Affirmation of Faith
The Bible
We believe that the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments are God’s Word1, written through men2, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit3. Therefore, The Bible is infallible—as originally given4, essential for instruction in faith and practice5, and the sufficient revelation of Christ Jesus. Therefore, the Word of God is our final authority6.
11Corinthians 14:37; Psalm 119; 21 Peter 2:21; 32 Timothy 3:16; 4Psalm 12:6; 5Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:14-16; Luke 22:27, 44-45; Acts 17:2-3; 2 Peter 3:16; 6Hebrews 4:12
God
Regarding God’s nature, we believe in one God1—eternal2, living3, holy4, true5, and all-glorious6, existing in three distinct persons, while sharing divine perfection in their one essence7, comprising of the Father8, the Son9, and the Holy Spirit10.
1Deuteronomy 6:4; 2Genesis 1:1; 3Matthew 16:16; 4Isaiah 6:3; 5Romans 3:4; 6Psalm 138:5; 7John 17:21; 8Malachi 2:10; 9John 1:1; 5:18; 10John 15:26
As to God’s divine perfection, we believe He is unchanging1, boundless in knowledge2, infinite in power3, limitless in His presence4, perfect in His wisdom5, justice6, mercy, grace, faithfulness, and love7.
1Numbers 23:19; 2Isaiah 46:9-10; 3Jeremiah 32:17; 4Jeremiah 23:24; 5Romans 11:33; 6Deuteronomy 32:4; 7Exodus 34:6
As to God’s character, we believe that God has revealed himself truly1, though not exhaustively2, in His creation3, in the human conscience4, and by divine revelation through His Word—The Bible. In so doing, He has displayed His regard for His creatures5.
1Hebrews 1:1-3; 2Romans 11:33-36; 3Romans 1:17; 4Romans 2:15; 5Hebrews 1:1-2
As to God’s work, we believe the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit share in the work of creation1, providential governance2, judgment3, and salvation4.
1Genesis 1:1, 26; Psalm 33:6; 2Romans 11:33-36; 3Acts 10:42; 4Psalm 34:22
God the Father
Regarding God the Father’s nature, we believe He is an eternal personal spirit1, and the source of all authority2.
1John 6:46; 2Matthew 28:18
As to God the Father’s work in creation, we believe that by His decree, He created all things.
Genesis 1:1; 1 Corinthians 8:6
As to God the Father’s work in redemption, we believe that by His decree He has purchased a people and adopted them as his children out of this world1, to conform them to the image of His Son2, to the praise of His glorious name3.
1Ephesians 1:3-4; 2Romans 8:28-29; 3Ephesians 1:11-12
God the Son
Regarding God the Son’s nature, we believe that He is the Son of God1, being of one essence with the Father2, eternally proceeding from Him, and without beginning3. He was conceived in the flesh by the Holy Spirit4, born of a virgin5, and is both fully God and fully man6.
1John 20:31; 2Colossians 2:9; 3Colossians 1:15-16; 4Matthew 1:18; 5Matthew 1:23; 6John 6:46, 10:30, 38; Titus 2:13; Philippians 2:6-8; Colossians 1:15-17; 2:9; Revelation 4:11
As to God the Son’s work in creation, we believe that He, as the very Word of God1, is the agent by which all things were created2, and are ever-sustained3.
1John 1:14; 2John 1:3; 3Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:15-17
As to God the Son’s work in redemption, we believe that He lived a perfectly obedient life1, died a substitutionary death, having been crucified on a cross to atone for our sins2, rose bodily from the dead3, and ascended into the heavens4, as witnessed by many5, where He now advocates at the right hand of the Father6 on behalf of those who believe in Him7.
1Hebrews 4:15; 21 Corinthians 15:3; 31 Corinthians 15:4; 4Luke 24:29-43, 51-53; 51 Corinthians 15:5-8; 61 John 2:1; Hebrews 7:25; 7Romans 1:16; Ephesians 2:8-9
God the Holy Spirit
Regarding the nature of God the Holy Spirit, we believe that He is eternally proceeding from God the Father and God the Son, while comprehending and revealing the thoughts of God.
John 14:26; 15:26; 1 Corinthians 2:8-11
As to God the Holy Spirit’s work, we believe He is sent by the Father and Son1 to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment2, to bring to spiritual life from spiritual death3, and to permanently indwell the saints4, sealing5, sanctifying6, guiding7, teaching8, equipping9, and comforting10 all those who believe in Jesus.
1John 7:39, 14:26-27, 15:26; 2John 16:8; 3John 3:6-8; 4Romans 8:9; 5Ephesians 1:13; 6Ezekiel 36:26-27; 7John 16:13; 8Ezekiel 36:26-27; 91 Corinthians 12:7-10; 10Acts 9:31
Humanity and Its Destiny
Regarding humanity, we believe that we were created in the image of God1, first with Adam from the dust of the ground, and then Eve from Adam’s side2. Thus, they are the historical parents of the human race, originally being without sin, and created to love and enjoy God3.
1Genesis 1:26-27; 2Genesis 2:7; 3Genesis 1:22, 28
We believe that although God created mankind upright1, our first parents were led into sin by personal disobedience to the revealed will of God2. It was in this manner they fell from their original innocence and communion with God3.
1Ecclesiastes 7:29a; 2Ecclesiastes 7:29b; Romans 1:21-23; Genesis 3:17; 3Genesis 3:1-7
Thereby, as head of the human race, through Adam’s fall became the fall of all his posterity, thus separating humanity from God, and properly incurring a nature of corruption, hostility, guilt, death, and condemnation.
Romans 1:21-32, 3:23, 5:9-10, 12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22; Colossians 2:13
Therefore, we believe that every human being is enslaved to sin1, and morally incapable2 of loving and honoring God, and therefore facing eternal judgment and wrath from Him3.
1John 8:34; 2Romans 6:16, 20, 23, 8:7-8; 3John 3:36
Humanity and Salvation
We believe that God the Father, in His desire to save humanity, sent His Son—Jesus—to die as a sinless1 substitute for sinners2 once for all3, and to rise from the dead, thus guaranteeing and securing the resurrection to eternal life for those who believe in Him4 and His substitutionary work—which is the gospel.
12 Corinthians 5:21; 2Romans 5:8-21; Titus 3:3-7; 3Romans 6:10; 41 Corinthians 15:20-22; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:21-22, 2:13
We believe that because of man’s corrupt nature and incapability to submit to God, God freely saves by regenerating the heart, by the power of the Holy Spirit1, through the hearing of the gospel—Jesus’s life, death, resurrection, and ascension2. It is His work that guarentees3 redemption4 for those who place their individual faith5 in His person and work alone6.
1Ezekiel 36:26-27; 21 Corinthians 2:14, 15:3-5, 45; 3Ephesians 1:14; Jude 24-25; 4Hebrews 9:12; 5Acts 17:30; John 5:24; Romans 3:23-26; 6Ephesians 2:8-9
Satan
Regarding Satan, we believe he is a powerful being1 who was created by God2 and consigned to reign over this present world3. His work includes destroying4, murdering5, deceiving6, and accusing7 humanity, constantly opposing God, while remaining under God’s sovereign control8.
1Revelation 12:4-9; 2Ezekiel 28:12-16; 31 John 5:19; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 41 Peter 5:8; 5John 8:44; 6John 8:44; 7Zechariah 3:1; 8Job 1:6-12
We believe that for those who have placed their faith in Jesus and his redemptive work on their behalf, Satan has lost his condemning power1 and at the appointed time, he will meet his final doom, being cast into the lake of fire forever2.
1Colossians 2:15; John 12:31; 2Jude 6-7; Revelation 20:10
The Church
Regarding the universal Church, we believe that she is comprised of all those who possess a persevering faith in Christ1, both in generations past, present, and future. These are the saints of God who were called out of the world and into fellowship with Him2, thus overcoming the world3, with Christ Jesus as her head4.
1Hebrews 7:25; Ephesians 2:8-9; Revelation 5:9; 2Ephesians 1:3-4; 31 John 5:4-5; 4Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22
Regarding the local church, we believe that God has commanded her, for her joy, to regularly gather together in congregational worship1, devoting themselves to the Word of God, prayer, the ministry of fellowship2, in addition to the biblical ordinances of water baptism3 and participation of the Lord’s Table4.
11 Corinthians 16:19; Hebrews 10:24-25; 2Acts 2:42; Colossians 3:16; 3Matthew 28:19; 41 Corinthians 11:23-26
Regarding the gifts of the local church, we believe that the Holy Spirit has dispensed on every saint different gifts for worship, the common good of the church body1, and for the advancement of the gospel2, to the glory of God among the nations3.
1Ephesians 4:11-14; Romans 12:4-8; 2Romans 10:15; 31 Peter 2:9, 4:11; Mark 16:15
The Return of Jesus
Regarding the return of Christ Jesus, we believe that the blessed hope of God’s children1 is that at the appointed time He will return to His world personally2, physically3 and suddenly4 in power and magnificent glory5.
1Titus 2:13-14; 2Acts 1:9-11; Revelation 1:7; 3Mark 14:62; Philippians 3:20-21; 41 Thessalonians 5:2-3; 5Luke 21:27
As to the last day, we believe that at His coming, God will bodily raise everyone from the dead.
Daniel 12:2; Acts 24:15; John 5:28-29; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9
As to the non-elect, God will judge all who suppressed the truth in unrighteousness1 and consequently consign them to eternal conscious misery in Hell2.
1Romans 1:18; 2Matthew 3:12b; 10:28; 18:8; 25:31-46; Mark 3:29; Luke 16:26; Acts 17:31; Jude 12-13; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 14:11; 19:3; 20:10, 15
As to the elect, God will gather them into His consummated kingdom to share in His everlasting joy1, in His presence2 where they will reign with Jesus Christ forever in the New Heavens and New Earth3.
1Matthew 3:12a, 24:30-31; 2Matthew 25:23, 46; John 3:16, 14:3; 1 Corinthians 15:22-24; 2 Timothy 4:1; Luke 22:28-30; 3Matthew 19:29; Romans 8:17; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Luke 22:29-30; 2 Timothy 2:12