STATEMENT OF FAITH

I believe that the entire Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is divine revelation and the inspired Word of God inerrant in the original manuscripts. I believe that its teaching is the final authority for all Christian life in matters of faith and practice.

GOD – I believe that there is but one God, whose essential nature is that of a living, personal Spirit. He is infinitely perfect in all of His attributes, He is the creator and sustainer of all things, and He exists in three persons—Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

JESUS CHRIST – I believe Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was both fully God and fully man, two natures in one Person, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a human virgin named Mary. He performed miracles to manifest His deity, lived a sinless life, suffered and died as the only completely satisfactory sacrifice for the sin of the whole world. He arose from the dead on the third day and His bodily resurrection guarantees the resurrection of all who believe in Him as Savior by faith alone. He ascended to the right hand of God the Father where He reigns over the universe and intercedes for Believers. He will return to earth to further establish His kingdom.

I believe that man was created in the image of God but fell into disobedience by a voluntary decision and as a result, became separated from God, making him spiritually dead and subject to physical death. This fallen nature was transmitted to all humanity. Because Christ was able to live a sinless life, His death and resurrection provide humanity a way of redemption. Only those who receive Christ by faith are forgiven, spiritually born again of the Holy Spirit, and thus become reunited children of God. Faith alone is the condition of salvation, but good works and righteous living should accompany such faith and furnish evidence of its reality.

SALVATION – I believe that a person is saved by God’s grace alone, made possible through the shed blood of Christ, whereby He died a substitutionary death for mankind, and through the Resurrection of Christ. Salvation becomes effective when a person, by an act of faith, acknowledges Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and Lord. The benefits of this salvation include the forgiveness of sins and a new standing before God, the impartation of new life and all the privileges that accompany a new family relationship with God. The assurance of salvation as a present possession is the privilege of every believer in Christ.

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE – I believe that God expects every believer to live a life of obedience, in which every area of his life is brought under the lordship of Jesus Christ and the fruit of the Spirit becomes increasingly evident in his life. The goal of the Christian life is to be conformed to the image of Christ. This life is characterized supremely by self-giving love for God and for others. The life and character of Christ, which grows through the Holy Spirit, is noticeably distinct from the life of the world. A believer who resists the gracious working of the Holy Spirit and fails to grow in obedience is chastened in infinite love by his Heavenly Father so he may learn obedience.

The Lord Jesus Christ commanded all believers to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world and to disciple men of every nation. The fulfillment of that Great Commission requires that all worldly and personal ambitions be subordinated to a total commitment to “Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.

My personal faith also involves my personal responsibility to God to know His will in and for my life. I believe and trust in Jesus Christ and share in His ministry to teach, bless, heal, bind-up the brokenhearted and preach release to the captive. My personal faith is made effective through the Holy Spirit, working in my life as I believe and trust in God. The Holy Spirit justifies me by grace through faith and sets me free to accept myself and to love God and my neighbor. I purpose to lead, teach, and serve others with a Christ like love.