Statement of Faith
INSPIRATION
We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as being verbally inspired by God and inerrant and infallible in the original writings, and that they are of supreme and final authority.
Terms explained:
1. Verbally: This means that the individual words of the Bible are true and without error in the original writings. Therefore, more than just the thought or concept is inspired, but also every word (Mat. 5:17-18; Prov. 30:5-6). The term “plenary” is often used with the word ‘verbal’ to give the view that all Scripture is fully and equally inspired (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
2. Inspired (Inspiration): Inspiration is that particular work of God by which he Holy Spirit, becoming the co-author of Scripture, supernaturally directed the writers of Scripture and without excluding their human intelligence, individuality, literary style, personal feelings, or any other human factor, God’s own complete and coherent message to men was recorded in perfect accuracy and the very words of the Bible bear the authority of this divine authorship. Inspiration is not equivalent to dictation except in certain instances, as God uses the experience, feelings and thinking of the human author. The end result, however, is just as accurate as if God Himself had taken the pen. Hence, the Scriptures were inspired or breathed out by God and, though the authors were fallible men, what wrote was without error (2 Peter 1:20-21). Inspiration does not suppress the intellectual ability and talent but rather uses that intellectual ability and talent (Luke 1:1-3; 2 Samuel 23:2).
3. Inerrant: Inerrant means that the Scriptures in their original writings were without error (John 10:35; Luke 16:17).
4. Infallible: Infallible means that the Scriptures in their original writings were incapable of error and never wrong (John 10:35; Luke 16:17).
5. Final Authority: The Scriptures are God’s special revelation (communication of truth) to man and because they are inspired and inerrant, they become our final authority. However, we take careful note of what the Bible indicates as not being authoritative, such as Satan’s statement to Eve in the Garden of Eden, “You surely shall not die.” (Gen 3:45; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).
TRINITY
We believe in one God eternally existing in one essence, yet three co-equal persons, the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Terms explained:
1. Eternally existing: There is but one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-6, 14, 18, 21-22; Mark 12:29-32), Who has no beginning and no ending (Ps 90:1-2; Gen. 1:1).
2. Three in One: God is one in essence, yet three persons, co-equal, eternally existing (Mat. 28:19; Eph. 4:4-6; Rev 1:4; John 12:26, 15:26, 16:15; 1 Peter 1:2; Acts 2:32-36; 1 Cor. 12:3-6; 2 Cor. 13:14).
3. Co-equal:
a. The Bible tells us that the Father is God (John 6:27; Rom. 1:7).
b. The Son is recognized as God (John 1:1, 20:28; Heb. 1:8; 1 John 5:19-27; Phil. 2:6).
c. The Holy Spirit is also identified as God (Mat. 28:19; Acts 5:4,9).
INCARNATION
We believe that Jesus Christ is the second in the Trinity, Son of God, as God self-existent, eternally begotten of the Father and in his incarnation was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born to Mary while she was still a virgin.
Terms explained:
1. Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ had two natures in one person, so that He was simultaneously fully God and fully man, and this relationship was such that there was no dividing of person nor confounding of the two natures (John 1:1-14).
2. Conceived by the Holy Spirit: The conception of Jesus was a divine act of God, without human agency (Mat. 1:18; Luke 1:26-38).
3. Born to Mary: At the time of Christ’s conception and birth, Mary was a virgin (Mat. 1:18-25; Isa 7:14; Luke 1:27).
HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, Who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He is the life of the believer, and He empowers the preaching and teaching of the gospel.
Terms explained:
1. Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, equal with the Father and the Son (John 14:16; Mat. 28:19}.
2. Convicts: Jesus Christ said that the Spirit would perform this ministry with respect to the world (John 16:7-11).
3. Life: The Holy Spirit is the agent of spiritual birth (John 3:5-8). The Spirit regenerates, indwells, seals, and baptizes into the church body all believers (1 Cor. 12:13; Titus 3:5; Eph. 1:13, 4:30; 1 Cor. 6:19; Rom. 8:9,11; 2 Cor. 1:21-22). The believer’s life is strengthened and guided by the Spirit (Eph. 1:13, 3:16; John 16:13; Rom. 8:4,14,26-27). The believer is commanded to be filled or controlled by the Spirit, so that the characteristics of Christ-likeness will be evident in a powerful life (Eph. 5:18; Gal. 5:16).
4. Empowers: The Holy Spirit enables the spreading of God’s word in testimony, preaching and practical living (John 15:26-27). Spiritual obedience will give fruit to a spiritually powerful life of service for Christ (Eph. 5:15-21; Gal. 5:22-25).
MANKIND
We believe that mankind was created in the image of God, sinned, and thereby incurred not only physical death, but spiritual death, which is separation from God, and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature.
Terms explained:
1. Created in the Image of God: Gen. 1:27, 5:1; 1 Cor. 11:7.
2. Separation from God: When Adam, of his own free will, chose to disobey God, he sinned (the breaking of God’s law), and all of mankind sinned in him (Rom 5:12). This original sin separated us from God, Who, because of His holiness, could not tolerate sin, and therefore, judged such sin (Rom. 6:23, 3:10, 8:7; Gal. 3:22).
3. Sinful Nature: Through Adam’s sin, all mankind has this original sin imputed to their account and inherits a sinful, corrupted nature from birth (Gen 8:21, Psa 51:5, 58:3, Rom 5:12, 1 Cor 15:20-22). As such, all mankind in its natural state are children of wrath, wholly defiled in their faculties, and are unable to please God being slaves of sin (John 8:34, Rom 3:10-18, 8:7-8, Eph 2:1-3).
ATONEMENT
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who believe in Him are justified on the basis of His shed blood.
Terms explained:
1. Representative: As our representative, Jesus became sin even though he himself was sinless (John 11:51-52, 17:2, 1 John 2:2, 2 Cor. 5:14-21). As Adam is a representative for all mankind, in Adam all sin. In Christ as our representative, we are made alive (1 Cor. 15:22).
2. Substitutionary: This is called the “vicarious” suffering since Christ died in our place. He did not die for His own sin (Heb. 4:15-16; 1 John 3:5), but died for the sins of others (1 Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 5:8).
3. All Who Believe: The gift of salvation through the atoning death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is for all mankind without distinction (both Jew and Gentile) and should be preached indiscriminately. (Rom. 1:13, 1 John 2:2) We are justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. (Gal. 2:16, 3:11, Eph. 2:8-9).
4. Justified: Justification is that act of God whereby He declares the guilty and depraved sinner to be righteous because of God’s own righteousness having been imputed, or credited to the sinner (Deut. 25:1; Prov. 17:15; Rom. 3:23-26, 4:5-8, 25, 5:18, 8:33).
RESURRECTION, ASCENSION, EXALTATION
We believe in the physical resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, His literal ascension into Heaven and His present life there as High Priest and Advocate for us.
Terms explained:
1. Resurrection: We believe that after three days, Jesus Christ arose bodily from the grave (Luke 24:23-40). The doctrine of the resurrection is essential to salvation (Rom. 10:9,19; 1 Cor. 15:12-23,35-37).
2. Ascension: After His resurrection and forty-day ministry Jesus ascended up into Heaven (Acts 1:1-11; 1 Peter 3:22).
3. High Priest and Advocate: Since Christ’s atonement has restored our relationship with God, we now can approach God through Christ, who as our High Priest represents us before God. As our Advocate, He compassionately deals with our needs and strengthens us (John 14:18; Heb. 4:14, 5:1-10, 13:5, 7:25, 8:1-2,11-15,24).
ESCHATOLOGY
We believe in the blessed hope, the personal, visible and imminent return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Terms explained:
1. Blessed Hope: The return of the Lord is an event that believers ought to wait for with high expectation and excitement. As still imperfect people, we eagerly await the restoration of all things to perfect Christ-likeness after the return of Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13; Rom. 8:18-25; 1 Peter 1:7,13, 4:13; 2 Thes. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:7).
2. Personal, visible: Jesus, not just in spirit, but in bodily form, will return to this earth (Acts 1:11).
3. Imminent: The church, as God’s steward, ought to consider the return of Christ as an event which is imminent, and therefore, though patient, we are to be alert to such an event as we seek to glorify Him through our lives (Mark 3:33-37; Mat. 24:22,24,29-51; Luke 21:34).
4. Patient Lifestyle: The Bible’s teaching concerning the Lord’s impending return is always set in the context of practical exhortation, focusing upon our present lifestyle, rather than upon undue speculation (2 Peter 3:11; Mat. 24:42-51).
SALVATION
We believe that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again by the Holy Spirit, and thereby become children of God and heirs of eternal life.
Terms explained:
1. Faith: Faith is the “gift of God” (Eph. 2:8) and is produced by the Word of God (Rom. 10:14,17). We are saved by faith alone apart from works (Eph. 2:9; Rom. 3:20; Titus 3:5). However, genuine faith necessarily leads to good works (Eph. 2:10; Mat. 5:16; James 2:17-26).
2. Born again by the Holy Spirit: The new birth (regeneration) is absolutely necessary for fellowship with God (John 3:7). The new birth is the work of the Holy Spirit (John 3:8) by which He creates within a person a new nature, a new heart, a new spirit (John 3:5; 2 Peter 1:4; Ezek. 11:19, 36:26; 2 Cor. 5:17).
3. Children of God: Those who have received the Spirit of Christ have therefore been born again into God’s family (John 1:1-12; Rom. 8:9,14-17). As members of His family, we not only have fellowship with our Father in Heaven, but we are being transformed by the Holy Spirit into the image of Christ and when Christ returns we will be completely changed in body and spirit to be like Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:19-23; 1 John 3:2). This experience of the life of Jesus Christ within us now by the presence of the Holy Spirit and forever ours in the presence of Jesus Christ is “eternal life”.
HEAVEN AND HELL
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost in hell, and the fellowship of the saved in heaven.
Terms explained:
1. Bodily resurrection: We believe that at Christ’s return, saints “asleep” will be risen to eternal life and saints presently alive will be ‘caught up’ with them. We will be given new eternal, heavenly bodies. (1 Thess. 4:13-18, 1 Cor. 15:51-58). We also believe in the conscious eternal torment of the wicked who will also stand before God on the final judgment day of Christ. Those whose names will not be found in the Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev 3:5, 20:11-15, 21:8,2, Matthew 18:8-9, Mat 25:31-46, Luke 10:20, Phil 4:3, Acts 13:48)
2. Everlasting conscious suffering: Luke 16:19-31; Mat. 25:30, 24:51; Heb. 12:23; 2 Cor. 5:6-9; Phil. 1:23; Rev. 6:9, 20:4, Mat. 18:8-9.
3. Heaven: We believe heaven to be a literal place, the new creation (a fully reconciled/new heavens and earth) as an eternal home for believers of all ages (John 14:1-6; Heb. 1:10-16 Revelation 21-22).
4. Hell: We believe hell to be a literal place where all unsaved will spend eternity (Rev. 20:15; Mat. 13:36-43, Mat.18:8-9).
DEVIL
We believe in the existence of a personal devil, who is still working in the world to destroy the souls of men and that he and all his angels and all who receive not Christ as their Savior will eternally perish in the lake of fire.
Terms explained:
1. Devil: Though a created being and one of the highest angels, the devil fell because he wanted to be as great as or greater than God (Isa 14:12-15).
2. Eternally perish: The judgment upon the devil and his followers is an unending punishment (Rev. 20:10, 14-15, 19-20).
CHURCH
We believe in the church, whose mission it is to preach the Gospel and to equip believers for ministry, all of its endeavors being guided by multiple leadership and supported by the wise stewardship of God’s people.
Terms explained:
1. Body of Christ: The collective body of believers in Jesus Christ is the church (Eph. 5:23-32; Col. 1:18; Mat. 18:20; Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 2:19, 3:15).
2. Mission: Mat. 28:18-20; Rom. 15:6; Eph. 1:15-23.
3. Preach: By this term we encompass all of the believers who are to declare and make known God’s truth through the totality of their lives, in addition to the formal proclamation of the Word of God (Eph.3:8-10, 4:15-16; Col. 1:10-28).
4. Multiple leadership: Within each local church we believe God provides a team of Pastor(s), elders, deacons and other workers who are to guide and enable the congregation to develop spiritual maturity. Pastors are literally shepherds, or those who feed sheep, and therefore, figuratively, those appointed to feed spiritually and serve the congregation. Elders are to do the work of shepherding and are appointed to exercise spiritual oversight for the flock entrusted to them. We believe the functions of elders or bishop/overseers to be identical, and that the term “Elder” refers mainly to the person, while “bishop” or “overseer” refers to what an Elder does. Elders serve as shepherds, or ministering workers who fulfill various formal or informal roles within the congregation.
5. Equip believers: Members of the local church are to be taught from scripture, principles for Christian living. Under the guidance of God’s word, believers are to submit to the Holy Spirit for daily living recognizing that God’s word gives guiding principles to live by along with certain requirements for Holy living. Believers are commanded in God’s word to abstains from and reject practices of drunkenness, adultery, fornication, illegal drug use, homosexuality, immorality, witchcraft and rebellion. We further believe that all believers are to be responsible to equip each other as the church follows the “one another” commands of Christ and as we live out confidence in the sufficiency of Christ and his word to help real people with real problems.
6. Stewardship: As members of God’s family, we recognize the obligation under which God places us to exercise care and concern with regard to all time, possessions, wealth and persons as may be entrusted to us. One mark of the spiritually wise person is the mature choices made with respect to these areas (Mat. 20:8; Gal. 4:2; Luke 16:2-3; 1 Cor. 4:1-2; Titus 1:7; 1 Peter 4:10; 1 Cor. 9:17; Eph. 3:2; Col. 1:25).
7. Giving: We believe the guideline of ten percent can be appropriate, yet we recognize the individual believer as free from percentage compulsion or formal requirements in stewardship matters or church support (Lev. 27:30-33; Num. 18:21-29; Deut. 12:5-7, 17-18, 14:22-29, 26:12; Gen. 14:17-24; Luke 11:42; Mat 23:23; Heb. 7:1-5). We believe that the church should be generous toward local church gospel ministry. We are thankful for any gift, whether money, time or effort, that is freely given in response to the direction of God’s Spirit in the generosity of the giver. (1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 8:24-9:15).
ORDINANCES
We believe that the ordinances of the church given by our Lord, are Baptism and the Lord’s Table (Communion).
Terms explained:
1. Baptism: Baptism is commanded of all believers and it is an act of obedience signifying the believer’s death, burial and resurrection “in Christ” (Rom. 6:3-4; Acts 18:8; 1 Peter 3:21). The disciples were commanded to see to it that baptism was a part of their ministry (Mat. 28:19-20,16:16) and the pattern of the book of Acts (Acts 2:38-41, 8:12-13,36,38) indicates the widespread practice of water baptism by immersion for believers. This church does not believe in baptismal regeneration, nor do we hold that baptism is necessary for salvation. We further state that baptism, being a physical public sign of testimony of salvation already effected in Christ, is also the means by which we can be counted among the brethren in membership of the body.
2. Lord’s Table (Communion): On the night of His arrest, Jesus instituted what is known as the Lord’s supper or table, or Communion service, which symbolizes and calls our attention to the atonement. This celebration is one in which we look back to the finished work of Christ and also forward to the yet to be completed consummation of our redemption (Mat. 26:26-30; 1 Cor. 10:16, 11:23-30; 2 Peter 2:13).
We believe that the foregoing are Bible doctrines, therefore, we stand firm upon this Confession of Faith.
Apart from this statement, our church stands on the "5 Solas" of the reformation. Scripture alone. Grace alone. Faith alone. Christ alone. To God's glory alone.
Other helpful documents that may be consistent with the type of preaching you might hear at our church are the 1644 and 1646 London Baptist Confession of Faith.