Statement of Faith

We believe…

 …that Jesus is LORD.  We believe that Jesus Christ is begotten God, the Eternal Word manifest,  born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died a redeeming death, arose bodily from the dead, ascended to the right hand of the Father where He continues in intercession for the Church. (Matthew 1:23; Luke 24:39; John 1:1, 14;  2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:5 – 11; Hebrews 1:3; 7:25-26).

 … in the divine inspiration and authority of the Holy Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments. We believe the Scriptures are literally “God-breathed” and are the authoritative rule for life, faith, and conduct.  (Psalm 138:2; John 10:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:18-21). 

… in the Blessed and Eternal Godhead – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit,  the Divine Mystery – the Self-existent One manifesting Himself in three distinct Personalities. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10-11; 48:16-17; Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 1:35; Colossians 2:9).

 … that because of Adam’s fall, every individual has a need to personally respond to Jesus Christ in repentance and faith in His substitutionary death and resurrection – confessing in word and lifestyle the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and to continue on with Jesus in an ever increasing personal and growing relationship being enabled to do so by the Holy Spirit’s indwelling Presence.   (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:17; 3:6-19; Matthew 10:1a; Luke 24:47; John 3:3;16-17; Acts 2:38-39; Romans 3:23; 5:12-19; 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5-7). 

… in the Scripture’s command that every believer be water baptized by immersion, after repentance of sin and confession of the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  Following our Lord in water baptism personally and publicly identifies the believer with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. This identification helps enables the disciple to walk in the fullness of Jesus’ resurrection life and victory in the now! (Matthew 10:32-33; 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:37-39; Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:27).

 … in the indwelling Holy Spirit Who bears witness to Jesus Christ and of the believer’s new birth. We believe that it is the Holy Spirit Who empowers the believer to live the Christian life.  We further believe that according to Christ’s command “to be endued with power from on high” that every believer should live a life filled with the Holy Spirit.  This baptism in the Holy Spirit is evidenced in the believer’s life by the manifestation of various “gracings” of spiritual fruits and spiritual giftings that point to the resurrection life of Jesus now resident within the Christian.  We further believe in the indwelling Spirit’s presence to sanctify and perfect the believer into the image of Jesus Christ, glorifying Him in the midst of daily life, further empowering the Christian to be an effective witness to the peoples of the world in both word and deed.  (Acts 1:4-8; 2:4; 38-39; 8:12-17; 19:1-6; Mark 16:15-20; John 2:21-22; Romans 8:14-16; Galatians 5:22-23.; Ephesians 5:17-21; Titus 2:11-13.) We believe that every believer has received from the Lord certain giftings and qualifications enabling that person to serve within God’s Kingdom. We further believe that God gifts the Church with certain men and women, “for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ.”  (Matthew 28:18:20; Romans 12:1-8;        1 Corinthians 12:1-31; Ephesians 4:11-16). 

… that Christ’s redeeming work at the Cross of Calvary was for the total healing of man; spirit, soul, and body.  It was upon this same cross that Jesus became a curse for us hat we might receive His blessing. (Exodus 15:26; 23:25; Isaiah 53:3-5; Psalm 103:1-4; Acts 10:38; Mark 16:17-18; John 10:10; Romans 8:11; Galatians 3:13 – 14, 29; James 5:14-16; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 3:8). 

… in the bodily return of Jesus Christ to the earth and in His millennial reign. We believe in the judgment of the righteous unto eternal life and reward, and the wicked unto eternal damnation and punishment.  (Acts 1:11; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:4, 11-15)