Statement of Faith
GOD
We believe there is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4), eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:1; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30, 37-38), and God alone is worthy of worship (Luke 4:8).
THE BIBLE
We believe the Bible, comprised of the sixty-six canonical books of the Old and New Testament alone, is the only verbally inspired Word of God, infallible, authoritative, and inerrant in its original writings. Since we believe that the Scriptures are the very Word of God and the final authority for faith and practice, the Bible is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
JESUS CHRIST
We believe Jesus Christ is both fully human and fully divine (John 10:33, Philippians 2:6-11). We believe in His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:34-35); His sinless life (Hebrews 4:15, 7:26, 9:14); His miracles (John 2:11); His vicarious and atoning death (1 Corinthians 15:3; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; Hebrews 2:9); His bodily resurrection (John 11:25; 1 Corinthians 15:4); His ascension to the right hand of the Father (Mark 16:19); and His personal return in power and glory (Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11-16).
HUMAN CONDITION
We believe in the absolute necessity of regeneration by the Holy Spirit for salvation because all humans have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. Those who repent and believe in Jesus Christ are justified based on His all-sufficient substitutionary atonement for their sins, yet it is only by God’s grace, through faith, that people are saved (Romans 3:10, 23; John 3:16-19, 5:24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5-6; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
CREATION
We believe in the creation of the entire space-time universe, the creation of all kinds of living things, and the creation of humans in God’s image – all by the direct act of God as described in the Bible (Genesis 1- 2).
Human Sexuality and Marriage: We believe that God has uniquely created humans male and female, two distinct, complementary genders that together reflect the image and nature of God. We consider rejection of one’s biological sex as a rejection of the image of God in that person. We affirm that God’s plan and benevolent intentions for human sexuality are realized within the context of marriage between one genetic man and one genetic woman. We affirm the goodness of sexuality in the context of marriage, as well as the importance of purity, fidelity, and the sacredness of marriage (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:23-24; Matthew 19:4-5).
Sanctity of Life: We believe that all human life is sacred, created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born children, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life (Genesis 1:26-28; Psalm 139:13-16).
CHRISTIAN LIVING
We believe in the continuing ministry of the Holy Spirit, by Whose indwelling Christians are enabled to live a godly life (Ephesians 4:30, 5:18; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19-20).
UNITY OF BELIEVERS
We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe the universal church is composed of all Christians, those who have salvation through faith in Jesus Christ’s substitutionary atonement for their sins, and we believe regularly gathering with a local body of believers for accountability and encouragement is essential for the Christian life (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Galatians 3:26-28, Hebrews 10:24-25).
LIFE AFTER DEATH
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost: those who are saved to eternal life and those who are lost to eternal damnation (John 5:28-29).