DISTINCTIVE BELIEFS
Statement of Faith
1.The Word of God
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
2.The Trinity
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three Persons; that these three Persons are equal in divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption.
3. God the Father
We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
4. God the Son
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teaching. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and visible return to earth.
5. God the Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide.
6. Regeneration
Webelieve that all men are sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are regenerated (i.e. born again) by the Holy Spirit.
7. The Church
We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith and associated for worship, work, and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task
of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world.
8. Christian Conduct
We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and the well-being of his fellowman; that his conduct should be blameless before the world; that he should be a faithful steward of his possessions; and that he should seek to realize for himself and others the full stature of maturity in Christ.
9. The Ordinances
We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer into water in the name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
10. The Last Things
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His Kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal felicity of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked.
Doctrines of Grace
1.Total Inability
Due to mankind’s rebellion in the Garden of Eden, it is impossible for man to savingly believe the gospel in his own ability. Sinful humanity is characterized in Scripture as possessing a darkened mind (1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 4:17-19; Titus 1:15) and a corrupt heart (Genesis 8:21; Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:21-23). All sinners, before conversion, are spiritually dead to the things of God (Colossians 2:13) and are in bondage to sin and Satan (John 8:34; Romans 3:9-12; Ephesians 2:1-3; 2 Timothy 2:25-26; 1 John 5:19). Because of their total inability to right themselves with God, God Himself spiritually regenerates men and women causing them to place their faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ (John 6:44; Ephesians 2:4-7). This saving faith is itself a gift of God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-9) making clear the truth that man’s salvation would be completely impossible apart from God’s gracious saving work.
2. Unconditional Election
Before the foundation of the world and based solely on His sovereign will and purpose, God elected (or chose) certain individuals to be the recipients of His saving grace (Ephesians 1:3-6). This divine election was in no way influenced by anything foreseen by God in the individual, but rather was completely determined in accordance with God’s sovereign pleasure (John 15:16; Acts 13:48). In His absolute sovereignty, God has predetermined those who will be saved and those who will not (Psalm 115:3; 135:6; Isaiah 46:9-11; Romans 9:10-24).
3. Particular Redemption
The redeeming work of Jesus Christ was intended to save the elect only and actually secured salvation for them (Matthew 1:21). Christ’s substitutionary death paid for the sins of a particular group of people: All of those that were elected by God before the foundation of the world (John 10:11, 14-18, 24-29; 17:1-11, 20, 24-26). Christ’s redemptive work secured everything necessary for the salvation of the elect, including the gifts of repentance and faith (Luke 24:46-47; Acts 20:20-21; 2 Corinthians 7:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-9). Because of this, all those for whom Christ died are guaranteed to be saved.
4. Irresistible Grace
All those for whom Christ died are irresistibly drawn to Christ by a special inward calling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:48; 16:14; Romans 8:30; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:1-3). Whereas the general outward call of the gospel (which is made to everyone without distinction) can be rejected, the inward call of the gospel (which is made only to the elect) cannot be rejected (John 10:14-16, 27-29). In accordance with God’s gracious purposes, the Holy Spirit causes the elect sinner to come to Christ freely and willingly in repentance and faith. The saving grace of God is irresistible; it never fails to result in the salvation of those to whom it is extended.
5. Perseverance of the Saints
All those who have been elected by God, redeemed by Christ, and given repentance and faith by the Holy Spirit, are saved forever (John 6:35-40; Romans 5:8-10; 8:35-39; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 1 John 5:4, 11-13, 20; Jude 24-25). These chosen ones are kept by the power of God and can never finally fall away from the faith but, in fact, will certainly persevere to the end.
Distinctive Beliefs
1. Expository Preaching
We believe that the best way to communicate God’s Word is through expository preaching and teaching. Five elements help identify expository preaching: (1) The message finds its sole source in Scripture. (2) The message is extracted from Scripture through careful exegesis. (3) The message preparation correctly interprets Scripture in its normal sense and context. (4) The message clearly explains the original meaning of Scripture as intended by God. (5) The message applies the Scriptural meaning for today.
2. Plurality in Leadership
We believe that the church is to be ruled by a plurality of men as opposed to a single individual. The early church was led by a plurality men called “elders” (Acts 14:23; 16:4; 20:17; 21:18; Titus 1:5; James 5:14). These men had to meet a list of qualifications (1 Timothy 3:2-7; Titus 1:6-9) and were considered equal in authority.
3. Women in Ministry
We believe that Scripture teaches that men and women have been created by God to be equal in their importance and personhood. The Bible teaches that when God created man, He created them “male and female” in His image (Genesis 1:27; 5:1-2). Both men and women are equally important and valuable to God, and yet the Bible clearly teaches that men and women have different roles within the body of Christ. In 1 Timothy 2:12-15, Paul tells Timothy that a woman is not “to teach or exercise authority over a man.” Since Paul roots this statement in the creation order, it seems clear that women are not to serve in the church as elders or pastors.
4. Church Growth
We believe that what is commonly referred to as the Church Growth Movement and/or the Emergent Church is built on a ministry philosophy that lacks a sound biblical foundation. Though there are many well-meaning believers in this movement who are truly devoted to Christ, we believe that this
movement seeks to attract people to the church using questionable means that actually clouds the whole truth of the gospel message. The church is not built by man-made methods or techniques but by Jesus Himself (Matthew 16:18), through the faithful proclamation and application of God’s Word.
OTHER STATEMENTS
There are other statements of faith that we as a body find useful. These are referenced here in case of interest.