Statement of Faith

1. We believe that the Bible is totally inspired by God the Holy Spirit and thus is wholly true in its original writings and authoritative for our faith and conduct today.

2. We believe in One God who exists in three co-equal and eternal  persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God the Father is the creator and sustainer of all things, infinite, eternal, holy, righteous, loving, all powerful, all knowing, all wise, just and merciful.

3. We believe that Jesus Christ is fully divine and fully human. We believe that he lived a sinless life, was born of the virgin Mary, atoned for our sins through his death on the cross, rose again bodily on the third day, ascended into heaven and is now seated at the right hand of the Father, and that he will one day return to the earth, set up his kingdom, and judge the living and the dead.

4. We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person who convicts of sin, draws people to Christ, effects regeneration, exalts and reveals Jesus Christ, illuminates the Word of God, seals, indwells  comforts, sanctifies, strengthens, guides, teaches and empowers the believer in Christ. The Christian is to seek to experience fellowship with, obey, exhibit the fruit and gifts of, and be empowered by the Holy Spirit.

5. We believe that every human being is born in sin, and therefore is spiritually dead and under the wrath of God. We believe that we are saved  by his mercy and the redemption of Christ's blood through grace. We believe that a response of repentance and faith in Christ is necessary for salvation. We believe that those who put their trust in Christ are justified, united with Christ, reconciled with God, regenerated as new creatures in Christ, and receive eternal life.

6. We believe that those who have been regenerated through faith in Christ will persevere in their faith.  God calls the Christian to seek to live a holy life, which although never fully attained in this life, it is to be sought by a diligent use of the means of grace (such as prayer, worship, the word of God, fellowship with other believers). The Christian has been united with Christ in his death to sin and resurrection life. The Holy Spirit helps a Christian to daily put off the old ways of the sinful nature (flesh) and to put on the character of Christ (fruit of the Holy Spirit) as he counts on this spiritual reality and depends on the Holy Spirit to enable him to walk with Christ, obey him, and grow in holiness. We believe in the resurrection of the righteous to eternal life in heaven and of the wicked to eternal punishment in Hell.

7. We believe that Satan is a real and powerful evil spiritual being. Jesus completely defeated Satan on the cross, has all authority over him and his demons, and enables us to walk in victory and authority over Satan by the power of the Holy Spirit.

8. We believe that Jesus Christ established the church and is its head. The church is the community of all true believers in Christ that glorifies God by holding forth the truth of God, demonstrating the love and holiness of God to one another and the world,  and witnessing to the person and work of Christ locally and throughout the world. We believe that the Holy Spirit brings unity between true believers in Christ.

9. We believe that God has created human beings as male and female from birth, together portraying his image. We believe that God has established marriage as being a sacred and life-long covenant between one man and woman.We believe that God calls the Christian believer to moral purity, and to abstain from sexual immorality, which is defined as any sexual activity outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.