What We Believe

What We Believe

Introduction

Doctrinal statements help us love and worship God rightly, love others unconditionally, and make disciples of Jesus Christ. We are a Christian church that affirms the orthodox, historic faith taught in the Scriptures. Our beliefs are summarized in the following Articles of Faith, which are affirmed by all our members.

Listen to our sermon series, What We Believe, for an explanation of each Article.

I.  The Scriptures

1. We believe that the entirety of the Bible is the Word of God, free from error in the original words (inerrant),1 authored under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit2 (God-breathed), 3  fully authoritative in all matters it addresses,4  incapable of being wrong (infallible),5  and always accomplishing its purposes.6

II.  The Godhead

2. We believe in one God eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Trinity).7

The Father

3. We believe in God the Father,8 almighty Creator of heaven and earth,9 eternal in His being,10  perfect in holiness,11 sovereign over all creation,12 all-knowing (omniscient),13 all-present (omnipresent),14 and all-powerful (omnipotent).15 We rejoice that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men,16 hearing and answering prayer,17 and that He saves from sin and death those who believe in Jesus Christ.18

The Son

4. We believe in Jesus Christ, the eternal and only Son of God,19 conceived by the Holy Spirit,20 born of a virgin,21 sinless in His life,22 making atonement for sin by His death,23 and providing access to the Father.24 We believe in His bodily resurrection,25 ascension to heaven,26 and promise to return to this world.27

The Holy Spirit

5. We believe in the Holy Spirit who comes forth from the Father and the Son28 to convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment.29 The Holy Spirit regenerates,30 dwells within,31 sanctifies,32 teaches,33 empowers for service,34 intercedes for,35 and comforts36 all who believe in Jesus Christ.

III.  Satan, Sin & Mankind

6. We believe in the existence of Satan37 and the fallen angels,38 the adversaries of God and His people.39 Equipped Christians40 can successfully resist them through the power of the Holy Spirit.41

7. We believe that God created all people in His own image;42 that mankind was tempted by Satan,43 sinned,44 and thereby incurred eternal physical and spiritual death,45 which is separation from God.46

8. We believe that as a consequence of the Fall, all human beings are born with a sin nature, rebellious toward God,47 choose willingly to sin,48 and are therefore under God’s condemnation.49

Sermons on Satan and Sin & Mankind.

IV. Salvation

9. We believe that Jesus Christ secured forgiveness for sin and the gift of perfect righteousness through his obedient life, death on the cross, and resurrection from the dead.50 We believe that those who repent51 and put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ52 alone53 as Lord and Savior receive eternal life.54 Through the work of the Holy Spirit (regeneration) they are delivered from condemnation55 and become a new creation.56

V.  The Church 

10. We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head, and of which all people (past, present, and future) who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as savior are members.57

11. We believe in the local church, believers in Jesus Christ who assemble locally under biblical leadership for the purpose of worship, teaching and equipping Christians for the work of God, and fellowship all to the glory of God.58

12. We believe in observing the ordinances of the Lord’s Supper (communion)59 and baptism. Our church practices baptism after confession of faith.60

13. We believe that God has called the local church to the task of presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world.61

14. We believe that salvation in Christ is intended for every nation, tribe, people, and language.62

VI.  The Last Things

15. We believe in the personal and undeniable return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth63 and the fulfillment of His kingdom.64 We believe in the resurrection of the body,65 the final judgment,66 the eternal punishment of the wicked,67 and the eternal peace and joy of the righteous.68

Sermons on hell and heaven.

  1.  Matthew 5:18 ↩
  2.  2 Peter 1:21 ↩
  3. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ↩
  4.  1 Thessalonians 2:13 ↩
  5.  2 Peter 1:19 ↩
  6.  Isaiah 55:11 ↩
  7.  Acts 7:55 ↩
  8.  Matthew 23:9 ↩
  9.  Genesis 1:1 ↩
  10.  Isaiah 40:28a ↩
  11.  Isaiah 6:3 ↩
  12.  Proverbs 16:9 ↩
  13.  1 John 3:20 ↩
  14.  Psalm 139:8 ↩
  15.  Matthew 19:26 ↩
  16.  1 Peter 1:3 ↩
  17.  I John 5:14-15 ↩
  18.  John 3:16 ↩
  19.  Colossians 1:15-17 ↩
  20.  Matthew 1:18 ↩
  21.  Matthew 1:22-23 ↩
  22.  1 Peter 2:22 ↩
  23.  1 Corinthians 15:3 ↩
  24.  John 14:6 ↩
  25.  1 Corinthians 15:20 ↩
  26.  Luke 24:51 ↩
  27.  John 14:3 ↩
  28.  John 15:26 ↩
  29. John 16:18 ↩
  30.  Titus 3:5 ↩
  31.  Romans 8:9a ↩
  32.  2 Corinthians 3:18 ↩
  33.  John 14:26 ↩
  34.  John 15:2 ↩
  35.  Romans 8:26 ↩
  36.  John 14:16 ↩
  37.  Job 1:6 ↩
  38.  2 Peter 2:4 ↩
  39.  Ephesians 6:12 ↩
  40.  Ephesians 6:11 ↩
  41.  James 4:7 ↩
  42.  Genesis 1:26a ↩
  43.  Genesis 3:1 ↩
  44.  Genesis 3:6 ↩
  45. Genesis 2:17 ↩
  46. 2 Thessalonians 1:9 ↩
  47.  Psalm 51:5 ↩
  48.  Romans 3:23 ↩
  49.  Ephesians 5:6 ↩
  50.  Romans 5:19 ↩
  51.  1 John 1:9 ↩
  52.  John 3:16 ↩
  53. Acts 4:12 ↩
  54.  Romans 6:23 ↩
  55.  Romans 8:1 ↩
  56.  2 Corinthians 5:17 ↩
  57.  Ephesians 1:22-23 ↩
  58.  1 Corinthians 4:17 ↩
  59.  1 Corinthians 11:23-26 ↩
  60.  Acts 8:38 ↩
  61.  Matthew 28:18-20 ↩
  62.  Revelation 7:9 ↩
  63.  Mark 14:62 ↩
  64.  Philippians 3:20 ↩
  65.  1 Thessalonians 4:16 ↩
  66.  Romans 2:6-8 ↩
  67.  Matthew 25:46 ↩
  68.  2 Corinthians 5:1 ↩