WHAT WE BELIEVE
Rooted in Scripture
While our church does have a constitution, and we do follow a somewhat democratic process, we are not a democracy, a constitutional republic, or a tyrannical dictatorship. God in wisdom has ordered His church after His own Word. Our practices are driven by what God has commanded, and restrained by what He has forbidden. Please read through our statement of faith to better understand what we believe.
SCRIPTURE
The Scriptures, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, were given by the inspiration of God. They are the all-sufficient, certain, infallible, inerrant, authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith and practice. Nothing, whether a supposed revelation of the Spirit or man's traditions, is ever to be added to the Scripture.
Isaiah 8:20; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Revelation 22:18-21.
TRINITY
There is only one true and living God. He is the Creator, Preserver and Ruler of all things. He is self-existent, infinite and eternal in His being and His perfections. God has revealed Himself to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being.
Exodus 3:14; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Colossians 1:15-20.
CREATION
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth and all things, whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days and all very good. God created man, male and female, in His image. He created man with reasonable and immortal souls in righteousness and holiness. Man owes to his Creator whatever worship, service or obedience He is pleased to require of him.
Genesis 1:1, 31; John 1:1-4; Revelation 4:9-11.
PROVIDENCE
Nothing happens by chance or outside of the sphere of God's providence. God with infinite holiness, love, power and wisdom, upholds, directs, controls and governs all things.
Daniel 4:34-35; Psalm 115:1-3
SIN AND THE FALL
Man was originally created upright and free from sin. Through the temptation of Satan, Adam and Eve transgressed the command of God and fell from their original state of holiness and righteousness. Consequently, all their posterity inherit a nature corrupt and opposed to God and His law. All are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors.
Genesis 2:16-17, 3:6-7; Romans 3:10-20, 5:12
ELECTION
Election is God's eternal choice of some persons unto everlasting life - not because of foreseen merit in them, but of His mere mercy in Christ - in consequence of which choice they are called, justified and glorified.
Ephesians 1:3-7; 1 Peter 1:1-4
THE MEDIATOR
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law, and suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried, rose again on the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He ever lives to make intercession for His people. He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest and King of the Church, and Sovereign of the Universe.
Acts 14:6; Hebrews 7:20-28; 1 Timothy 2:5
REGENERATION
Regeneration is a change of heart brought about by the Holy Spirit, who makes alive the dead in trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and renewing their whole nature, so that they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God's free and special grace alone.
Ephesians 2:4-5; Titus 3:5-7
REPENTANCE
Repentance and faith are inseparable. Repentance is a saving grace by which a sinner out of a true sense of sin and an understanding of the mercy of God in Christ, does with godly sorrow and hatred of sin turn from it to God, with a determination to walk before God so as to please Him in all things.
Acts 20:21; Luke 24:46-48; 2 Corinthians 7:10
FAITH
Saving faith is the belief of God's authority, of whatever is revealed in His Word, and receiving and resting upon Christ alone for justification, salvation and eternal life. It is worked in the heart by the Holy Spirit, and is accompanied by all other saving graces, and leads to a life of holiness.
Romans 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:1-6
JUSTIFICATION
Justification is the one time declaration by God that a sinner who has faith in Christ is righteous. It is the gracious act by which God fully and completely forgives sinners and imparts to them the righteousness of Jesus Christ at the moment they believe. Justification is by faith in Jesus Christ. It is bestowed only on those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:21-26, 5:1-2
SANCTIFICATION
Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified by God's word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive through the supply of Divine strength, which all Christians seek to obtain, pressing after a heavenly life in obedience to all Christ's commands.
1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 12:14
PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
Those whom God has accepted in the Beloved, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end. They may fall, through neglect and temptation, into sin, and grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the Church, and temporal judgments on themselves. They shall, however, be renewed again unto repentance, and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
John 10:27-30; Philippians 1:6
THE CHURCH
The Lord Jesus is the Head of the Church, which is composed of all His true disciples, and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government. According to His commandment, Christians are to associate themselves into local churches. To each of these churches He gives needful authority for administering the order, discipline and worship which He has appointed. The regular officers of a Church are Pastors or Elders, and Deacons.
Matthew 16:18; Hebrews 10:23-25; Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 3:1-13
THE RESURRECTION
The bodies of men after death return to dust, but their spirits return immediately to God - the righteous to rest with Him; the wicked to be reserved under darkness to the judgment. At the last day, the bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised.
John 5:25-29; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
THE JUDGMENT
God has appointed a day when he will judge the world by Jesus Christ and every one shall receive according to his deeds: the wicked shall go into everlasting punishment; the righteous into everlasting life.
Matthew 25:31-46; Acts 17:30-31; Revelation 20:11-15