Statement of faith

1.  GOD

There is only one true God, who exists eternally in three distinct but equal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God is perfect and unchangeable in his holiness, justice, wisdom and love. He is the almighty Creator, Savior and Judge who sustains and governs all things according to his sovereign will for his own glory. He is worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love.

(Ps. 83:18; Rom. 1:20; Rev. 4:11; Mk. 12:30; Lk. 24:39; John 4:24; Ex. 15:11, Deut. 6:4; Mk. 1:9-11; Matt. 28:19; John 10:30; Acts 5:3-4; Eph. 2:18; Rev. 1:4-5)

2. THE BIBLE 

God has revealed himself in the Bible, which consists of the Old and New Testaments alone. Every word was inspired by God through human authors, so that the Bible as originally given is in its entirety the Word of God, without error and fully reliable in fact and doctrine. God always has and will preserve his word from being changed and corrupted. The Bible alone speaks with final authority and is always sufficient for all matters of belief and practice.

(2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:21; Prov. 30:5-6; Rom. 2:12; 1 John 4:1)

3. THE HUMAN RACE 

God created man, male and female, in his own image. The gift of gender is thus part of the goodness of God’s creation. All men and women, being created in the image of God, have inherent and equal dignity and worth. Their greatest purpose is to obey, worship and love God. As a result of the fall of our first parents, every aspect of human nature has been corrupted and all people are without spiritual life, guilty sinners and hostile to God. Every person is therefore under the just condemnation of God and needs to be born again, forgiven and reconciled to God in order to know and please him.

(Gen. 1:26-30; Gen. 3:6-24; Ps 51:5; Is. 6:5; John 6:44; Rom. 5:12; Rom. 1:19-32; Rom 3:19,23; Jas. 2:10; 1 Cor 15:21-22; Eph 2:1-3)

4. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST 

The Lord Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, and lived a sinless life in obedience to the Father. He taught with authority and all his words are true. On the cross he died in the place of sinners, bearing God’s punishment for their sin, redeeming them by his blood. He rose from the dead and in his resurrection body ascended into heaven where he is exalted as Lord of all. He intercedes for his people in the presence of the Father.

(Eph. 2:5; John 3:16; Phil. 2:6-7; 2 Cor. 5:21; Is. 53:4-5; Gal. 4:4-7; Rom 8:34)

5. SALVATION 

Salvation is entirely a work of God’s grace and cannot be earned or deserved. It has been accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ and is offered to all in the gospel. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, faith and repentance, justification, sanctification, and glorification. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.

A. Regeneration: 

In order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or born again. Regeneration consists in God giving a holy disposition to the mind, and it is effected by the power of the Holy Spirit in a manner beyond our comprehension. This is in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel. Its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith, newness of life, and works of righteousness.

(John 3:3; 3:6-7; Ezek. 36:26; John 1:13; Eph. 4:20-24; Gal. 5:16-23; Matt. 7:20; Eph. 2:10)

B. Repentance and Faith:

Repentance and faith are sacred duties, brought about in our souls by the Holy Spirit in regeneration. Being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn from sin towards God with sincere remorse, confession, and a humble request for mercy. At the same time we heartily receive Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, and rely on Him alone as the only and all-sufficient Savior.

(Acts 11:18; Eph. 2:8; Acts 2:37-38; Ps. 51; Rom. 10:12-13; Heb. 4:14)

C. Justification:

Justification is the blessing in which those who believe in Christ are declared righteous. It includes the pardon of sin and the promise of eternal life on the basis of Christ’s righteousness. It is given freely by God, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the work of Christ. This brings us into peace and favor with God, and secures every other blessing needed for time and eternity.

(John 1:16; Rom. 5:9; Matt. 9:6; Rom. 5:21; Rom. 3:24-26; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Tim. 4:8)

D. Sanctification:

Sanctification is the process, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God’s purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person’s life. The Spirit works through the continual use of spiritual disciplines, including reading and hearing the word of God, Christian fellowship, self-examination, and prayer.

(1 Thess. 4:3; 5:23; Phil. 2:12-13; Eph. 6:18; 2 Cor. 13:5; Heb. 10:24-25; Heb 12:14)

E. Glorification:

Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed.

(Col 3:4; 1 Cor 15:51-57; 1 Peter 1:2-23; Rev 21:1-22:5)

6. THE HOLY SPIRIT 

The Holy Spirit has been sent from heaven to glorify Christ and to apply his work of salvation. He convicts sinners, imparts spiritual life and gives a true understanding of the Scriptures. He indwells all believers, brings assurance of salvation and produces increasing likeness to Christ. He builds up the Church and empowers its members for worship, service and mission.

(John 16:7-11, 3:5-8; 1 Cor. 12:7-11,13; John 14:16-17; Eph 1:13-14; Eph. 4:30, 5:18; Acts 1:8)

7. SOVEREIGN GRACE

Election is the eternal purpose of God, which he graciously planned before creation, to choose some people to be regenerated and saved, not on account of any foreseen merit in them, but only because of His sovereign good pleasure. This is perfectly consistent with the free agency of man, and is a most glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy, and unchangeable.  It excludes boasting and promotes humility. It is the foundation of Christian assurance.

(2 Tim. 1:8-9; John 6:44-45,65; Rom 9:10-16; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; Acts 13:48; Eph. 1:3-12; Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 8:28-30)

8. PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS

All true believers endure to the end. Their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from those who falsely profess faith in Christ. Christians may fall into sin, which grieves the Spirit, impairs their graces and comforts, brings reproach on the church and temporal judgments on themselves, yet they shall be renewed again to repentance, and be kept by the power of God through faith for salvation. 

(John 10:27-29; 1 John 3:9; 5:18; 1 John 2:19; Matt. 13:20-21; Phil. 1:6; Heb. 13:5; Jude. 24-25)

9. THE CHURCH 

The universal Church is the body of which Christ is the head and to which all who are saved belong. It is made visible in local churches, which are congregations of baptized believers covenanted together in faith and fellowship for the worship of God, the preaching of God’s word, the administering of Baptism and the Lord’s supper, the faithful exercise of discipline over its members, and for evangelism. They are governed by the word of God, which teaches that their offices are elders (pastors) and deacons. In the ministry of the church, both men and women are encouraged to serve Christ and to be developed to their full potential in the manifold ministries of the people of God, but the office of elder is limited to men as qualified by Scripture. The unity of the body of Christ is expressed within and between churches by mutual love, care and encouragement. True fellowship between churches exists only where they are faithful to the gospel.

(John 14:15; Mt 16:15-19; 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5:12-13; Acts 2:41-42,47; Acts 14:23; 1 Cor 1:2; Rom 16:5; Phil 1:1; Acts 6:1-4; Eph 4:11-13; 1 Tim 2:9-14; 1 Tim. 3; Titus 1; Rom 16:1; Matt. 28:18-20)

10. BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper have been given to the churches by Christ as a visible sign of the gospel. Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer as a symbol of union with Christ and entry into his Church but does not impart spiritual life. Baptism is a prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of Christ’s sacrifice offered once for all and is observed by the eating of bread and drinking of the cup. It is to confirm the faith of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge, and renewal of their communion with Him, and of their church fellowship.

(Matt. 28:19; Acts 8:12; Rom. 6:4; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Lk. 22:14-20)

11. THE FUTURE 

The Lord Jesus Christ will return in glory. He will raise the dead and judge the world in righteousness. The wicked will be sent to eternal punishment and the righteous will be welcomed into a life of eternal joy in fellowship with God. God will make all things new and will be glorified forever.

(Acts 1:11; Rev. 1:7; Lk. 14:14; John 5:28-29; Matt. 25:35-41; Rev. 21:9-27; 22)