Statement of Faith
Additionally, our church has adopted a Doctrinal Statement that gives greater clarity and specificity to what we as a church believe and teach.
1.21 Church Doctrine Statement (AD 2008)
About the Scriptures
We believe the Holy Scripture is the word of God: the story of Jesus Christ and his gospel. It is the final authority for faith and life, and is inerrant, infallible, and Godbreathed in the original writings. (2 Timothy 3:15-17; Luke 24.27; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 5:18; John 16:12-13)
About the Godhead
The One True God has eternally existed in a loving community of three persons-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit-coeternal in essence and nature, co-equal in power and glory, with the same attributes and perfections. This Trinity of Persons has been perfectly and eternally blessed, and therefore, needs nothing outside of themselves. God’s purpose in creation and redemption arises out of this Trinitarian Community (Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Acts 17.24-25; Ephesians 1.3-14)
About Christ
1) The Godman. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that he might reveal God and redeem sinful man.(John 1:1-2, 14, 18; Luke 1:35)
2) The Savior. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through his sinless life, meeting all of our obligations before God, and by his death on the cross as a representative, substitutionary sacrifice, bearing the penalty for our failure to meet those obligations. Our justification is made sure by his literal, physical resurrection from the dead. By his work on the cross, all that is necessary for the salvation of his people has been accomplished, leaving no room or need for human additions. (Romans 3:24; 2 Corinthians 5.21; 1 Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Romans 3.25-28)
3) The King. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our high priest, he continues to represent us, to pray for us, and to plead our case before his Father. (Acts 1:9-10; Hebrews 7:25, 9:24; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2)
About the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, judgment and that he is the supernatural agent in regeneration. He applies the benefits of Christ’s death to Christ’s people, by baptizing all believers into the body of Christ. He mediates the presence of God by indwelling all believers. And he guarantees our salvation by sealing believers unto the day of redemption. (John 16:8-11; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 5:18; 1.13-14)
About Mankind
We believe that humanity was created in the image and likeness of God, but that through Adam's sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, became alienated from God, and brought God’s curse upon the entire created order. As a result, our world is broken, and we experience misery in this life. Because of the pervasive and perverse character of sin, we are utterly unable to remedy our lost condition, and God is under no obligation to do so. (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:23; 5:12; 8.20; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12)
About Salvation
1) Justification. We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to mankind by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on the cross at
2) Progressive Sanctification. We believe that God continues his gracious work of salvation in believers, helping them to make progress in overcoming their sin, and renewing them to be more like the Lord Jesus in practice. Though we are involved in this process, it is not a result of our works, but rather comes as the Holy Spirit more deeply impresses the reality of our gracious justification on our hearts, enabling us to joyfully obey him. (Philippians 2.14; Romans 6.11-14; Ephesians 4.20-24; Galatians 3.2-6)
3) Glorification. We believe that God’s goal in our salvation is to glorify Jesus by conforming us to his image. In this life, our progress is never complete. But when Jesus returns we will be made perfectly like him in body, soul, and mind (Romans 8.29-30; Philippians 1.6; 1 John 3.2-3).
About Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers
We believe that those who are truly redeemed are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever. Our security does not depend upon our faithfulness, but on the promise of God, who cannot deny himself. Yet we do not believe in "once saved, always saved" we believe in "if saved, always saved." Believers will persevere in the faith. (John 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Romans 8:1, 38-39; 1 Corinthians 1:4-8; 1 Peter 1:5; 2 Timothy 2.13)
We believe it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God's word, which means we are free to enjoy life without being bonded to the law. However, the Scripture also clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to sin. (Romans 13:13-14; 6.14; 7.1-6; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11-15)
About the Church
1) Universal. We believe that the church, which is the body and espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all those who, by the gospel, have been born again. (Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:25-27; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 11:2)
2) Local. When God calls us to himself, he also calls us to his people the church, which is concretely expressed by participation in a local church. The local church is an assembly of baptized believers in Jesus Christ, who, formed by the gospel, come together to remember it through worship, the preaching of God’s Word, and the celebration of the sacraments (Acts 2:42-47; 20:7). We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures, and is indispensable for the proper advancement of the gospel.(Acts 14:27, 18:22, & 20:17; 1 Timothy 3:1-3; Titus 1:5-11) We believe in the autonomy of the local church, free of any external authority and control.(Acts 13:1-4, 15:19-31, & 20:28; Romans 16:1,4; 1 Corinthians 3:9,16, & 5:4-7,13; 1 Peter 5:1-4)
3) Sacraments. Jesus has established and ordained two sacraments (also called ordinances) for the local church to observe. They are signs and seals of his grace to individual believers and to the church. Neither sacrament is necessary for or bestows salvation. However, as more than mere signs or rituals, they are necessary for the well being of the believer and the church. The two sacraments are baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Together with the preaching of God’s Word, these are means by which God mysteriously, yet surely meets with, pledges himself to, and sustains the faith of his people (Romans 4.11; 3.28; 10.8, 17).
a. Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Baptism portrays our union with Jesus in his death and resurrection, and holds out the promise of new life in Christ (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4-5).
b. The Lord’s Supper (or Communion, or Eucharist), is the eating of bread and wine in remembrance of Jesus’ body and blood, which were broken and shed for us. Communion portrays our dependence on Jesus, his provision for all our needs, and our union with him and each other (1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 11: 23-26).
About the Ministry and Spiritual Gifts
We believe that God sovereignly bestows spiritual gifts, for the purpose of building up his church. It is, however, the believer's responsibility to attempt to develop their sovereignly given spiritual gift(s), in accordance with the teachings of Scripture, and for the sake of the gospel. The baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs at conversion and is the placing of the believer into the body of Christ. We also believe that particular spiritual gift(s) are neither essential (proving the presence of the Holy Spirit), nor an indication of deep spiritual experience.(1 Corinthians 12:7, 11, & 13; Ephesians 4:7-8)
We believe it is the privilege and responsibility of all believers to minister according to the gift(s) and grace of God given to them, and that, to the extent this fails to happen, the church is impoverished. (Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 13; 1 Peter 4:10-11)
About the End
Jesus will one day return to earth, at a day and time no one expects. He will judge the living and the dead, and bring history to its close in a fitting way. We look forward to a new heaven and a new earth. We believe that all people will be raised bodily from the dead, and will live forever in one of two places: heaven or hell. We believe heaven is unspeakably wonderful, and hell is unspeakably horrible. And we believe that Jesus makes all the difference between the two (Matthew 24:36; 2 Timothy 4:1; 2 Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 20:11-15).