Statement of Faith
What we believe about God
God is the creator and ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God (Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14). 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. (Luke 10:21, 22; Matthew 23:9; John 3:16; 6:27; Romans 1:7; 1 Timothy 1:1, 2; 2:5, 6; 1 Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:6) God is Love and He loves all people. It is His desire to reach out to all who are poor, oppressed, widowed, or orphaned, and to heal the broken-hearted (Psalm 68:5,6; 1 John 4:16).
What we believe about Jesus
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s unique and eternal Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in his virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in his substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for his people, and personal visible return to earth. (Matthew 1:18–25; Luke 1:26–38; 4:1–21; John 1:1; 20:28; Romans 3:21–26; 9:5; 8:46; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 2:1–2; 1 Peter 2:21–23; John 20:30, 31; Matthew 20:28; Ephesians 1:4; Acts 1:11; Romans 5:6–8; 6:9, 10; 7:25; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Timothy 3:16)
What we believe about the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to convict people of their sins and their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation.
He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under his guidance daily (2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16, 17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:1).
What we believe about the Bible
The Bible is God’s word to all people. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living.
Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5).
What we believe about salvation
Salvation is a gift from God to man. Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works – only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s provision for forgiveness can man be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8, 9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1).
What we believe about man/sin
Man is made in the spiritual image of God, to be like him in character. He is the supreme object of God’s creation. Although humanity has tremendous potential for good, all persons are marred by disobedience toward God called “sin.” Humanity’s sinful nature and disobedience separates man from God (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1, 2).
What we believe about eternity
Man was created to live forever. He will either live eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally in union with him is eternal life. Heaven and hell are places of eternal existence (John 3:16; 1 John 2:25; 1 John 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; Matthew 25:31-46).
Because God gives man eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in salvation for eternity. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian (John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 10:10, 14; 1 Peter 1:3-5).
What we believe about human relationships: marriage, gender & sexuality
We believe that all matters of faith and conduct must be defined on the basis of the Bible, which is our infallible guide (2 Timothy 3:16–17). Since the Bible speaks to the nature of human beings and their sexuality, it is imperative that we correctly understand, articulate, and abide by what the Bible teaches on these matters.
According to Scripture, God created mankind in His image: male and female, sexually different but with equal personal dignity. This means that individuals should affirm their biological sex and refrain from any attempts to physically change, alter, or disagree with their biological sex (Genesis 1:26-28; Romans 1:26-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
God instituted marriage between one man and one woman as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society. For this reason, we believe that marriage is exclusively the union of one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5-6; Mark 10:6-9; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9). God’s design for sexual intimacy is to be expressed only within the context of marriage (1 Cor. 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb. 13:4).
We believe in the sanctity of life from conception. (Jeremiah 1:5, Psalm 139:13-16.)
What we believe about sanctification
We believe that sanctification is the process by which believers are increasingly conformed to the image of Christ. First, believers are “chosen, holy and beloved” in Christ, set apart for God in union with Christ, and are actually made new by regeneration through the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:29). Second, believers begin to mature in their new life, set apart day by day through growth in grace into the likeness of Christ. This process (Romans 12:2) takes place by the power of the Holy Spirit, through the Word of God, in the communion of the saints, by the continual use of God’s appointed means of growth in grace, each member contributing to the growth of the whole unto maturity in Christ. Third, believers will be set apart from the very presence of sin when sanctification is completed (glorification) at the coming of Christ for the church. Definitive sanctification in the past and glorification in the future provide anchors that sustain hope and bring encouragement amidst the failures and sufferings that make progressive sanctification a lifelong process (Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 Corinthians 1:22).