Statement of Faith

A Summary of our Confession of Faith

The Bible

1. We believe that the Bible alone and in its entirety is the verbally inspired, infallible revelation of God’s Word, being without error in anything it teaches; all human opinions, church traditions, and alleged revelations of the Spirit must be judged by the Bible as our final standard and authority.

God

2. We believe that there is but one only, the living and true God, who is an all-sufficient and sovereign Spirit, incomprehensible, eternal, unchangeable, infinite in knowledge, power, and perfection, being most holy, just, and gracious. In the unity of God there exist three Persons, the same in substance, equal in eternity, power, and glory, although distinguished by their personal properties: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Christ

3. We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ, being the eternal Son of God and one substance with the Father, took on human nature and became a man, being born of a virgin, so that He continues to be God and man, in two entire distinct natures and one Person forever. We believe that He lived a sinless life, performed mighty miracles, was put to death as our substitutionary, atoning sacrifice, rose bodily from the dead, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will personally return in visible power and glory to judge the world.

Creation

4. We believe that God created all things from nothing, by the power of His Word, in the space of six days. In particular, man was created as the image of God and morally upright, but through the original disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, the human race fell into sin and misery, being spiritually separated from God. Because all have sinned by breaking God’s law, all are now condemned by God and deserve everlasting punishment.

Humanity

5. We believe that man, being spiritually dead in sin’s guilt and pollution, can do nothing to merit the favor or forgiveness of God, but that God of His own mercy promises to pardon and accept those who trust in the person and work of His Son, Jesus Christ, the only Savior of men. Salvation is thus not based upon our own self-righteous works, but upon the imputation to us of Christ’s perfect righteousness; it comes by God’s grace alone, appropriated through repentance and living, active faith. This faith is God’s gift, exercised by those who have been born again by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Redemption

6. We believe that all those who have been redeemed by Christ and renewed by the Holy Spirit have the indwelling, enlightening, and encouraging of Christ’s Spirit to break the power of sin decisively within them and enable them more and more to demonstrate holiness in all areas of life in accordance with God’s Word. Christians thus commit themselves to follow a new pattern of behavior, to be rid of self-centeredness, to love God and their neighbors, to obey the Lord’s commands, to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit, to endure persecution, and to witness to others. All who have saving faith in Jesus Christ are spiritually united with each other. The universal church of Christ (not confined to any one nation or denomination) acknowledges Jesus Christ as its only Head, and leads God’s people in worship, nurture, apostolic doctrine, evangelism, fellowship, the sacraments, and discipline.

Last Things

7. We believe that upon physical death all men undergo God’s judgment: believers spiritually enjoy the blessed presence of God, while unbelievers are spiritually banished from Him to everlasting, conscious suffering. In the future Christ shall return for final judgment and divide mankind; there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust, one unto everlasting life, the other to everlasting damnation. God’s people shall then live forever in glorified bodies in a new heavens and earth wherein righteousness dwells.

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