STATEMENT OF FAITH

THE BIBLE

The Bible is the written Word of God, given by revelation from the Holy Spirit to humanity, and is accurate from the very first verse. It is the ultimate apologetic for the existence of God. No apparent, perceived, or claimed evidence in any field, including conscience, reason, history, or science, can be valid if it contradicts Scripture.
2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Peter 1:23-25; Hebrews 4:12; Romans 1:18-22

GOD

There is one God, uncreated, made up of three distinct, yet co-equal persons (the trinity): God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

God the Father is Creator of the universe and is all powerful, all loving, all knowing, all wise and unchangeable. It is His desire to be in relationship with humanity.
Genesis 1:1; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; Isaiah 43:10-11; Malachi 3:6

Jesus Christ, the Son, is God in the flesh. He came to earth as a man not to condemn the world, but to defeat evil and restore fallen-humanity’s relationship with God the Father.
John 1:1; John 3:16-17; John 10:30; John 10:10; Philippians 2:5-7; 1 John 3:8

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God that dwells inside believers, leading into truth, equipping with power and gifts for evangelism and holy living.
John 3:8; John 14:16-17; John 14:26; John 16:13; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-10

MAN

Man is created in the image of God, but separated from Him by sin which severs the relationship that God the Father desires to have with mankind.
Genesis 1:26-31; Genesis 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21

SALVATION

Salvation comes only through belief in Jesus Christ.  He allows us to be made righteous and have a personal relationship with the Father.  It is not a result of what we do, but is a free gift to anyone who believes in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. By admitting we have sinned, turn away from sin and toward God (repentance), and accepting Christ as Lord, we may spend eternity with God.  This process is known as being “born again”. 
Luke 19:10; Romans 3:22-26; Romans 10:9; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Peter 1:18-20; 1 Peter 3:18; 2 Timothy 1:9

The believer is to grow into the image of Christ. Sanctification is the ongoing process of allowing God’s character to be developed in us.
1 Peter 2:2; Hebrews 12:14; 2 Peter 3:18

BAPTISM

The ordinance of water baptism, as taught and demonstrated by Jesus, is the public way for believers to declare to the world that they have died with Jesus and are raised with Him to walk in newness of life.
Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38; Acts 10:47-48; Romans 6:4

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a subsequent gift from God. Believers should desire this baptism to receive gifts of power from the Holy Spirit which help live every day in God’s will and win the lost to Christ.
Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 1:5; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:4; Acts 11:16; 1 Corinthians 12:7-8

SPIRITUAL GIFTS

God gives all believers spiritual gifts. They are for the strengthening of God’s people (the Church) and proof of God’s existence and power to unbelievers. The charismatic gifts associated with Baptism of the Holy Spirit began at Pentecost, never ceased, and remain necessary in corporate and private worship today.
Mark 16:15-18; Acts 1:4; Acts 1:8; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 11:14-18; 1 Corinthians 14:1; 1 Corinthians 14:39

HELL

Hell is a real place of judgement and permanent separation from God for those who die without accepting Christ. However, God does not desire this separation. Salvation through Jesus Christ is the only way to escape the suffering and separation in hell.
Matthew 8:12; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 25:46; Matthew 25:41; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Revelation 20:10; Revelation 20:14

ESCHATOLOGY

The Bible promises the Second Coming of Christ as an event of hope for believers. Jesus will return and take all those who have accepted Him as Savior to heaven for eternity.
Acts 1:6-7; Matthew 24:44; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; Titus 2:13; Revelation 11:12; Revelation 22:7