Statement of Faith

Article I

God the Trinity
We believe that there is but one true and living God (I John 5:20). He is eternal, of infinite power (omnipotent), wise and good, the creator of all things, visible and invisible (Genesis 1:1). There are three persons in the Godhead: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, comprising a Trinity (I John 5:7).

Article II

Jesus the Son of God
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God (John 1:1-3) Who became flesh (John 1:14; Colossians 2:9), was born of the virgin Mary (Luke 1:35), and died for our sins upon the cross (I Peter 2:24) as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice (II Corinthians 5:21). We believe in the bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 15:3-20), His ascension (Acts 1:9) and His High Priestly ministry for us. (Hebrews 4:14-16). All who trust in Him as their life and as their only means for salvation are justified by His shed blood; it is not of our own righteousness but His—not of our own works. (Colossians 1:14; Ephesians 2:8-9; Ephesians 1:7)

Article III

God the Holy Spirit
We believe the person of the Holy Spirit is co-equal with God the Father and God the Son (I John 5:7). His ministry is to regenerate (John 3:3-5), indwell (I Corinthians 6:19), seal (Ephesians 1:13-14; II Corinthians 5:5), fill (Ephesians 5:18), empower (Acts 1:8), guide the believer (Galatians 5:16-25), teach (John 14:26), and to baptize (place into at the moment of Salvation) all believers into the Body of Christ (Romans 6).

Article IV

The Word of God
We believe the Bible is verbally inspired of God and is inerrant in the original manuscripts, and it is the final and supreme authority in faith and life (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:21).

Article V

Man Before Salvation
We believe that man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27), and that he sinned (Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12), thereby incurring not only physical death (I Corinthians 15:21-22) but also spiritual death which is not annihilation (Luke 16:23; Revelation 21:8) but eternal separation from God (Revelation 20:11-15). We believe that all men are born with a sinful nature, totally depraved and if they are not born again, are eternally lost (Romans 6:23; John 3:18).

Article VI

Man’s Salvation
We believe that we are saved by grace and grace alone (Ephesians 2:8) through faith and faith alone, in the shed blood of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s cross (Ephesians 1:7). Grace teaches good works (Titus 2:11-13) and separation from ungodliness (I Thessalonians 4:7; I Thessalonians 2:12).

Article VII

Life in Christ
We believe in the eternal security of the believer (John 10:28). We are taken out of the life of Adam and placed into the life of Christ (II Corinthians 5:17). Christ becomes our life (Colossians 3:4). By God’s grace through faith we are given Eternal life and this life is in His Son (I John 5:11). At salvation we are secured in Christ by the sealing of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). Nothing can separate us from the love of God since we have been given Eternal life in Christ Jesus (John 10:28-29; Romans 8:37-39).

Article VIII

The Bema Seat
We do not believe in a general judgment. We believe that the saved will appear at the Bema Seat of Christ where their works of the flesh will be tried and rewards given to the faithful (I Corinthians 3:12-15).

Article IX

Judgment of the Lost
We believe that the lost (those who have not believed on Christ and whose names are not written in the Book of Life) will appear at the Great White Throne Judgment to be judged for their works (Revelation 20:11-15).

Article X

Future Events
We believe in the Rapture of the Church before the seven year tribulation period: that is, the coming of the Lord in the air to call out His Church (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 4:1). We further believe in the literal, personal return of Jesus Christ to set up His 1,000 year reign on the earth after the seven year tribulation period (Revelation 19:11; 20:6).

Article XI

The Body of Christ, the Church
We believe that all in this dispensation who have accepted Christ as Savior are members of the Body of Christ. Christ is the head (Colossians 1:18); we are members of His Body, the Church (I Corinthians 12:12-17; Ephesians 5:25-32).

Article XII

Offerings
We believe that every believer should give of a cheerful heart, as led by the Holy Spirit, from what God hath prospered Him (II Corinthians 9:7; I Corinthians 16:2).

Article XIII

Tongues and Healing
We believe that the gift of tongues and healing, as spoken of in I Corinthians 13:8-13, were for signs to unbelievers so that the Gospel might be established. We further believe that since the full revelation of the Word of God was given, tongues ceased as stated in I Corinthians 13:8-13.

Article XIV

God’s Purpose for Man and Woman
We believe God created man and woman sexually different and mutually complementary. Man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26) and woman was created to be a help-meet (Genesis 2:20-24). They become one flesh in marriage. Sexual perversion in any form is strictly forbidden and condemned by God: i.e., promiscuity, fornication, lasciviousness, and homosexuality (Romans 1:24-29; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; I Corinthians 6:9). People who practice these sins will not be permitted into the membership of the Church nor employed by the Church. And any member or employee found practicing these sins will be dismissed as a member (See Article VI, Section 2C of the church constitution).

We recognize that God loves everyone (John 3:16) and offers forgiveness to all (1 John 1:9) who confess and forsake their sin.

Revised and amended, 2006 - 2008. Ratified by the congregation, April, 2008.