Subordinate Position of Our Statement of Faith: We Set Forth the Following Statement Of

Subordinate Position of Our Statement of Faith:We set forth the following Statement of Faith in the belief that it is agreeable to the written Word of God, the Scriptures. It states what we believe the Scriptures to teach. However, we make no claim that our Statement of Faith is inerrant. It is our desire to be constantly searching the Scriptures and learning God’s truth. If we are in error in any particular belief, we trust the Lord to correct us by His Holy Spirit speaking in the Scriptures.
Statement of Faith:The following Statement of Faith, although not a comprehensive statement of Christian doctrine, provides a substantial summary of what we believe to be biblical teaching.
1. Scripture:We believe the Bible as set forth in the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God,1 transmitted through human authors by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,2 and therefore inerrant and infallible in the original writings.3 God has revealed in the Scripture everything that is necessary for life and salvation.4 The authority of Scripture is not derived from the opinions of men or of churches, but wholly from its Author.5 Scripture alone is the supreme and final authority in all matters of belief and conduct.6
1Exodus 20:124:4Hebrews 1:1-24:121 Thessalonians 2:13
2Luke 1:70John 14:25-26Acts 1:16Romans 1:22 Timothy 3:16Hebrews 3:71 Peter 1:10-122 Peter 1:19-21
3Psalm 19:7-9119:160Proverbs 30:5Luke 24:25-27, 44-46John 10:3517:17
4Psalm 119:9Matthew 4:4Luke 10:25-26John 6:68Acts 20:32Romans 15:42 Timothy 3:15-17James 1:212 Peter 1:2-43:15-16
5Matthew 15:1-6Mark 7:6-13
6Isaiah 8:20Matthew 22:29-32Acts 17:2, 1118:2828:23Galatians 1:8-9
2. The Trinity:We believe in the one true and living God,1 who eternally exists in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.2 These three are one God, united in purpose, equal in power and glory.3
1Deuteronomy 4:396:4Isaiah 44:645:5-646:9Mark 12:29
2Titus 1:33:4-6Matthew 3:16-1728:192 Corinthians 13:14
3Genesis 1:26-273:22-23John 5:17-2314:2617:51 Timothy 3:16Titus 3:4-6
3. Creation:We believe that God created all things, by the word of His power, in the space of six days, and it was all very good. God created man, male and female, in His own image and granted him dominion over the earth and all other creatures.
Genesis 1:1-31Psalm 8:6-8Acts 17:24Colossians 1:15-17Hebrews 11:3Revelation 4:11
4. Providence:We believe that God, in His infinite power and wisdom, governs and directs all His creatures and all their actions.1 No event in nature and no human action or decision occurs by mere chance but is according to God’s determined purpose and for His own glory.2 Although God’s providence extends to all of His creation, yet in a more special manner God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are the called according to His purpose.3
1Job 38:4-4139:1-30Isaiah 45:1-746:9-11Ephesians 1:11Acts 17:25,28
2Exodus 7:3-4Proverbs 16:921:1Isaiah 10:5-15Matthew 10:29Acts 2:22-234:27-28Romans 9:1711:36
3Romans 8:28
5. The Fall and its Effects:We believe that God made Adam perfect, holy, and upright.1 By his disobedience to God’s command, Adam fell from his original righteousness, sin entered the world, and death through sin.2 This death was not merely physical but also spiritual and resulted in man’s separation from God.3 Because of Adam’s sin, all mankind descending from him, except for Jesus Christ, were brought into a state of death and condemnation and inherited from Adam a corrupt and sinful nature.4 Adam’s descendants are born into the world dead in sin and are by nature children of God’s wrath.5 Apart from the grace of God, fallen man is a slave of sin,6 treats God as his enemy,7 and considers the message of the cross foolishness.8 Until he is born again, he remains under the wrath of God,9 and he has neither the desire nor the ability to love God10 or to believe in Christ.11
1Genesis 1:26-31Ecclesiastes 7:29
2Genesis 2:16-173:1-24Romans 5:12
3Genesis 3:22-23Romans 3:236:23
41 Corinthians 15:22Romans 5:12-21
5Romans 1:18John 3:36Ephesians 2:1-5
6Romans 6:16-22
7Romans 5:108:7Colossians 1:21-22
81 Corinthians 1:18, 21
9John 3:1836
10Jeremiah 4:22John 3:19-20Romans 1:213:9-18
11John 6:44658:43-4710:25-26
6. The Birth and Life of Christ:We believe that God sent His Son into the world to save His people from their sins.1 Conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary,2 Jesus was and continues to be both God and man.3 He was tempted in all things but without sin,4 living the perfect life of righteousness on behalf of His people.5
1. Matthew 1:21;John 1:29;3:16-17.
2. Isaiah 7:14;Matthew 1:18-25;Luke 1:26-35.
3. John 1:1, 14, 20-28;Romans 5:15, 18-19;9:5;1 Corinthians 15:47-49;Philippians 2:7-8;1 Timothy 2:5;Titus 2:13;Hebrews 1:8;1 John 4:2-3.
4. John 8:46;Romans 5:18-19;Galatians 4:4-5;Hebrews 4:15;7:26-28;1 Peter 2:21-22;1 John 3:5.
5. Matthew 1:1-16;2 Corinthians 5:21;Galatians 4:4.
7. The Death of Christ:We believe that Christ shed His blood and died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for sin, satisfying God’s justice, propitiating God’s wrath, and forever making full payment for the sins of His people.1
1. Matthew 26:28;Mark 14:24;15:37;Luke 22:20;John 10:15;19:28-30;Acts 20:28;Romans 3:23-25;10:9;1 Corinthians 15:3;2 Corinthians 5:18, 21;Hebrews 2:10;9:9-14, 22;10:10, 12-14;1 Peter 2:24;Isaiah 53:4-12.
8. The Resurrection of Christ:We believe that Jesus Christ rose bodily from the dead on the third day.1 His resurrection bore testimony of God’s acceptance of Christ’s atoning work,2 affirmed the deity and authority of Christ, and assures believers of their own future bodily resurrection.3
1. Luke 24:1-8, 39-43;Acts 1:1-8;Romans 10:9;1 Corinthians 15:3-8.
2. John 2:19;5:21, 26;Acts 17:30-31;Romans 1:4.
3. Romans 6:5;1 Corinthians 6:14;15:12-20;2 Corinthians 4:14;Philippians 3:20-21.
9. The Ascension of Christ:We believe that Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, where He is now seated in glory at the right hand of the Father.1 There He continually makes intercession on behalf of His people,2 and He rules over all things.3 He is the one and only Mediator between God and men,4 and He is the Head of His church.5
1. Luke 24:51;Acts 1:9;Colossians 3:1.
2. Romans 8:34;1 John 2:1;Hebrews 7:23-25.
3. Matthew 28:18;1 Corinthians 15:24;Philippians 2:9-11.
4. 1 Timothy 2:5;Hebrews 8:6;9:15;12:24.
5. Matthew 16:18;Ephesians 5:23;Colossians 1:18.
10. Jesus Christ the Only Way to God:We believe that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father except through Him.1 God has given no other name under heaven by which sinners must be saved.2 To be saved, a sinner must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.3
1. John 14:6.
2. Acts 4:12.
3. John 3:36;Acts 16:31;19:4;1 Timothy 1:16;1 John 3:23.
11. Election and Responsibility:We believe that God, before the foundation of the world, did for His own glory choose a great multitude of people to eternal life as an act of His free and sovereign grace alone.1 This election was in no way dependent upon His foresight of human faith, decision, works, or merit.2 Yet in the unsearchable depths of God’s sovereign will, all men remain responsible creatures, subject to God’s commands to repent and believe, and accountable to God for their rebellion, impenitence, and rejection of Jesus Christ.3
1. John 6:37-39;Acts 13:48;Romans 8:28-30;Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12;2 Thessalonians 2:13.
2. Romans 9:10-18;11:5-10;Ephesians 2:8-9;Philippians 1:29;2 Timothy 1:9.
3. Deuteronomy 29:29;Isaiah 55:8-11;Mark 1:15;John3:36;6:37;Acts 17:30;Romans 1:18-21;9:19;2 Thessalonians 1:8-10.
12. Effective Calling:We believe that God accomplishes His redemptive purposes by working through the gospel,1 effectively calling elect sinners and drawing them to Jesus Christ.2
1. Romans 1:16;10:14-17;1 Corinthians 1:21;1 Peter 1:22-25.
2. John 6:37, 44-45;10:16;Romans 8:30;1Corinthians 1:26-29.
13. Regeneration:We believe that regeneration (also described as the sinner’s being “born again”1, being “made alive”2, or being made “a new creation”3) is an act of God, who works when, where, and in whom He pleases.4 The sinner passes from spiritual death to spiritual life.5 The one who is made spiritually alive repents of sin and believes in Jesus Christ.6
1. John 1:13;3:3-8;1 Peter 1:3, 23;James 1:18.
2. Ephesians 2:1;2:5;Colossians 2:13.
3. 2 Corinthians 5:17;Galatians 6:15.
4. John 3:8;Romans 8:9-11;1Corinthians 6:11.
5. John 3:6;5:24;1 John 3:14.
6. Acts 3:19;11:17-18;20:20-21.
14. Justification:We believe that God, by an act of His grace, declares believing sinners to be righteous in His sight because of Christ’s perfect life and substitutionary death.1 The righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to them,2 and they receive it by faith alone in the person and work of Christ alone.3
1. Isaiah 53:11;2 Corinthians 5:21;Titus 3:5-7;1 Peter 1:18-19;2:24.
2. Romans 4:5-8, 20-25.
3. Romans 3:20-28;4:5;Galatians 2:16;3:10-14;Acts 13:38-39;Philippians 3:9.
15. Adoption:We believe that God, by an act of His grace, adopts believers as His children, becomes their Father, and makes them heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.1
1. Matthew 5:9, 16;6:9;John 20:17;Romans 8:15-17;Galatians 4:4-7;1 John 3:1-2.
16. Sanctification:We believe that God, by a work of His grace, sanctifies all those whom He justifies.1 Because God has predestined believers to be conformed to the image of His Son,2 and has given the Holy Spirit to indwell those who are His,3 believers live more and more to righteousness and die more and more to sin4 as they are sanctified by His Truth.5 Although sinless perfection will never be attained in this life, it will be made certain in heaven.6
1. 1 Corinthians 1:2;6:11;1 Thessalonians 4:3-7;Hebrews 2:10-11.
2. 2.Romans 8:29-30.
3. Acts 2:33, 38;10:47;Romans 5:5;8:9-11;Ephesians 1:13;4:30;2 Timothy 1:14.
4. 2 Corinthians 3:18;4:16-18;Ephesians 4:20-24;Philippians 1:6;1 Timothy 6:11-12;1 Peter 2:24;1 John 3:2-10.
5. John 17:17-19.
6. Proverbs 20:9;1 Corinthians 13:9-12;Philippians 3:12-14;Hebrews 10:14;James 3:2;1 John 1:8, 10;Jude 24.
17. Perseverance:We believe that all who are chosen, called, regenerated, and justified will be preserved by God’s power,1 will persevere in faith and holiness,2 and will never finally fall away.3 This perseverance, although involving human effort, is the result of God’s work of grace in the believer through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.4 Christ’s sheep hear His voice and follow Him; He gives them eternal life; not one will perish; and no one is able to snatch them out of His hand.5
1. Romans 8:28-30;Philippians 1:6;1 Thessalonians 5:23-24;2 Thessalonians 3:3-4;2 Timothy 1:12;1 Peter 1:5;Jude 24-25.
2. Romans 1:17;Galatians 2:20;Ephesians 4:24;Hebrews 3:14;12:14.
3. Romans 8:35,39;1 John 2:19.
4. Romans 8:13-14;Philippians 2:12-13.
5. John 10:27-29.
18. The Church:We believe that the universal Church, or Body of Christ, consists of all those redeemed by Christ’s blood and born of His Spirit.1 Local assemblies, consisting of those who profess faith in Christ, are imperfect visible representations of this universal church.2 Christ rules with all authority as the Head of the Church,3 and for the oversight of the local assembly He has appointed men to be elders (undershepherds) to serve Him as they care for His flock.4 Deacons are qualified men who also serve in the local church by attending to the temporal needs of the congregation.5 The local church must recognize and have fellowship with the universal body of Christ as it is represented by other biblical churches.6
1. 1 Corinthians 1:2;12:12-14, 27;Ephesians 2:19-22;Hebrews 12:22-24;1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10.
2. 1 Corinthians 1:10-13;Revelation 2:1-3:22.
3. Matthew 16:18;Ephesians 1:22-23;Colossians 1:18.
4. Acts 14:23;20:17, 28;1 Timothy 3:1-7;Titus 1:5-9;1 Peter 5:2-4.
5. Acts 6:1-4;Philippians 1:1;1 Timothy 3:8-13.
6. Acts 11:27-30;Romans 15:26;1 Corinthians 1:2;2 Corinthians 11:28;Galatians 1:2;3:26;Colossians 4:16.
19. Baptism:We believe that baptism is an ordinance of the new covenant, ordained by the Lord Jesus Christ.1 Only those who believe in Christ, repent of sin, and profess faith in our Lord Jesus are to be baptized.2 The outward element to be used in this ordinance is water.3 Water baptism has no power to regenerate the person baptized, but it is an outward sign of the believer being united with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection, as well as the believer being cleansed from sin, all accomplished by the inward work of the Holy Spirit.4
1. Matthew 28:19.
2. Mark 16:16;Acts 2:38, 41;8:12, 36-38;10:47-48;16:14-15, 31-34;18:8;19:4-5;22:16.
3. John 1:26, 33;3:23;Acts 8:36, 38;10:47-48.
4. John 1:33;Acts 1:5;10:47;Romans 6:3-6;1 Corinthians 6:11;12:13;Galatians 3:27;Colossians 2:11-14;Titus 3:5;Hebrews 10:22;1 Peter 3:21.
20. The Lord’s Supper:We believe that the Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of the new covenant, ordained by the Lord Jesus Christ.1 By partaking of the bread, which represents the Lord’s body, and of the cup, which represents His blood of the new covenant,2 believers remember Him and proclaim His death until He comes again.3 None but believers are to partake of the Lord’s Supper, and only after they have examined themselves so as not to eat and drink in an unworthy manner and thereby bring judgment upon themselves.4
1. Matthew 26:26-29;Mark 14:22-25;Luke 22:19-20.
2. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17;11:24-25.
3. 1 Corinthians 11:26.
4. 1 Corinthians 11:27-32.
21. Evangelism:We believe that it is the calling of every local church to proclaim the Gospel: to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that Christ has commanded.1 Individual believers are called to be witnesses for Jesus Christ.2
1. Matthew 24:14;28:19;Mark 16:15;2 Timothy 4:1-2.
2. Acts 1:8;2 Corinthians 5:20;1 Thessalonians 1:5-10.
22. The Return of Christ:We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will come again.1 The dead will be raised bodily, and all will appear before Christ, the Judge of the living and the dead.2 The saved shall enjoy everlasting life in the presence of God in heaven, and the unsaved shall endure God’s wrath in hell for eternity.3
1. Matthew 24:44;Acts 1:11.
2. John 5:26-29;6:39-40, 44, 54;Acts 10:42;24:15;1 Corinthians 15:50-57;1 Thessalonians 4:13-17;2 Timothy 4:1;1 Peter 4:5.
3. Matthew 25:31-46;John 3:16, 36;5:24;14:3;2 Thessalonians 1:6-10;Revelation 6:15-17;20:11-21:8.***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
The following Statement of Faith is contained in Article III (“Doctrine”) of the church’s Constitution, revised in March 2008.