The Bible The Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired and infallible Word of God, the necessary and complete revelation of His Will for the salvation of men, and is the ultimate authority for Christian faith and life.
The Trinity The triune God is the one true and living God, eternally existing in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
God’s Divinity While God is the Creator, Sustainer, and Ruler of Creation, He is prior to and distinct from Creation.
Man’s Nature The first man, Adam, was created by God in His image, but fell from his original state by sinning against God, thereby incurring upon himself and all his posterity the guilt of sin, condemnation, and death; therefore, all humankind is in need of salvation, but are totally incapable of saving themselves.
God’s Grace After the Fall, God, in His mercy and love, made provision for humanity’s redemption through the establishment of the covenant of grace with His people by the promise and actual giving of the Savior Jesus Christ, through whom humanity receives justification and life by faith in Him.
Jesus Christ Jesus Christ is the Son of God, sent by the Father, begotten by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary; He lived a sinless and obedient life, suffered, and died on the cross vicariously for the sins of His people who believe in Him; God raised Him from the dead, exalted Him both as Lord and Christ, and gave Him the promise of the Holy Spirit for His Church.
Salvation of Man Humanity is saved by grace through faith in Christ in response to the Gospel preached, or otherwise presented, in the power of the Holy Spirit, through whom ransomed sinners became the sons of God and heirs of eternal life. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and men; through His and only through Him the believer has access to the Father.
Life of a Believer Every believer is a new creature in Christ, and is called to walk in the Spirit, to die unto sin, and to live unto righteousness, and thereby manifest the fruit of the Spirit, conforming himself to the image of Christ; good works are the fruit of the Christian life, and are not means of justification.
Free Will God alone is the Lord of our conscience, and believers are free from human commands that are contrary to, or in addition to, the Scripture in matters of faith and conduct.
The Church The Church, consisting of all true believers, being Christ’s own and indwelled by the Holy Spirit, is the Body of Christ. The Church is holy, universal, and one in Christ. The invisible Church manifests itself in the visible church, that is, the local congregations consisting all who profess to believe in Christ and are baptized. As the people of God and a kingdom of priests, the Church is called to grow unto the stature of the fullness of Christ and to fulfill her missionary work through the exercise of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, in worship, sacrament, fellowship, discipline, and service.
Role of Believers The priesthood of all believers translates into parity between the clergy and the laity.
Last Days In the last day, as the consummation of redemption, Christ will come again personally and visibly to the earth to judge the living and the dead; there will be a bodily resurrection of the dead, of the believers through the Holy Spirit unto the inheritance of eternal life, and the unbelievers unto condemnation; a new heaven and a new earth will be ushered in.
Statement Regarding Gender, Sexuality, and Marriage God wonderfully created humanity male and female (Gen 1:26-27). We believe that Scripture celebrates marriage between a man and woman (Gen 2:18-25; Matt 19:3-6) as well as singleness as relational states that honor God (1 Cor 7:7). We believe that God desires healing, reconciliation, restoration, comfort, and peace for all people regardless of their standing with God (Rom 3:23; Rom 5:6-8; Isa 61).
Statement of Final Authority on Matters of Faith and Conduct The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of this corporation’s beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of humankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For the purposes of this organization’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our board of directors is the organization’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.
