Statement of Faith

  1. Scripture: The 66 books of the Bible are without error in their original form, inspired by God, useful to correct, instruct, and equip for ministry (2Tim.3:16,17); they are sufficient for the needs of the Church (Jn.17:17) as well as the world (Rom.10:17).
  2. Creation: In the beginning, God made all that is out of nothing by the word of His power (Gen.1:1, John 1:1, 1Jn.1:1).
  3. Godhead: God has an indivisible unity of His person (Deut.6:4) and yet He has manifested Himself in three distinct ways as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. How He can be both three and one simultaneously is a matter of mystery which we hold by faith.
  4. Salvation: Salvation refers to liberation from the power, penalty and presence of sin in our lives. Sin’s power is broken at the point of conversion; sin’s penalty is likewise removed initially. And the presence of sin is eradicated by stages throughout the life of each Christian. This takes place as a result of a person’s faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus (Rom.6:1-14).
  5. Response: Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin (Heb.9:27). In order for the shed blood of Jesus to benefit a person, he or she must turn in faith to Him, believing that the sacrifice of Christ is for them. This turning to Christ inevitably leaves sinful habits in the past; thus, repentance flows as a direct result of faith.
  6. Christian living: All who look to Jesus Christ crucified in expectation that the price paid was for them stop regarding their lives as their own (1Cor.6:19,20, Gal.2:20). Instead, we regard ourselves as members of Christ who seek above all not to dishonor our Head, who is Christ (Eph.5:23).
  7. Church: Jesus founded one Church (Mt.16:18) and prayed for our unity (Jn.17:23). At the mystical level, this unity is a fact (Eph.4:4). The Church on earth exists for the sake of becoming more like Jesus (Rom.8:28,29) and introducing other people to Him (Matt.6:23). We are called to use our influence on one another in the Church to build each other up for these ends.
  8. Second Coming: Minutes after Jesus ascended back to heaven, angels told the apostles that Jesus would return from heaven in the same manner as He left (Acts 1:11). The blessed hope is that as soon as we see Him, we will be perfected (1Jn.3:2). “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise…” (1Thess.4:16). In this hope we are saved (Rom.8:23-25). When Jesus physically returns to the earth, he will take over the rule of the earth and we will reign with Him for a thousand years.(2Tim.2:12)
  9. Judgment: At the time of the end, there will be a resurrection both of the righteous and the unrighteous (Acts.24:15). All who maintain faith in Jesus will have their names written in the Lamb’s book of life—and all these will inherit eternal life. Yet we will all have to answer for the deeds we have done in the flesh (1Cor.3:10ff). The unrighteous will likewise undergo judgment and will be thrown into the lake of fire.
  10. Heaven and Hell: Matthew 25:46 presents the destinies of the righteous and unrighteous as eternal. Therefore, we believe that our blissful heavenly state will be everlasting and that the torment and loss of hell will likewise be eternal.
Comprehensive Doctrinal Statement