| Statement of Faith |
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We believe there is only one God, existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:26). They are of one essence with three distinct personalities. The Bible is the Holy and inspired Word of God, it is written in total truth, and without error. (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Jesus Christ is the Son of God who inhabited this earth in human form, and came through the virgin birth,(Luke 1:35) He was totally God and totally man and without sin. (John 10:30) Man was created by God to have perfect fellowship with Him. Man, through Adam, chose to sin and fall out of perfect fellowship with God. Because of this, mankind now has a sinful nature, which puts us under condemnation and separates us from God. (Genesis 3:1-19). Jesus Christ chose to come to earth and die for the sins of man. (Romans 5:8; Colossians 1:14) His shed blood on the cross is God's substitute for all sinners. (Matthew 26:28; Ephesians 1:7) Jesus died, was buried, and rose bodily from the grave in victory over the power of sin and death. (Matthew 27:32-28:8) He ascended to heaven, (Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:9-11) and He will return to earth to gather His children to reign throughout all of eternity with Him. (John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) Man is made right with God by grace through faith in Christ, who offers the free gift of God, which is eternal salvation through belief in Christ's victorious death and resurrection, and His rightful place in our heart as the Lord of our life. (John 3:16-17; 10:28-29; Romans 6:23; 10:9-10; Acts 10:43; Ephesians 2:8-9) The Holy Spirit convicts man of his need for salvation in Christ. He regenerates, sanctifies and indwells the heart of the believer, and prepares and equips him for effective service in the Kingdom of God. (John 16:8; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Peter 1:2) We believe in the priesthood of the believer and that each believer lives and walks in victory as they willingly submit to the leading of the Spirit, and deny their flesh through the power of the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:9; Romans 8:1-2). We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost -- the just to eternal life and glorious fellowship with God -- and the lost to eternal punishment and separation from God. Satan is a person, a fallen angel, and hell is a real place of conscious and eternal punishment for him, his demons and all unbelievers who willingly reject God. He doesn't send anyone to hell, people choose to go there by rejecting Jesus. (Daniel 12:1-2; Revelation 20:4-6,11-15; Luke 16:19-31; 1 Thessalonians 1:8-9). Christians are commanded to live Godly lives, above reproach, with the principles of Scripture as our guide. We must commit to learn, follow and apply the principles of Scripture to our lives, and avoid any and all compromises of our life and witness. (Philippians 2:14-16; 2 Peter 3:10-12) We believe that heaven is a real place and that it is the eternal home for all believers. (Philippians 3:20; John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Revelation 21:1,3-4,10-27). |