STATEMENT OF FAITH

What we believe and why we believe it
THE WORD OF GOD

We believe in the plenary-verbal inspiration of the accepted canon of Scriptures as originally given (66 books). The Scriptures are infallible, inerrant, and the sole and final authority for all matters of faith and conduct. Since the Bible is the inspired Word of God, it is then authoritative in all areas of human behavior, including marriage, family, sexuality, morality, and ethics. 

2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Corinthians 2:13

THE GODHEAD

We believe in the Eternal Godhead who has revealed Himself as one God existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, distinguishable but indivisible.

Matthew 23:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14

THE FALL OF MAN

We believe in the creation, test, and fall of man as recorded in Genesis; his total spiritual depravity and inability to attain to divine righteousness.

Romans 5:12, 18

SIN

We believe that sin is a transgressing of, or falling short of, God’s standard in action, thought, and character. All individuals are born with a sin nature that affects their motivation, affection, volition, and actions. The results of sin include separation from God and death.

Romans 3:10, 23, 6:23, 14:23; James 4:17; 1 John 5:17

THE VIRGIN BIRTH

We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of men, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, very God and very Man.

Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:26-35; John 1:18; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6

THE RESURRECTION

We believe Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day, and personally appeared unto His disciples.

1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Romans 4:25

GRACE

We believe in the salvation of sinners by grace, through repentance and faith in the perfect and sufficient work of the cross of Calvary by which we obtain remission of sins.

Ephesians 2:8,9; Hebrews 9:12,22; Romans 5:11

EXALTATION, GLORIFICATION & RETURN

We believe in the bodily ascension of Jesus to heaven, His exaltation, and personal, literal and bodily coming again the second time for His Church.

John 14:2-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

WATER BAPTISM

We believe in the necessity of water baptism by immersion in the name of the Eternal Godhead in order to fulfill the command of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:37-39; 19:1-6

HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM

We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit as both a real experience at or subsequent to (but distinct from) salvation with the benefits of speaking in tongues as well as empowerment to witness, to conquer sin, and to live a holy life.

Acts 2:1-4; 8:14-17; 10:44-46; 19:6; Galatians 3:14-15

Given at Pentecost, He is the promise of the Father, sent by Jesus after His ascension, to empower the Church to preach the Gospel throughout the whole earth.

Joel 2:28-29; Matthew 3:11; Mark 16:17; Acts 1:5, 2:1-4,17,38-39, 8:14-17, 10:38,44-47, 11:15-17, 19:1-6

GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe in the operation of the Gifts of the Spirit as manifested in the early church and enumerated in 1 Corinthians 12-14.

Romans 8:14, 12:2; Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:16-26

HEALING

We believe in the healing of the body by divine power, or divine healing in its varied aspects as practiced in the Early Church is still available today.

Acts 4:30; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 12:9, James 5:14

COMMUNION

We believe in the table of the Lord, commonly called Communion or the Lord’s Supper, for believers. 

1 Corinthians 11:28-32; Matthew 26:26-28

ETERNAL STATES

We believe in eternal life for believers (John 3:16; 5:24), and eternal punishment for the unbelievers. 

Mark 9:43-48; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 20:10-15

THE DEVIL

We believe in the reality and personality of the Devil and eternal judgment in the Lake of Fire for the Devil and his angels.

Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:14-15

THE CHURCH

We believe that there is one true universal Church, made up of genuine believers, but this one universal Church is also composed of many local Churches in given localities. These Churches are under the sovereign Headship of the Lord Jesus Christ, exercising autonomous government under Him, administering all its local affairs and ministry, as well as the propagation of the Gospel.

Acts 15:22; Matthew 16:18; 18:15-20

GIVING

We believe the New Testament admonishes each believer that first fruits of financial giving, such as the tithe, should be done freely, joyously, sacrificially, and with disciplined regularity. What we do with finances is an indication of where our heart is.

2 Corinthians 8:1-15, 9:5-15

IN ADDITION TO THESE BASIC FUNDAMENTALS...

WOMEN IN MINISTRY

We believe in the full participation of women in the ministries of the church. The creation narrative of God making and giving dominion to “them/they” (male and female) as well as the underlying biblical theology of a “new creation in Christ” in which there is “neither male nor female” is a powerful affirmation of the commitment to equality in the gospel, the church, and all of its ministries. Jesus’ inclusion of women among his disciples and witnesses, the coming of the Holy Spirit on both sons and daughters, and Paul’s inclusion of women in his circles of coworkers in the ministry all affirm the full and equal participation of both women and men in all the ministries of the gospel.

Genesis 1:26-27, 5:1-2; Luke 8:1–3, 10:38–42, 23:49, 55–56; 24:1; John 4:4–42; Acts 2:1-4, 10:44, 16:11–40, 18:2, 18, 26; Romans 16:6, 12; 1 Corinthians 1:11; Philippians 4:2–3; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 2

Women in Ministry (TFH)

Women in Ministry (Fuller)

 

MARRIAGE & SEXUALITY

We believe sexuality and the divinely prescribed boundaries for its expression are covered clearly in the Holy Scriptures, which limits sexual expression to the marital relationship between one biological man and one biological woman. Homosexual acts, adultery, bestiality, and all forms of fornication are categorically condemned in the Holy Scriptures. We believe that sexuality is assigned by God at conception, male or female, whatever that may be, and the Holy Scriptures does not permit an individual to alter their sexual identity physically or otherwise.

Deuteronomy 23:1, 1 Corinthians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Romans. 1:26-27; Proverbs 5:3-5,8-13; 7:21-27; Galatians. 5:19; Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18; Matthew 5:27; 19:18; Luke 18:20; Romans 13:9; James 2:11; Leviticus 20:10-21; 1 Corinthians 10:8; 6:18; Jude 1:7

HUMANITY & RACE

We believe that humanity as a whole, created in the image of God, is united in origin, in the fall, and in the provision of the atonement through Christ, making every person equally worthy of love and forgiveness; as well as just and unbiased treatment.

John 3:16; Acts 10:34, 17:26; Romans 5:6-21; Colossians 3:8-16

God‘s eternal purpose involves all races and nations, culminating in every nation, tribe, and tongue being represented before his throne.

Matthew 28:19; Ephesians 2:14-18; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Revelation 5:9, 7:9

SANCTITY OF LIFE

SANCTITY OF LIFE

We believe that scripture overwhelmingly and conclusively affirms that life begins at conception and that God calls, anoints, makes plans and has a destiny for the unborn while they are still in the womb and that taking an unborn baby’s life would destroy the destinies of men and women who are created in the very image of God. We believe that only God has the power to give life and the authority to end it. It may be “our body,” but that does not give us the right to terminate the life being stewarded during pregnancy. That baby belongs to the Lord. This is the biblical position and reality. We also maintain that the church exists to be a place of healing and hope for those who have remorsefully made or have been impacted by a decision to terminate a pregnancy.

Psalm 139:13, 16; Jeremiah 1:5; Galatians 1:15; Luke 1:41-44; Judges 13:7

Click HERE to read our in depth stance on what the Bible says about the sanctity of life.