Statement of Faith
The Bible
We believe in the inspiration and final authority of the Bible.
The Bible is the inspired and infallible Word of God. The Bible is the final authority on truth, morality, and proper conduct. The Bible is the ultimate and only source of all we believe.
The Trinity
We believe the One Living True God exists eternally in three coequal persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As such, God is by nature a relational being within Himself and with us. God is the eternal King of Kings. He is infinite Spirit, perfect in love, holiness, wisdom, goodness, justice and power. Out of the love of the Trinity and for God’s own glory, He created all that is created. His love and power are revealed through creation, redemption, and the promised future consummation of the world.
The Son, Jesus the Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ was/is the Word of God incarnate, fully human and fully God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary. Jesus was anointed as God’s Messiah and empowered by the Holy Spirit, inaugurating God’s kingdom reign on earth, overpowering the reign of Satan by resisting temptation, preaching the Good News of salvation, healing the sick, casting out demons and raising the dead. He suffered under Pontius Pilate. He was crucified, died and was buried. He arose bodily from the dead and was seen by many witnesses. He ascended into heaven where He sits at the Father’s right hand. At the end, He will be the judge of all humanity.
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the current work of the Holy Spirit in the life of every believer. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ as our Helper, Teacher, and Guide. The Holy Spirit empowers us for the building up the Body of Christ and evangelism of the World through the Gifts of the Spirit. We believe also in the filling or baptism of the Holy Spirit, most often a conscious, second experience of grace, by which the believer is empowered for ministry.
Humanity
We believe that humanity – male and female – was made in the image of God. Thus, humanity is by nature relational and longs for relationship with God and each other. Though originally created good and for relationship with God, humanity is now fallen and separated from Him.
Satan
We believe that Satan and the demonic actually exist and have established a counter-kingdom of darkness in conflict with God and the Kingdom of light.
The Church
We believe that, although it has many diverse expressions, there is one universal Church made up of all who receive the Good News of Jesus Christ and are regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is the head of this living body which transcends the barriers of race, culture, gender, economics, and even time. The Church has two ordinances that were established by the Lord Jesus Himself: baptism and communion. Both of these are available to all believers.
Creation
The story of the Bible begins with creation. “In the beginning, God
created the heavens and the earth.” God is thus the sole source of
the entire created order, the originator of all the laws of physical
nature and human nature. Every part of creation, in its original
form, bears His fingerprints and reflects His character. Creation,
then, is good and no part of it is inherently evil. Humanity was
created in the image of God as relational beings with the purpose of
being in relationship with Him, sharing in the love of the Trinity,
and having dominion over the earth.
Fall
Though created good, humanity fell into sin and thus plunged all of
creation into the fall. As a result of the fall, humanity is born blind to
the truth and dead in sin. Sin now literally darkens our
understanding. As creation was universal in scope, including the
entire cosmos, so too is the fall. Even the natural world has been
terribly affected by human sin. Sin has the pervasive power to
infect even our best and most noble efforts. As a result, we are
incapable of saving ourselves.
New Creation (Redemption)
As Creation and the Fall were comprehensive, so too is God’s plan
of Redemption. Through the self-substitutionary atoning work of
Christ – that is, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our sins – God has provided a way of Salvation. All who repent of
their sins and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ will be
saved. They are translated from the kingdom of darkness to the
God’s kingdom of light. In the end, Jesus Christ will return and
consummate His Kingdom which has already been inaugurated.
This will include the resurrection of the dead and the final defeat of
Satan. There will be a new heaven and a new earth and He will
reign forever.
