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Statement Of Faith |
WE
BELIEVE
that only the sixty-six books of the Bible are the inspired,
and therefore inerrant, Word of God. It is the final authority
for all we believe and how we are to live. Matthew 5:18; John
10:35; 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21.
WE
BELIEVE
that the one true God exists eternally in three persons,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that these, being one God,
are equal in deity, power, and glory. We believe that God not
only created the world but also now upholds, sustains,
governs, and providentially directs all that exists and that
He will bring all things to their proper consummation in
Christ Jesus to the glory of His name. Psalm 104; Psalm 139;
Matthew 10:29-31; 28:19; Acts 17:24-28; 2 Corinthians 13:14;
Ephesians 1:9-12; 4:4-6; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-3;
Revelation 1:4-6.
WE
BELIEVE
that Satan, originally a great and good angel, rebelled
against God, taking a multitude of angels with him. He was
cast out of God's presence and is at work with his demonic
hosts to establish his counter-kingdom of darkness and evil on
the earth. Satan was judged and defeated at the cross of
Christ and will, at the end of the age, be cast forever into
the lake of fire which has been prepared for him and his
angels. Matthew 12:25-29; 25:41; John 12:31; 16:11; Ephesians
6:10-20; Colossians 2:15; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Revelation
12:7-9; 20:10.
WE
BELIEVE
that Adam was originally created in the image of God,
righteous and without sin. In consequence of his disobedience,
Adam's posterity are born subject to both imputed and inherent
sin, and are therefore by nature and choice the children of
wrath, justly condemned in the sight of God, wholly unable to
save themselves or to contribute in any way to their
acceptance with God. Genesis 1-3; Psalm 51:5; Isaiah 53:5;
Romans 3:9-18; 5:12-21; Ephesians 2:1-3.
WE
BELIEVE
that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man,
that He was conceived and born of a virgin, lived a sinless
life, and offered himself as a penal, substitutionary
sacrifice for sinners. By the blood of His cross He obtained
for us eternal redemption, the forgiveness of sins, and life
everlasting. He was raised bodily on the third day and
ascended to the right hand of the Father, there to make
intercession for the saints. Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1-18;
Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:1-28; 2 Corinthians 5:21;
Galatians 3:10-14; Ephesians 1:7; Philippians 2:6-11;
Colossians 1:15-23; Hebrews 7:25; 9:13-15; 10:19; 1 Peter
2:21-25; 1 John 2:1-2.
WE
BELIEVE
that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in
Christ alone. No ordinance, ritual, work, or any other
activity on the part of man is required in order to be saved.
This saving grace of God, through the power of the Holy
Spirit, also sanctifies us by enabling us to do what is
pleasing in God's sight in order that we might be
progressively conformed to the image of Christ. John 1:12-13;
6:37-44; 10:25-30; Acts 16:30-31; Romans 3-4; 8:1-17,31-39;
10:8-10; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; Titus 3:3-7; 1
John 1:7,9.
WE
BELIEVE
that the Lord Jesus Christ baptizes believers in the Holy
Spirit, in whom also we are sealed for the day of redemption.
The Holy Spirit regenerates, forever indwells, and graciously
equips the Christian for godly living and service. Subsequent
to conversion the Spirit desires to fill, empower, and anoint
believers for ministry and witness. We also believe that signs
and wonders, as well as all the gifts of the Spirit described
in the New Testament, are operative today and are designed to
testify to the presence of the kingdom and to empower and
edify the church to fulfill its calling and mission. Matthew
3:11; John 1:12-13; 3:1-15; Acts 4:29-30; Romans 8:9; 12:3-8;
1 Corinthians 12:12-13; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Galatians
3:1-5; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18.
WE
BELIEVE
that water baptism and the Lord's Supper are the two
ordinances of the church to be observed until the time of
Christ's return. They are not a means of salvation but are
channels of God's sanctifying grace and blessing to the
faithful in Christ Jesus. Matthew 26:26-29; 28:19; Romans
6:3-11; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34; 1 Peter 3:21.
WE
BELIEVE
that the church is God's primary instrument through which He
is fulfilling His redemptive purposes in the earth. To equip
the saints for the work of ministry, God has given the church
apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. We also
affirm the priesthood of all believers and the importance of
every Christian being joined with and actively involved in a
local community of the saints. We believe that women, no less
than men, are called and gifted to proclaim the gospel and do
all the works of the kingdom. However, final governmental
authority in the church has ideally been entrusted to men.
Matthew 16:17-19; Acts 2:17-18,42; Ephesians 3:14-21; 4:11-16;
1 Timothy 2:11-15; Hebrews 10:23-25; 1 Peter 2:4-5,9-10.
WE
BELIEVE
that God has called the church to preach the gospel to all
nations, and especially to remember the poor and to minister
to their needs through sacrificial giving and practical
service. This ministry is an expression of the heart of the
Lord Jesus Christ and is an essential part of the kingdom of
God. Isaiah 58:6-12; 61:1; Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 4:18;
21:1-4; Galatians 2:10; 1 Timothy 6:8.
WE
BELIEVE
in the literal second coming of Christ at the end of the age
when He will return to the earth personally and visibly to
consummate His kingdom. We also believe in and are praying for
a great end-time harvest of souls and the emergence of a
victorious church that will experience an unprecedented unity,
purity, and power in the Holy Spirit. Psalms 2:7-9; 22:27-28;
John 14:12; 17:20-26; Romans 11:25-32; 1 Corinthians
15:20-28,50-58; Ephesians 4:11-16; Philippians 3:20-21; 1
Thessalonians 4:13-5:11; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12; Revelation
7:9-14.
WE
BELIEVE
that when the Christian dies he/she passes immediately into
the blessed presence of Christ, there to enjoy conscious
fellowship with the Savior until the day of the resurrection
and glorious transformation of the body. The saved will then
forever dwell in blissful fellowship with their great Triune
God. We also believe that when the unbeliever dies he/she is
consigned to hell, there to await the day of judgment when
he/she shall be punished with eternal separation from the
presence of God. Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:19-31; John 5:25-29; 1
Corinthians 15:35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Philippians
1:19-26; 3:20-21; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Revelation 20:11-15;
21:1-22:15. |
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