Our Statement of Faith

What We Believe

 

Soundness in the faith in the following fundamental truths is required by all members of this church.

 

The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe. We do believe, however, that the statement of faith accurately represents the teachings of the Bible and, therefore, is binding upon all members, staff and volunteers. All literature, whether print or electronic, used in the church shall be in complete agreement with the statement of faith. All activities permitted or performed in any facilities owned, rented or leased by this church, or engaged in by any member of the church staff (volunteer or paid), and all decisions of the administration of this church shall not conflict with the statement of faith. In all conflicts regarding interpretation of the statement of faith, the pastor and board, on behalf of the church, have the final authority.

 

 

STATEMENT OF FAITH

 

1. Beliefs on Doctrine: The holy Bible is the inspired word of God and is the basis for our Statement of Faith. The ordinances of the church are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe scriptural baptism is by immersion in water of a believer in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This act symbolizes the believer’s faith and obedience, as well as his/her identification with the crucified, buried, and risen Lord. The Lord’s Supper is the partaking of the bread and of the cup in symbolic remembrance of the Lord, whose body was given and whose blood was shed for the remission of sins.
2. The Scriptures: We believe that the Bible was written by men who were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21) and inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16). This inspiration was verbal (1 Corinthians 2:9-13) and plenary (complete) (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and without error and extends to the original writings. It is the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions should be tried.
3. The Trinity: We believe there is one, and only one, true and living God; while there is indivisible unity in the Godhead, He exists in three separate persons – God, the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit – equal in every divine attribute and executing distinct. But harmonious offices in the work of creation and redemption, (Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; John 6:27; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 13:14 and Hebrews 1:8).
4. God the Father: We believe that God the Father is the first person of the Trinity and is the eternal, unchanging, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-wise, all-loving, completely just and perfectly holy, sovereign Ruler and Sustainer of the universe (Genesis 1:1; Ephesians 4:6; Isaiah 6:1-3, 40:21-28 and 43:10-13). He is the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, (John 17:1) and the Father of all true believers, (1 Corinthians 8:6).
5. God the Son: We believe that Jesus Christ is fully God. He asserts oneness with the Father, (John 10:30) and is called God, (Hebrews 1:8). We believe He has the characteristics of God, (John 8:58; Matthew 28:18) and is of the same substance as the Father, (Colossians 2:9), therefore, He is God.
6. God the Holy Spirit: We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person who is equal with God the Father and God the Son (Matthew 28:19; Romans 8:8-16; John 15:26). He was active in the creation (Genesis 1:1-2 and 1:26). He convicts, seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer (John 16:7-15; Ephesians 4:30). We receive the Holy Spirit instantaneously at salvation and He begins these ministries in us (Ephesians 1:12-14; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22).
7. Salvation: We believe the Scriptures teach that Christ died for the whole world and that salvation of sinners is divinely initiated, wholly of grace, and accomplished only through the mediatorial work of the Son of God. It is wholly apart from works and is upon the sole condition of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and never without genuine repentance. In order to be saved the sinner must be born again, personally receiving Christ as Savior, being regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit through faith in God’s Word and becoming the recipient of a new nature. The great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification, that judicial act of God accompanied by the pardon of sin and the imputation of divine righteousness, not because of any work of righteousness on our part, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood. The believer who has exercised personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is completely justified and in possession of eternal life which is eternally secure. Habakkuk 2:4; John 1:11-12; 3:3-17; 10:28-29; Acts 13:39; Romans 2:4; 2 Corinthians 7:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 4:2; 1 Peter 1:18-23; 2 Peter 1:4; 2:1; 1 John 5:11-13.
8. Substitutionary Atonement: We believe Christ died in the place of sinners (1Peter 3:18) in order to pay the debt owed by sinful man to a righteous God (1 John 2:2).
9. Bodily Resurrection of Christ: We believe Christ arose physically from the grave after three days (Luke 24:36-46; 1^st Corinthians 15:1-4).
10. Virgin Birth: We believe the coming of Christ “in the flesh” was predicted by Isaiah and processed by the Virgin Birth (Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6). He was born of Mary alone (Matthew 1:16) and conceived of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35).
11. The Ordinances: We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer done in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Baptism is performed under the authority of the local church to show forth our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior. Baptism pictures our death to sin and resurrection to a new life. It is a prerequisite to the privileges of church membership. The Lord’s Supper, or communion, commemorates the death of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the bread representing His body that was broken for us and the fruit of the vine representing His blood that was shed for us. Before partaking of these elements each person should examine himself, “For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body”.
12. The Church: We believe the Scriptures teach that the local church is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel, observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word. Its Scriptural officers are pastors, sometimes called bishops or elders, and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the epistles to Timothy and Titus.

 

 

1. Additional Religious Beliefs

 

1. Marriage and Sexuality

 

 

1. We believe that the term “marriage” has only one, legitimate meaning, and that is marriage sanctioned by God, which joins one man and one woman in a single, covenantal union, as delineated by Scripture. Marriage ceremonies performed in any facility owned, leased or rented by this church will be only those ceremonies sanctioned by God, joining one man with one woman as their genders were determined at birth (on their birth Certificate). Whenever there is a conflict between the church’s position and any new legal standard for marriage, the church’s statement of faith, doctrines and biblical positions will govern. (Gen. 2:24; Eph. 5:22-23; Mark 10:6-9; I Cor. 7:1-9)

 

1. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage as defined in (a) above. We believe that any other type of sexual activity, identity or expression that lies outside of this definition of marriage, including those that are becoming more accepted in the culture and the courts, are contradictory to God’s natural design and purpose for sexual activity. (Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1: 26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9-10; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4)

 

1. We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two-distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God and the rejection of one’s biological gender is a rejection of the image of God within that person. (Genesis 1:26-27)

 

1. The Holy Bible is the inspired word of God and is the basis for our statement of faith. The ordinances of the church are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe scriptural    baptism is by immersion in water of a believer in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy

Spirit. This act symbolizes the believer’s faith and obedience, as well as his/her    Identification with the crucified, buried, and risen Lord. The Lord’s Supper is the    partaking of the bread and of the cup in symbolic remembrance of the Lord, whose body    was given and whose blood was shed for the remission of sins.

 

 

 

2. Family Relationships
   1. We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home, and men are to be the leaders (pastors and deacons) of the church. (Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:18; 1 Tim. 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12)

 

1. We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church. The wife is to submit herself to the Scriptural leadership of her husband as the church submits to the headship of Christ. Children are a wonderful gift and heritage from the Lord. Parents are responsible for teaching their children spiritual and moral values through consistent lifestyle example and appropriate training and discipline. (Gen. 1:26-28; Ex. 20:12; Deut.

6:4-9; Ps. 127:3-5; Prov. 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; Mk. 10:6-12; 1 Cor. 7:1-16; Eph. 5:21-

33; 6:1-4; Col. 3:18-21; 1 Pet. 3:1-7)

 

 

3. Divorce and Remarriage. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids divorce except in cases of adultery. Although divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the church and be greatly used of God for Christian service, they may not be considered for the offices of pastor or deacon. (Mal. 2:14-17; Matt. 19:3-12; Mark 10:11-12; Rom. 7:1-3; I Tim. 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6; I Cor. 7:10-16)

 

4. Sanctity of Life
   1. We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion is murder and constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. (Job 3:16; Ps. 51:5; 139:13-16; Isa. 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jer. 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:36, 44)

 

1. We believe that an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, facilitates premature death, is assuming a decision that is to be reserved for God. We do not believe that discontinuing medical procedures that are extraordinary or disproportionate to the expected outcome is euthanasia. (Ex. 20:13; 23:7; Matt. 5:21; Acts 17:28)

 

5. We believe that we should demonstrate love for others, not only toward fellow believers, but also toward those who are not believers, those who oppose us, and those who engage in sinful actions. We are to deal graciously, humbly, gently, and patiently with those who oppose us. God forbids the stirring up of strife, the taking of revenge, or the threat or use

of violence as a means of resolving personal conflict or obtaining personal justice. Although God commands us to abhor sinful actions, we are to love and pray for any person who engages in such actions. (Lev. 19:18; Matt. 5:44-48; Luke 6:31; John 13:34-35; Rom. 12:9-10; 17-21; 13:8-10; Phil. 2:2-4; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; Titus 3:2; I Peter 3:8-9; 1 John 3:17-18)

 

6. Lawsuits within the Church. We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits within the church. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander. (1 Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31-32)

 

7. Protection of Children. We believe that children are from the Lord and must be absolutely protected within the church from any form of abuse or molestation. The church has zero tolerance for any person, whether paid staff, volunteer, member, or visitor, who abuses or molests a child. (Ps. 127:3-5; Matt. 18:6; Matt. 19:14; Mark 10:14)