
WE BELIEVE that when the Christian dies he/she passes immediately
into the blessed presence of Christ, there to enjoy conscious
fellowship with the Savior until the day of the resurrection and
glorious transformation of the body. The saved will then forever
dwell in blissful fellowship with their great Triune God. We also
believe that when the unbeliever dies he/she is consigned to hell,
there to await the day of judgment when he/she shall be punished
with eternal separation from the presence of God. Matthew 25:46;
Luke 16:19-31; John 5:25-29; 1 Corinthians 15:35-58; 2 Corinthians
5:1-10; Philippians 1:19-26; 3:20-21; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10;
Revelation 20:11-15; 21:1-22:15.
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