Statement of Faith

The Word of God

We believe the Word of God, the Bible, was given by divine inspiration through holy men of God who were moved by the Holy Spirit. We believe the Holy Scriptures to be infallible revelation of His will. They are the standard by which we base our character and behavior. (2 Samuel 23:2, Ezekiel 2:2, 11:5,24, Micah 3:8, Mark 12:36, Acts 28:25, Hebrews 3:7, 9:9, 1 Timothy 4:1, Revelation 1:10, Acts 1:2, Ephesians 3:3-5)

Paul says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16

Jesus said, “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39 We believe in the Bible and the Bible alone. “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20

The Godhead

We believe in one God: the Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Son. He is forever worthy of worship, adoration, and service by the whole creation “And now the Lord God [the Father] and His Spirit [the Holy Spirit] have sent Me[the Son of God].” Isaiah 48:16

To know Jesus is to know the Father: “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” John 14:9

God is a God of love. “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:44, 45

When sin entered, sacrifices of an unblemished animal represented Jesus’ death on the cross. Hebrews 9:22 says, “… without shedding of blood there is no remission …” of sin. Jesus Christ, the Son of God died on the cross for the Salvation of this world and became “the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world.” John 1:29 He was “as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” 1 Peter 1:19

Scripture views the Holy Spirit as God. “Whosoever speaketh against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.” Matthew 12:32

The Holy Spirit fills the hearts of believers. “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” Acts 19:2 And the gift of the Holy Spirit shall be received at baptism. “Repent and be baptized, everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38

God the Creator

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 In six days God created the heaven and earth and He rested on the seventh day. “And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” Genesis 2:3

We believe that each creation day was a literal 24 hour period. “And the evening and the morning were the first day.” Genesis 1:5

“Saying with a loud voice, fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the seam and the fountains of waters.” Revelation 14:7

We are created in the image of God. “So God created man in his own image …” Genesis 1:27

The Life, Death and Resurrection of Christ and the Gift of Salvation

“Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” Revelation 5:13

“But God who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ … For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:4,5,8,9

Christ died for our sins so that we might have everlasting life. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16 He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already…”John 3:18

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

In Christ, “we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Ephesians 1:7

We must repent of our sins. “… the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.” Romans 2:4

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

(Acts 5:31, Romans 2:4, Proverbs 28:13) The role of faith and works is important. Our salvation is a gift from God. Works alone cannot save us. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…” Titus 3:5

Our faith is demonstrated by our obedience to our Creator. Genuine faith cannot exist without works. “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” James 2:17

James said, “Do you see, that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?” James 2:22

A faith with works leads to justification. “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:20

Without obedience to God how else will others see Jesus in us? “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15

As we grow in our faith obedience will come naturally out of our desire to serve God faithfully. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22,23 “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25

The result of repentance and justification is sanctification. “Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” 2 Peter 1:5-9 We need to grow in our spiritual life. (Ephesians 4:13, Hebrews 5:14, 6:1)Sanctification is a lifelong process. Without Jesus our righteousness is like filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6, Daniel 9:7,11,20, 1 Corinthians 1:30)

Stewardship

By being good stewards we bring glory and honor to the most high God. “Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick and ye visited me: I was in prison and ye came unto me.” Matthew 25:34-36

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23,24

The Second Coming of Christ

We believe that the return of Christ is near and that when he returns those who have put their faith in Him will be glorified and taken to heaven. We do not know the day or time, but when He does return, every eye shal see and every knee shall bow. It will be an event that will come with the mighty trumpet call of the Lord. The bible tells us that the sky will recede like a scroll and every mountain and island will be moved out of its place. (Revelation 6:14) Christ’s return wil be visible to all! For as lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the comng of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:27

His return will be unexpected. “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” Matthew 24:42

“For as in the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:37

“But the day of the Lord will come as theif in the night [unexpected not secret]; in which the heavens shall pass away with great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10

When Christ does return the dead in Christ will be resurrected and caught up in the clouds and then those who believe in Him that are still living will be taken up to meet Him in the clouds also. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17

“Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20