Our Faith

            We believe the Bible was inspired by God, given without error, and is the final authority for faith and practice.  The scriptures, both Old and New Testament, are a sufficient revelation of truth.

            The Bible teaches there is one God who exists as three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.   God has always existed and is the creator of all things.  He is sovereign, everywhere present, almighty, all knowing, holy, just and the source of all truth and love.

            The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ has always existed along with the Father and the Spirit. He entered this world in human form, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.  He lived a sinless life and died for the sins of the whole world.  He rose from the dead and ascended back to heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father.  He will return to raise the dead and judge the world. 

            The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity.  He convicts the world of sin.  He brings spiritual life and assurance to believers through His indwelling presence.   He produces the fruit of salvation and gives spiritual gifts to build up the church.  However, He distributes these gifts according to His will.  Thus, the true evidence of the Holy Spirit is a holy life and not any particular gift of the Spirit.

            The Bible teaches that we are created in God’s image, but we have fallen into sin and cannot save ourselves.  Mankind is sinful by nature and in need of salvation, yet we possess no ability to save ourselves.  We must repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our only salvation.  Therefore, we are enabled by the Holy Spirit to believe the gospel through the preliminary grace of God.

            The Bible teaches that we must be born again in order to be saved.  This salvation comes by God’s grace and through faith in the atoning work of Christ.   The new birth brings forgiveness from past sins and freedom from the practice of willful sin.  The new birth is entrance into the kingdom of God and those within this kingdom submit to the reign of Christ.  Jesus taught us to pray that this kingdom will so come that His will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven.

            As we submit and walk in the Spirit, we have security in Christ.  Through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ we have been saved.  Yet salvation is also the ongoing process of being saved daily as we walk in faith and salvation will be final when Christ returns from those who are faithful.

            The Bible teaches all believers are adopted into the family of God, which is the church.  Every believer should be accountable to a local congregation where the Word of God is preached and the sacraments administered.  The sacraments of water baptism, regardless of mode, and the Lord’s Supper are outward and visible signs of God’s inward grace.       

            The Bible teaches that Christians are to be separate from the world.  Every area of our lives should be in conformity to God’s standard.  The Spirit leads us to a complete cleansing from the inner nature of sin, enabling us to love God with all our heart and our neighbor as ourselves.

            The Bible promises the literal return of Jesus Christ.  The dead will be resurrected and we will be judged.  There is an eternal heaven to gain and an eternal hell to avoid.  The only hope for our lost world is the gospel which must be preached to the whole world.