Our Statement
of Faith
|
Staff and
Elders
STATEMENT OF FAITH
WE
BELIEVE THAT THE BIBLE IS THE
INSPIRED WORD OF GOD, AND OUR
INFALLIBLE GUIDE IN CONDUCT AND
FAITH.
WE
BELIEVE IN ONE GOD, MANIFESTED IN
THREE PERSONS AS THE FATHER, THE
SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. WE AFFIRM
THAT THE SON OF GOD, JESUS CHRIST,
BECAME INCARNATE, WAS BEGOTTEN OF
THE HOLY SPIRIT, BORN OF THE VIRGIN
MARY, AND IS TRUE GOD AND TRUE MAN.
WE BELIEVE THAT MAN,
CREATED IN THE LIKENESS AND IMAGE OF
GOD, BROKE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
THROUGH DISOBEDIENCE (SIN), THEREBY
RECEIVING A SIN NATURE, WHICH
SEPARATES US FROM GOD. WE BELIEVE
THAT JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD,
GAVE HIS LIFE AND SHED HIS BLOOD TO
REDEEM AND RESTORE MAN BACK TO GOD.
WE BELIEVE THAT
SALVATION IS A GIFT OF GOD TO MAN,
SEPARATE FROM WORKS AND THE LAW, AND
IS MADE OPERATIVE BY GRACE THROUGH
FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, PRODUCING
WORKS ACCEPTABLE TO GOD.
WE BELIEVE IN GODLY
SORROW THAT WORKS REPENTANCE AS
MAN’S FIRST STEP TOWARDS SALVATION
AND THAT THE NEW BIRTH IS NECESSARY.
WE BELIEVE IN WATER
BAPTISM FOR BELIEVERS AS OUR
IDENTIFICATION WITH CHRIST IN HIS
DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION.
WE BELIEVE IN THE
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT AS
DISTINCT FROM THE BELIEVER’S NEW
BIRTH. WE ALSO AFFIRM THE VALIDITY
AND IMPORTANCE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS,
AS GIVEN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT,
EMPOWERING THE BELIEVER TO DO GOD’S
WILL.
WE BELIEVE IN
SANCTIFICATION AS A WORK OF GRACE,
WHICH SHOULD RESULT IN PERSONAL
HOLINESS AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD.
WE BELIEVE IN THE
HEALING OF THE HUMAN BODY BY THE
POWER OF GOD THROUGH THE PRAYER OF
FAITH, AND BY LAYING ON OF HANDS.
WE BELIEVE IN THE
IMMINENT, PERSONAL RETURN OF THE
LORD JESUS CHRIST AS REIGNING KING
OVER THE EARTH.
WE BELIEVE IN THE
RESURRECTION OF BOTH THE SAVED AND
THE LOST; THE SAVED UNTO THE
RESURRECTION OF ETERNAL LIFE, AND
THE LOST UNTO THE RESURRECTION OF
ETERNAL DAMNATION.
WE BELIEVE IN
PARTAKING OF THE LORD’S SUPPER IN
REMEMBRANCE OF HIM. THE BREAD
SYMBOLIZES THE LORD’S BROKEN BODY,
AND THE CUP REPRESENTS HIS BLOOD OF
THE NEW COVENANT, WHICH WAS POURED
OUT FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.
WE BELIEVE IN THE
LAYING ON OF HANDS AS A BLESSING FOR
HEALING, FOR CONFERRING OFFICE, FOR
RECEIVING THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT, FOR RECEIVING ANOINTING AND
THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND
FOR ORDINATION.
