articles of faith


what we believe

The Triune God
We believe in one eternally existent, infinite God, Sovereign Creator and Sustainer of the universe; that He only is God, holy in nature, attributes, and purpose. The God who is holy love and light is Triune in essential being, revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
(Genesis 1; Leviticus 19:2; Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Isaiah 5:16; 6:1-7; 40:18-31; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19-20

 

Jesus Christ

We believe in Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Triune Godhead; that He was eternally one with the Father; that He became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary, so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say the Godhead and manhood, are thus united in one Person very God and very man, the God-man.

 

We believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins, and that He truly arose from the dead and took again His body, together with all things appertaining to the perfection of man’s nature, wherewith He ascended into heaven and is there engaged in intercession for us.
(Matthew 1:20-25; 16:15-16; Luke 1:26-35; John 1:1-18; Acts 2:22-36; Romans 8:3, 32-34; Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:12-22; 

 

The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Triune Godhead that He is
ever present and efficiently active in and with the Church of Christ, convincing the world of sin, regenerating those who repent and believe, sanctifying believers, and guiding into all truth as it is in Jesus.
(John 7:39; 14:15-18, 26; 16:7-15; Acts 2:33; 15:8-9; Romans 8:1-27; Galatians 3:1-14; 4:6; 

 

The Holy Scriptures

We believe in the plenary inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, by which we
understand the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, given by divine inspiration, inerrantly revealing the will of God concerning us in all things necessary to our salvation.
(Luke 24:44-47; John 10:35; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

 

Sin, Original and Personal
We believe that sin came into the world through the disobedience of our first parents, and death by sin. We believe that sin is of two kinds: original sin or depravity, and actual or personal sin.
(Original sin: Genesis 3; 6:5; Job 15:14; Psalm 51:5;  (Personal); Romans 3:23; 6:15-23; 8:18-24; 14:23; 1 John 1:9

 

Atonement
We believe that Jesus Christ, by His sufferings, by the shedding of His own blood,
and by His death on the Cross, made a full atonement for all human sin, and that this Atonement is the only ground of salvation, and that it is sufficient for every individual of Adam’s race. 
(Isaiah 53:5-6, 11; Mark 10:45; Luke 24:46-48; Jo3:14-17; Acts 4:10-12; Romans 3:21-26; 
1 Corinthians 6:20; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21; Galatians 1:3-4; 3:13-14;; 
1Timothy 2:3-6; Hebrews 2:9; 9:11-14;1 Peter 1:18- 21; 

 

Sanctification
We believe that sanctification is the work of God which transforms believers into
the likeness of Christ. It is wrought by God’s grace through the Holy Spirit in initial Sanctification, or regeneration (simultaneous with justification), entire sanctification, and the continued perfecting work of the Holy Spirit culminating in glorification. In glorification we are fully conformed to the image of the Son.
We believe that entire sanctification is that act of God, subsequent to regeneration, by which believers are made free from original sin, or depravity, and brought into a state of entire devotement to God, and the holy obedience of love made perfect.
(Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Malachi 3:2-3; Matthew 3:11-12; Luke 3:16-17; John 7:37-39; 14:15-23; 17:6-20; Acts 1:5; 2:1-4; 15:8-9; Philippians 3:10-15; Colossians 3:1-17; 1Thessalonians 5:23-24; Hebrews 4:9-11; 13:12; 1 John 1:7, 9) (“Christian perfection,” “perfect love”: Deuteronomy 30:6; Matthew 5:43-48; 22:37-40; 1 Corinthians 13; 1 John 4:17-18 “Baptism with the Holy Spirit”: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Matthew 3:11-12;

 

Church

We believe in the Church, the community that confesses Jesus Christ as Lord, the Covenant people of God made new in Christ, the Body of Christ called together by the Holy Spirit through the Word. God calls the Church to express its life in the unity and fellowship of the Spirit; in Worship through the preaching of the Word, observance of the sacraments, and ministry in His name; by obedience to Christ, holy living, and mutual accountability. 

 

The mission of the Church in the world is to share in the redemptive and reconciling ministry of Christ in the power of the Spirit. The Church fulfills its mission by making disciples through evangelism, education, showing compassion, working for justice, and bearing witness to the kingdom of God.
(Exodus 19:3; Jeremiah 31:33; Matthew 8:11; 10:7; 16:13-19, 24;; 28:19-20; John 17:14-26;
20:21-23; Acts 1:7-8; 2:32-47; Ephesians 4:1-17; 5:25-27; Philippians 2:1-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12; 1 Timothy 4:13; Hebrews 10:19-25; 1 Peter 1:1-2, 2:4-12, 21; 

 

Baptism 
We believe that Christian baptism, commanded by our Lord, is a sacrament
Signifying acceptance of the benefits of the atonement [of Jesus Christ, to be administered to believers and declarative of their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior, and full purpose of obedience in holiness and righteousness. Baptism being a symbol of the new covenant, young children may be baptized, upon
Request of parents or guardians who shall give assurance for them of necessary Christ.
(Matthew 3:1-7; 28:16-20; Acts 2:37-41;; 16:29-34; 19:1-6; Romans 6:3-4;1 Peter3:18-22;Col 2:12)


The Lord’s Supper
We believe that the [Memorial and Communion Supper instituted by our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ is essentially a New Testament sacrament, declarative of His sacrificial death, through the merits of which believers have life and salvation and promise of all spiritual blessings in Christ. It is distinctively for those who are prepared for reverent appreciation of its significance, and by it they show forth the Lord’s death till He come again. It being the Communion feast, only those who have faith in Christ and love for the s aints should be called to participate therein. 
(Exodus 12:1-14; Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:17-20; John 6:28-58; 1 Corinthians 10:14-21; 11:23-32)

 

Divine Healing
We believe in the [Bible] biblical doctrine of divine healing and urge our people to offer the prayer of faith for the healing of the sick. We also believe God heals through the means of medical science.
(2 Kings 5:1-19; Psalm 103:1-5; Matthew 4:23-24; 9:18-35; John 4:46-54; Acts 5:12-16; 9:32-42; James 5:13-16)

 

Second Coming of Christ
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will come again; that we who are alive at
His coming shall not precede them that are asleep in Christ Jesus; but that, if we are abiding in Him, we shall be caught up with the risen saints to meet the Lord in the air, so that we shall ever be with the Lord.
(Matthew 25:31-46; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 9:26-28; 2 Peter 3:3-15; Revelation 1:7-8; 22:7-20)