Recognizing that no statement or confession of faith includes all the truth of the Scriptures, we do set forth the following as an abbreviated summary of the doctrinal position of this church:
We believe the Bible is the very Word of God, verbally inspired in all parts and therefore wholly without error as originally given as our only rule of faith and practice (2 Tim 3:l6; 2 Pet 2:21).
We believe in one God revealed in Scripture as three distinct Persons: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each of whom is to be honored and worshipped equally as true God, (John 5:26; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14).
We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ who is the only unique Son, our great God and Savior; that without any essential change in His divine Person, became man by the miracle of virgin birth, thus to continue forever as both true God and true man, one person with two natures; that as man, He was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin; that as the perfect lamb of God He gave Himself in death upon the cross, bearing there the sin of the world, and suffering its full penalty of divine wrath in our stead; that He arose again from the dead and was glorified in the same body in which He suffered and died; that as our great high priest He ascended into heaven, there to appear before the face of God as our advocate and intercessor (John 3:16; Matt 1:23; Heb 4:15; 1 John 2:1).
We believe in the Holy Spirit who is the Third Person of the Triune God, the divine agent in nature, revelation and redemption; that He convicts the world of sin, regenerates those who believe, and teaches, and sanctifies all who become children of God through Christ (Matt 28:19; John 14: 26).
We believe in the creation and fall of man: that he was the direct creation of God, spirit and soul and body not in any sense the product of an animal ancestry, but made in the divine image; that by personal disobedience to the revealed will of God, man became a sinful creature and the progenitor of a fallen race, who are universally sinful in both nature and practice, under the righteous judgment and wrath of God, and have within themselves no possible means of recovery or salvation (Gen 1:26-28; Gen 3:1-24; Rom. 3:23).
We believe in salvation by grace through faith: that salvation is the free gift of God, neither merited nor secured in part or in whole by any virtue or work of man, but received only by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom all true believers have as a present possession the gift of eternal life, a perfect righteousness, sonship in the family of God, deliverance and security from all condemnation, every spiritual resource needed for life and godliness, and the divine guarantee that they shall never perish; that this salvation includes the whole man, spirit and soul and body; and apart from Christ there is no possible salvation (Eph 2:8-9; 1 John 5:13).
We believe that all who are truly born again will live a faithful obedient life, not to earn or secure our salvation but as evidence of our salvation; remembering that a victorious and fruitful Christian life is possible only for those who have learned they are not under law but under grace, and who are thankful for the infinite and undeserved grace and mercy of God (Rom. 12:1-2; Eph 2:8-10).
We believe in the existence of Satan: who originally was created a holy and perfect being, but through pride and sinful ambition rebelled against God; thus becoming utterly depraved in character, the great adversary of God and His people, the deceiver and god of this present world; that he was defeated and judged at the Cross, and therefore his final doom is certain; that we are able to resist and overcome him only in the armor of God and by the Blood of the Lamb (Is 14:13-14; 2 Cor 4:4; Rev 20:10).
We believe that Jesus is coming again: He will come for His church; then pour out the righteous judgments of God upon the unbelieving world, afterward descend with His church and establish His glorious and literal kingdom over all the nations for a thousand years, and finally as the Son Of David deliver up His Messianic Kingdom to God the Father in order that as the Eternal Son He may reign forever with the Father in the New Heaven and the New Earth (1 Thes 4:16-17; Rev 6-18; Rev 21-22).