Statement of Faith: Short Form

A.  The sole basis of our beliefs is the Bible – God's written Word.  We believe that it was uniquely, verbally and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, and that it is the supreme, final, & true authority for all matters of faith and conduct.

B.  There is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

C.  God the Father is an infinite personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love.  He hears and answers prayer, and saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.

D. Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin named Mary.  He lived a sinless life and died on the cross – a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures.  He arose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, and ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of the Majesty on high, He is now our High Priest and Advocate.

E.  The work of the Holy Spirit is to reveal and glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to men.  He convicts and draws sinners to Christ, imparts new life to them, continually indwells them from the moment of spiritual birth, and seals them in Christ until the day of final redemption.  He is the believer's helper, teacher and guide – enabling and empowering him to understand and apply the Scriptures.

F.  Man was created in the image of God, after His likeness, but sinned by disobeying God and thus was alienated from his Creator.  This historic fall brought sin into the world and, because all sinned, resulted in divine condemnation for all mankind.  A sinner by nature and by choice, man is unable in his natural state to be pleasing to God, but rather is spiritually dead in sin.

G. Jesus Christ became the sinner's substitute before God, was made a curse for us, and voluntarily died on the cross – the just for the unjust – to secure our forgiveness.  Being without sin, He became a perfect and sufficient sacrifice for sin, satisfying divine justice, and atoning for the sins of all mankind.  No repentance, good works, religious acts nor practices can add to the value of the precious shed blood of Christ or the merit of the finished work wrought for us by Him – who tasted death for every man.  His victory over sin and death was completed by His resurrection from the dead.

H. The salvation of man is wholly a work of God's grace and is not the result, in whole or in part, of human merit – moral or religious.  God credits His righteousness to only those who repent and put their faith in Christ.

I.   The Church is the universal Body of Christ – all true, regenerated believers in Jesus Christ.  The visible or local church is a congregation of believers associated for worship, prayer, service, and evangelism.

J.   Baptism & Communion are the 2 ordinances instituted by the Lord Jesus to be continued in His Church.  They’re not a means of salvation or special merit, but are observed in obedience, worship, & love.

K.  Every believer is called to live a holy life and to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,  to love and worship God, to live according to His will,  to please Him in all respects, &  to bear much fruit for Him.

L.  Believers look forward to the  "blessed hope,"  the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His Kingdom.  They will receive a transformed and imperishable body – the old sin nature, called  "the flesh,"  will be no more – and they will enjoy everlasting blessedness.

M. The unbeliever has not responded to the light given him nor to the love shown to him by God.  He has not embraced God's provision for his sins.  Therefore, he will face judgment at the hands of a righteous and holy God, and eternal punishment away from the presence of the Lord.