STATEMENT OF FAITH

THE SCRIPTURES
We believe the Bible to be inspired, the only infallible authoritative Word of God. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and practice. II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 5:18; John 16:12-13; Hebrews 4:12

THE TRINITY
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These are equal in every divine perfection.  They execute distinct, but harmonious, offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption. Deuteronomy 6:4; II Corinthians 13:14; Mark 12:29; Matthew 28:19; Isaiah 43:10-11.

GOD, THE FATHER
We believe in God, the Father, an infinite personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. Isaiah 48:12; Ps. 95:3,6; Is. 40:21-26; Ps. 139:1-12; Jn. 7:37,38

JESUS CHRIST
We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return for His church and with His church in power and glory. Philippians 2:6; Hebrews 1:8; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:20; Romans 3:25; Titus 2:13; I Corinthians 15; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 20:31.

THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe the Holy Spirit is a divine Person, the third Person of the Trinity. In the present age, He convicts of sin, of judgment, and of righteousness, He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony, He is the agent in the new birth, indwells all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, baptizes them into the body of Christ, seals them unto the day of redemption, and every believer is commanded by God to be filled with the Holy Spirit, Who bestows gifts as He wills. Acts 1:8; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 12:12-14; Ephesians 5:18-20; I Corinthians 3:16-17.

SALVATION
We believe in the depravity of man, that all men are sinners by nature and by choice, and are therefore in need of salvation, divine redemption through personal regeneration. We believe that those who repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ as Savior are "saved", "regenerated" by the Holy Spirit. Acts 10:47-48.

SANCTIFICATION
We believe that all believers are indwelt with the person of the Holy Spirit at the time of regeneration, given every spiritual blessing, all things pertaining to life and godliness, and empowered with the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit , drawing upon the resources available through the resurrected Christ, to the end that our lives increasingly manifest the very life, character, and power of Christ. Acts 2:38, II Peter 1:3, Ephesians 1:3, Ephesians 2:1-6, II Corinthians 3:16, Romans 12:1-3, Galatians 2:20.

THE CHURCH
We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ who have a credible profession of faith, and have associated for worship, work, and fellowship. We believe that the calling of the church is to be the very presence of Christ in the midst of the world, standing as a testimony of His life and character. We believe that the testimony of Christ’s life is seen most fully in the corporate expression of His life that is the church, and that when God calls people unto life with Himself He necessarily calls them into fellowship with other believers as well. Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 5:25-27; I Corinthians 12:12-14.

THE ORDINANCES
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: water baptism and the Lord's supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water into the name of the triune God. We believe that baptism signifies and symbolizes Christian life begun. We believe that the Lord's supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death and signifies Christian life continued. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47-48; Romans 6:4.

HUMAN SEXUALITY

A. We believe that God has commanded that all intimate sexual activity be solely and exclusively within a marriage between one man and one woman. We believe that any form of sexual immorality including, but not limited to, homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance. (Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5, 13; Gen. 26:8- 9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1: 26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4)

B. We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. (Gen. 2:24; Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22- 23)