Statement Of Faith

We believe that the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God in the original writings and are the only sufficient, certain, inerrant, and authoritative rule of faith and practice. Although we have adopted the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith as an excellent subordinate summary of Biblical teaching, the Bible alone is the complete, infallible, written Word of God. (Cf. Proverbs 30:5-6; Matthew 4:1-10; 5:17-18; Luke 24:25-27,44; John 10:35; Romans 15:4; I Thessalonians 2:13; II Timothy 3:14-17; II Peter 1:19-21; 3:2,15-16; Revelation 22:18-19.)

We believe in the one true and living God, the sovereign Creator and Governor of all things, who is infinite in His holy perfections, unchanging in His nature and will, and deserving of our worship and obedience. We believe that God eternally exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These Three, being one in essence, are co-equal, co-eternal, and co-existing, and perform distinct but harmonious functions in creation, redemption, and providence. (Cf. Genesis 1:1-3; Exodus 3:14; Deuteronomy 6:4; 7:9-10; 32:4; Psalm 33:4-11; 115:3; 139:1-16; 147:5; Isaiah 6:3; 66:1-2; Malachi 3:6; John 1:1-14,18; 3:16; 4:24; 8:58; Acts 5:3-4; 17:24-31; Romans 1:18-20; 11:32-36; Colossians 1:15-19; 2:8-10; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 1:2-3,8,10; 6:17-18; James 1:13,17; I John 1:5; 3:20; 4:8,10; 5:20; Revelation 1:8; 5:12-14.)

We believe that the first man, Adam, was created by the special act of God in His own image, holy and without sin; but Adam rebelled against his Creator at the temptation of Satan. As a result, man (in Adam) forfeited his original righteousness, is conceived with a fully corrupt nature, is unwilling and unable to please God, and is under the just wrath of God until he trusts in Jesus Christ as his only hope of salvation. (Cf. Genesis 1:26-31; 2:7-3:24; 6:5; Psalms 14:1-3; 51:5; Ecclesiastes 7:20; John 6:44; 8:34,36; Romans 1:18-32; 2:12-16; 3:9-23; 5:12-21; 6:20-23; 7:14-25; 8:5-8; I Corinthians 2:14; 15:21-22; Galatians 5:17-21; Ephesians 2:1-3; James 1:13-15; 2:10-11; I John 1:8-10.)

We believe in Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, who was conceived of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life and died a substitutionary death as the Representative of His people in order to fulfill God’s Law. He rose bodily from the dead and ascended to the place of absolute authority at the Father’s right hand. He now intercedes for His people before the Father and sends the Holy Spirit to unite them to Himself and to dwell within them. He will personally return in power and glory to judge all the living and the dead. (Cf. Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1-18; 17:5; 19:28-42; 20:25-29; Acts 1:1-11; 2:22-36 ; 4:12; 20:28; Romans 1:1-4; 5:8-21; I Corinthians 15:1-28; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15-20; I Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 1; 4:14-15; 7:23-28; 9:11-15,24-28; I Peter 1:18-21; I John 2:1-2; Revelation 1:5; 5:9; 19:11-16, 22:12-13.)

We believe that the redemption accomplished by Christ is applied to God’s elect by the Holy Spirit, who works sovereignly by His Word to bring men to repentance and faith in Christ. All believers have been regenerated and baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ. Subsequently, they are indwelt by Him. Justified by faith in Christ alone, believers have received the forgiveness of sins and the merits of Christ’s righteousness. The believer’s good works are the evidence, not any part of the basis, of his salvation. The new life given by the Holy Spirit also enables the believer willingly to forsake sin and to submit to God’s Law, so that his life is characterized by progressive practical righteousness as he wars against sinful desires. The believer will not reach perfection in this life, but, by the grace of God, he will continue to grow in holiness until physical death or until the return of Christ. (Cf. John 1:12-13; 6:44; 10:26-29; Acts 13:48; Romans chs. 4-11; I Corinthians 1:30-31; 6:11; II Corinthians 1:21-22; 7:1; Galatians 3; 4:4-7; Ephesians 1:3-14; 2:1-10; 4:30; Philippians 1:6; 2:12-13; Colossians 3:1-4; Titus 3:3-7; Hebrews 3:12-14; 10:14-39; James 2:17-26; I Peter 1; II Peter 1:1-11; I John 1:5-10; 2:18-25; chs. 3-5.)

We believe that the Church consists of all regenerate persons from all time. It is the universal and spiritual body of believers, which has been purchased by the blood of Christ, and of which He is the Head. We believe that a local church consists of a company of professed believers in Jesus Christ associated for the worship of God, for the fellowship of the saints, and for the proclamation of the Gospel. In submission to Christ, a local church is to be led and served by men ordained to the offices of elder and deacon, to observe the two ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s supper, and, when necessary, to provide church discipline. (Cf. Matthew 16:16-19; 28:18-20; Acts 20:28-32; I Corinthians 1:2; 3:6-9; 11:17-34; 12; Galatians 3:26-29; Ephesians 2:11-22; 4:1-16; 5:21-32; I Timothy 3; Titus 1:5-9; Hebrews 3:1-6; I Peter 2:4-10; I John 2:18-20; Revelation 5:9-10; 21:2-10.)

We believe that Jesus Christ will return bodily from heaven in the manifest glory of God to consummate His eternal kingdom. He will resurrect all the dead and gather them with all the living for the final Judgment. The unbelieving wicked will be condemned to eternal conscious torment in hell; but His believing saints, the Church and Bride of Jesus Christ, will be glorified in perfect holiness to love and to serve the Holy One forever. (Cf. Matthew 13:36-43,47-50; John 5:24-29; Acts 1:11; I Corinthians 15:12-58; Philippians 3:20-21; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; II Thessalonians 1:5-12; Hebrews 9:27-28; I Peter 1:3-13; II Peter 3:3-13.)