OUR FAITH STATEMENT

The following is a brief overview of our basic beliefs.

1. THE HOLY TRINITY
We believe in one living and true God, eternal and of infinite power, wisdom, goodness and righteousness. He is a loving and faithful God who is the Creator and preserver of all things. (Genesis 1:1; Jeremiah 10:10; 1 Timothy 1:17) In the unity of this Godhead there are three persons of one substance with identical qualities and attributes: the Father (God), the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit (John 1:1,2; 4:24; 5:18; 10:30).

2. THE SON OF GOD
We believe in the divine nature of Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin, Mary. Christ was both fully man and fully God. He walked our earth, suffered at the hands of men, was crucified, died and was buried as a sacrifice for the sins of all men and women everywhere. The purpose was to restore our relationship to God which is broken by sin (disobedience) (Luke 1:27; 31:35; John 3:16; Romans 5:10; Ephesians 5:2). Christ rose from the dead and ascended into heaven in full victory over Satan and sin. He now intercedes for the body of believers to God the Father (Matthew 28:5-9; Luke 24:4-7).

3. THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Holy Spirit as the person of the Holy Trinity who lives within us, giving us the power to live a holy life and guiding us to, truth (Romans 8:9; Galatians 4:6). We believe that the Holy Spirit gifts the church with spiritual gifts (see IX. Gifts of the Spirit) that allow the church to function effectively as the body of Christ.

4. THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE
We believe that the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments combined constitute the Holy Bible; no books may be added or deleted. The Holy Bible is inspired and inerrant (that is, without error or failure of basic contents and meaning in the original manuscripts). The Holy Bible contains all the necessary truth to lead men and women into salvation (Psalm 19:7; John 17:17; Romans 15:4; I Thessalonians 2:13; II Timothy 3:15-17).

5. MAN
We believe in the fall and lostness of man, whose total depravity requires that he be regenerated by the Holy Spirit for his salvation.

6. SALVATION
After receiving salvation by faith through belief in Jesus Christ, the “born-again” (John 3:3) believer may live free from the judgment of God, by living a life according to the teaching of the scriptures and trusting the Holy Spirit for the power to live a holy life according to God’s Word.

7. SANCTIFICATION
We believe that sanctification is the work of God through the power of the Holy Spirit, making the believer pure in heart and totally committed and dedicated to God. This work is both instantaneous and gradual (or progressive). It begins when a person is saved and continues throughout life. It is the responsibility of each believer to yield themselves to the work of sanctification. Though we ourselves can not sanctify ourselves we can hinder or help the process by our own will. But for all believers sanctification is the will of God, (1 Thessalonians 4:3) and as such the responsibility of the believer to pursue it. 


8. MINISTRY OF BELIEVERS
We believe in the priesthood of all believers. We believe, as Martin Luther stated so well, that each believer is called into ministry. It is not a matter of special calling but of roles... We believe that it is the will and desire of God that each believer discover their call to ministry and to begin to function fully in it.

9. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
We believe that those who have not accepted Christ as their personal Savior and are unrepentant will be judged by God in His perfect justice and doomed to eternal punishment (Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 25:31-46; II Corinthians 5:10; Romans 2:16). We believe in the personal return of Jesus Christ to receive His believers into heaven and eternal life. The time of His return is unknown, but may be at any moment. This is the glorious hope of all God’s children (John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; James 5:7-8; Revelation 22:12, 20).

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