Statement of Faith
THE PERSON OF JESUS
We believe Jesus Christ was and is the one, true Son of God. He is fully God and fully Man (Colossians 2:9, John 1:14). There is only one true God, who is revealed in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is the Word (Logos) of God. The Word was with God in the beginning, which states His pre-existence as one with God (John 1:1).
“By Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth.” (Colossians 1:16), therefore making Jesus the Creator. Jesus Christ is the Purpose of God found in all of Creation. He is the Father’s delight and desire, and the Father is looking for the reflection of His Son in all created things. Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the End.
In the beginning, it was the ultimate purpose of God for all things to be summed up in Christ (Ephesians 1:10). Jesus Christ, who pre-existed with God in the form of God, emptied Himself to become fully a Man that He might be the propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of mankind (Galatians 1:3-4). Through His propitiatory sacrifice made on the Cross, all who believe in Him and His sacrifice have their sin remitted and are restored to the fellowship with God lost by man’s transgression.
Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, the human aspect of Jesus, by the seed of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18-25). His virgin birth is a testimony that only the Spirit can beget that which is Spirit. Those of the new creation are not solely of human origin, but are from above by the Holy Spirit. The resurrection of Jesus’ physical body after His crucifixion was literal (1 Corinthians 15:4), as will be the resurrection of both the just and the unjust on the Day of Judgment.
“There is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,” (1 Timothy 2:5). All who seek restoration and fellowship with God must go through Jesus and cannot approach God through any person, spirit or doctrine (Acts 4:12). It is also a supreme presumption for any person or institution to seek to be mediator for others in place of Christ Jesus Himself (1 Timothy 2:5). The Great Commission was for His followers to labor until Christ formed in His church, to present every person complete in Christ, and to manifest the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.
CONCERNING MAN
We believe that God created man from the dust of the earth, without sin or the knowledge of good and evil. The first man, Adam, transgressed the command of God, as God had warned, the process of death entered him and all of his descendants because of that transgression (Romans 5:12). Therefore, all have sinned and are worthy of the sentence of death (Romans 6:23).
Because of our unrighteousness, we are unable to approach a holy God, except through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. Through Jesus, we not only can come before the Throne of Grace, but we may approach it boldly since our confidence is not in ourselves, but in the Lord Jesus (Romans 4:5).
THE ATONEMENT OF JESUS
Because all have sinned and are therefore under the sentence of death, all must trust in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus for remission of sins. There is no other way to reconcile with God or escape from eternal judgment, except through the propitiatory sacrifice of Jesus (John 14:6).
Those who trust in Jesus Christ have access to the Throne of Grace by His sacrifice alone. Good works are acceptable to God only as a love offering given to Him because of His worthiness, and have no bearing on our acceptance, standing or approval, all of which were accomplished by the Cross. Good works offered for the purpose of acceptance, standing or approval are therefore an affront to the Cross by which all things were gained for us by Jesus. Good works are not offered for His approval, but for His joy and glory, and must be offered through the Son (1 Peter 2:5) in obedience to Him. Therefore, the goal of our service is obedience and not sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22).
THE NEW BIRTH
Believing in our hearts that Jesus is the Son of God and in His propitiation made for our salvation results in a regeneration and renewal that constitutes our new birth into new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). Although this does not imply immediate perfection in our temporal life or lifestyle, it does mean that true faith will result in a radical change in us.
Being “born again” implies a new beginning, not an ending. Christian maturity in faith, truth and life is a process. Even so, this process must begin spiritual regeneration or new birth. While it is possible to change our behavior without regeneration, changing our hearts requires the new birth, and it is our hearts upon which God looks (1 Samuel 16:7).
THE ROLE OF FAITH
We believe that salvation is by grace through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Salvation is a gift of God, and cannot be obtained by works of righteousness (Ephesians 2:8). Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith is a critical ingredient given by God that without which, we would not be able to please God (Hebrews 11:1).
THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE
We believe in the divine inspiration and authority of the 66 books of the Holy Bible as the complete canon of God’s testimony to mankind (2 Timothy 3:16). We are committed to esteeming Scripture as the very Word of God, inerrant in its original form. We do not accept any doctrine that contradicts Scriptures.
We understand that there are many practices and doctrines that are considered orthodox which do not contradict the Scripture, but which are not directly addressed in His Word. We are committed to giving liberty in the belief and practice of these teachings, but we will endeavor to maintain the simplicity of the biblical testimony and its stated practices as we are given grace to perceive them.
We do not accept any spiritual experience as having its source in the Holy Sprit that does not have a precedent in Scripture. We do not accept any revelation, vision, dream, prophecy or discernment as truth that contradicts Scripture, or cannot be verified by it (Deuteronomy 13:1-3, Galatians 1:8). We do not believe that any other writings have the same authority as the canon of Scripture.
THE LORD'S SUPPER
We adhere to the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of Jesus and as a testimony of our communion with Him in His Church (1 Corinthians 11:23-28). We consider it a holy ordinance, but we do not accept the teaching that communion is for the purpose of remitting sins, which Scripture states is based solely in the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross (Hebrews 9:25-28).
WATER BAPTISM
We believe that water baptism should be by immersion and accomplished after commitment to the Lordship of Jesus and His atoning sacrifice for our sin (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:16). This ordinance is a personal and public statement of faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ on our behalf, and is a commitment to lay down our lives to be one with Him in His death, burial and resurrection (Romans 6:1-4).
BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is an additional impartation which may be subsequent to regeneration (Acts 8:15-17; 19:1-6). This baptism is usually accompanied by the gifts of the Spirit, such as speaking in tongues, prophecy, etc.
We believe that this gift is presently available to all who believe (Acts 2:38-39), but is not essential for salvation or regeneration. While these are accomplished by the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-7), there were disciples who did not even know that there was a Holy Spirit. Just as Paul made it a priority to instruct those believers and pray for them to receive this gift, we are committed to doing the same.
The purpose of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is to impart spiritual power to the believer to be a witness (Acts 1:8; 5:32). This baptism is to be distinguished from being filled with the Spirit (Acts 4:31; 7:55; 13:9,52), which can be a special and repeated empowering for specific purposes.
We believe that when Christians truly have been baptized with the Holy Spirit, they should begin to take on His nature and fruit, becoming “helpers” and “comforters”, leading others into truth, and testifying of Jesus.
THE PRESENT MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT
We believe that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8) and that His ministry in and through the church by the Holy Spirit has not changed from the beginning. We accept, acknowledge, encourage and seek all of the biblical gifts and ministries of the Holy Spirit as present and vital for the church to accomplish her full purpose today (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).
THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS & ETERNITY
We believe in the literal, physical return of the Lord Jesus Christ to take authority and rule on earth (Acts 1:9-11). We believe that those who are alive and remain at the return of our Lord will be changed and caught up to be with Him in the air; those who have died in the faith will be resurrected and precede those who are alive in being changed and caught up to be with Him (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).
We believe in the literal, physical resurrection of both the just and the unjust for the Day of Judgment (Matthew 25:31-46). For those of us who have been justified by faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on our behalf, this resurrection is for eternal life in fellowship with God (Revelation 21:1-4). Those who are not justified by faith in Jesus are resurrected for an eternal judgment (Revelation 20:12-15).
We believe Jesus Christ was and is the one, true Son of God. He is fully God and fully Man (Colossians 2:9, John 1:14). There is only one true God, who is revealed in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is the Word (Logos) of God. The Word was with God in the beginning, which states His pre-existence as one with God (John 1:1).
“By Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth.” (Colossians 1:16), therefore making Jesus the Creator. Jesus Christ is the Purpose of God found in all of Creation. He is the Father’s delight and desire, and the Father is looking for the reflection of His Son in all created things. Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the End.
In the beginning, it was the ultimate purpose of God for all things to be summed up in Christ (Ephesians 1:10). Jesus Christ, who pre-existed with God in the form of God, emptied Himself to become fully a Man that He might be the propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of mankind (Galatians 1:3-4). Through His propitiatory sacrifice made on the Cross, all who believe in Him and His sacrifice have their sin remitted and are restored to the fellowship with God lost by man’s transgression.
Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, the human aspect of Jesus, by the seed of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18-25). His virgin birth is a testimony that only the Spirit can beget that which is Spirit. Those of the new creation are not solely of human origin, but are from above by the Holy Spirit. The resurrection of Jesus’ physical body after His crucifixion was literal (1 Corinthians 15:4), as will be the resurrection of both the just and the unjust on the Day of Judgment.
“There is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,” (1 Timothy 2:5). All who seek restoration and fellowship with God must go through Jesus and cannot approach God through any person, spirit or doctrine (Acts 4:12). It is also a supreme presumption for any person or institution to seek to be mediator for others in place of Christ Jesus Himself (1 Timothy 2:5). The Great Commission was for His followers to labor until Christ formed in His church, to present every person complete in Christ, and to manifest the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.
CONCERNING MAN
We believe that God created man from the dust of the earth, without sin or the knowledge of good and evil. The first man, Adam, transgressed the command of God, as God had warned, the process of death entered him and all of his descendants because of that transgression (Romans 5:12). Therefore, all have sinned and are worthy of the sentence of death (Romans 6:23).
Because of our unrighteousness, we are unable to approach a holy God, except through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. Through Jesus, we not only can come before the Throne of Grace, but we may approach it boldly since our confidence is not in ourselves, but in the Lord Jesus (Romans 4:5).
THE ATONEMENT OF JESUS
Because all have sinned and are therefore under the sentence of death, all must trust in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus for remission of sins. There is no other way to reconcile with God or escape from eternal judgment, except through the propitiatory sacrifice of Jesus (John 14:6).
Those who trust in Jesus Christ have access to the Throne of Grace by His sacrifice alone. Good works are acceptable to God only as a love offering given to Him because of His worthiness, and have no bearing on our acceptance, standing or approval, all of which were accomplished by the Cross. Good works offered for the purpose of acceptance, standing or approval are therefore an affront to the Cross by which all things were gained for us by Jesus. Good works are not offered for His approval, but for His joy and glory, and must be offered through the Son (1 Peter 2:5) in obedience to Him. Therefore, the goal of our service is obedience and not sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22).
THE NEW BIRTH
Believing in our hearts that Jesus is the Son of God and in His propitiation made for our salvation results in a regeneration and renewal that constitutes our new birth into new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). Although this does not imply immediate perfection in our temporal life or lifestyle, it does mean that true faith will result in a radical change in us.
Being “born again” implies a new beginning, not an ending. Christian maturity in faith, truth and life is a process. Even so, this process must begin spiritual regeneration or new birth. While it is possible to change our behavior without regeneration, changing our hearts requires the new birth, and it is our hearts upon which God looks (1 Samuel 16:7).
THE ROLE OF FAITH
We believe that salvation is by grace through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Salvation is a gift of God, and cannot be obtained by works of righteousness (Ephesians 2:8). Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith is a critical ingredient given by God that without which, we would not be able to please God (Hebrews 11:1).
THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE
We believe in the divine inspiration and authority of the 66 books of the Holy Bible as the complete canon of God’s testimony to mankind (2 Timothy 3:16). We are committed to esteeming Scripture as the very Word of God, inerrant in its original form. We do not accept any doctrine that contradicts Scriptures.
We understand that there are many practices and doctrines that are considered orthodox which do not contradict the Scripture, but which are not directly addressed in His Word. We are committed to giving liberty in the belief and practice of these teachings, but we will endeavor to maintain the simplicity of the biblical testimony and its stated practices as we are given grace to perceive them.
We do not accept any spiritual experience as having its source in the Holy Sprit that does not have a precedent in Scripture. We do not accept any revelation, vision, dream, prophecy or discernment as truth that contradicts Scripture, or cannot be verified by it (Deuteronomy 13:1-3, Galatians 1:8). We do not believe that any other writings have the same authority as the canon of Scripture.
THE LORD'S SUPPER
We adhere to the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of Jesus and as a testimony of our communion with Him in His Church (1 Corinthians 11:23-28). We consider it a holy ordinance, but we do not accept the teaching that communion is for the purpose of remitting sins, which Scripture states is based solely in the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross (Hebrews 9:25-28).
WATER BAPTISM
We believe that water baptism should be by immersion and accomplished after commitment to the Lordship of Jesus and His atoning sacrifice for our sin (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:16). This ordinance is a personal and public statement of faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ on our behalf, and is a commitment to lay down our lives to be one with Him in His death, burial and resurrection (Romans 6:1-4).
BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is an additional impartation which may be subsequent to regeneration (Acts 8:15-17; 19:1-6). This baptism is usually accompanied by the gifts of the Spirit, such as speaking in tongues, prophecy, etc.
We believe that this gift is presently available to all who believe (Acts 2:38-39), but is not essential for salvation or regeneration. While these are accomplished by the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-7), there were disciples who did not even know that there was a Holy Spirit. Just as Paul made it a priority to instruct those believers and pray for them to receive this gift, we are committed to doing the same.
The purpose of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is to impart spiritual power to the believer to be a witness (Acts 1:8; 5:32). This baptism is to be distinguished from being filled with the Spirit (Acts 4:31; 7:55; 13:9,52), which can be a special and repeated empowering for specific purposes.
We believe that when Christians truly have been baptized with the Holy Spirit, they should begin to take on His nature and fruit, becoming “helpers” and “comforters”, leading others into truth, and testifying of Jesus.
THE PRESENT MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT
We believe that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8) and that His ministry in and through the church by the Holy Spirit has not changed from the beginning. We accept, acknowledge, encourage and seek all of the biblical gifts and ministries of the Holy Spirit as present and vital for the church to accomplish her full purpose today (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).
THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS & ETERNITY
We believe in the literal, physical return of the Lord Jesus Christ to take authority and rule on earth (Acts 1:9-11). We believe that those who are alive and remain at the return of our Lord will be changed and caught up to be with Him in the air; those who have died in the faith will be resurrected and precede those who are alive in being changed and caught up to be with Him (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).
We believe in the literal, physical resurrection of both the just and the unjust for the Day of Judgment (Matthew 25:31-46). For those of us who have been justified by faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on our behalf, this resurrection is for eternal life in fellowship with God (Revelation 21:1-4). Those who are not justified by faith in Jesus are resurrected for an eternal judgment (Revelation 20:12-15).