Our Full Statement of Faith
The Word of God
We believe the sixty-six books of the Bible are the inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God. Therefore, the Bible is the final authority for all we believe and how we are to live. (Matt. 5:18; Jn. 10:35; 17:17; 2 Tim. 3:16–17; 2 Pet. 1:20–21).
The Trinity
We believe the one true God exists eternally in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These, being one God, are equal in deity, power, and glory. God is infinite in love, perfect in judgments, and unchanging in righteousness and mercy. Not only did God create the world, but He also now upholds, sustains, governs, and directs all that exists toward His eternal purpose in Jesus Christ (Ps. 104:1–35; 139; Matt. 10:29–31; 28:19; Acts 17:24–28; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 1:9–12; 4:4–6; Col. 1:16–17; Eph. 3:11; Heb. 1:1–3; Rev. 1:4–6)
God the Father
We believe the heavenly Father is the source of all that exists, whether of matter or spirit. With the Son and the Holy Spirit, He made man, male and female, in His image. He now relates to His born-again people as Father and we are now His children, showcasing His goodwill toward us in love. Furthermore, we believe the Father seeks, receives, and accepts all who repent and turn to Him (Ps. 68:5; Isa. 64:8; Matt. 5:45; 7:11; Jn. 3:17; Rom. 8:15; 1 Pet. 1:17).
God the Son
We believe Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ—the Messiah and the Son of God. He is the eternal, uncreated Son of God incarnate, both fully God and fully man. He was eternally preexistent with the Father and the Holy Spirit, was conceived and born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and offered Himself as a penal, substitutionary sacrifice for sinners. By His blood shed on the cross, Christ atoned for our sins, providing for us eternal redemption, the forgiveness of sins, and life everlasting. We believe Jesus Christ was raised bodily on the third day and ascended to the right hand of the Father, where He makes intercession for His people. We also believe Jesus will return to the earth again to reign in righteousness (Matt. 1:18–25; Jn. 1:1–18; Rom. 8:34; 1 Cor. 15:1–28; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:10–14; Eph. 1:7; Phil. 2:6–11; Col. 1:15–23; Heb. 7:25; 9:13–15; 10:19; 1 Pet. 2:21–25; 1 Jn. 2:1–2).
God the Holy Spirit
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ baptizes believers in the Holy Spirit, in whom we are also sealed for the day of redemption. For those who put their faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit regenerates, forever indwells, and graciously equips and empowers for godly living and service. After conversion, the Holy Spirit wants to fill, empower, and anoint believers for ministry, the proclamation of the gospel, to operate in signs, wonders, and miracles, to set free the captives, and to minister in all the gifts of the Spirit, which we believe are all available today for whoever desires. These gifts of the Spirit are designed to testify of the presence of the kingdom and to empower and edify the church, helping individuals to fulfill their calling and mission (Matt. 3:11; Jn. 1:12–13; 3:1–15; Acts 4:29–30; Rom. 8:9; 12:3–8; 1 Cor. 12:12–13; 2 Cor. 1:21–22; Gal. 3:1–5; Eph. 1:13–14; 5:18).
Salvation
We believe salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. No ordinance, ritual, work, or any other activity on the part of humanity is required or accepted for people to receive His free gift of salvation. This saving grace of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, also progressively sanctifies us and conforms us into the image of Christ, enabling us to do what is pleasing in God’s sight (Jn. 1:12–13; 6:37–44; 10:25–30; Acts 16:30–31; Rom. 3:1–4:23; 8:1–17, 31–39; 10:8–10; Eph. 2:8–10; Phil. 2:12–13; Titus 3:3–7; 1 Jn. 1:7, 9).
Evil
We believe that Satan, originally one of God’s angels, rebelled against God, taking with him a multitude of unfaithful angels. As a result, Satan was cast out of God’s presence and is presently at work with his demonic hosts to establish the kingdom of darkness. Nevertheless, Satan was judged and defeated at the cross. He will eventually be cast into the lake of fire, along with his angels, forever (Isa. 14:10–17; Ezek. 28:11–19; Matt. 12:25–29; 25:41; Jn. 12:31; 16:11; Eph. 6:10–20; Col. 2:15; 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6; Rev. 12:7–9; 20:10).
Humanity
We believe that humanity, male and female, was originally created in the image of God, untainted by sin. But because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience, all people became sinners by nature and choice. Therefore, all humanity, apart from Jesus Christ, is spiritually dead and justly condemned as children of wrath in God’s sight. Apart from Jesus Christ, His finished work of the cross and the power of the Holy Spirit, no one is able to save themselves (Gen. 1:1–3:22; Ps. 51:5; Isa. 53:5; Rom. 3:9–18; 5:12–21; Eph. 2:1–3).
The Church
We believe the church is God’s primary instrument to fulfil His redemptive purposes in the earth. To equip the saints for the work of ministry, God has given the church apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Therefore, we believe these five-fold ministry gifts are still for the church today. In addition, we also affirm the priesthood of all believers and the importance of every Christian being joined with and actively involved in a local community of believers (Matt. 16:17–19; Acts 2:17–18, 42; Eph. 3:14–21; 4:11–16; 1 Tim. 2:11–15; Heb. 10:23–25; 1 Pet. 2:4–5, 9–10).
Sacraments
We believe water baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper are two sacraments of the church. These are not a means of salvation, but are channels of God’s sanctifying grace and blessing to the faithful in Christ Jesus (Matt. 26:26–29; 28:19; Rom. 6:3–11; 1 Cor. 11:23–34; 1 Pet. 3:21).
Missions and Service
We believe God has called the church to work together in unity and honor in preaching the gospel to all nations and in making disciples. We believe the church is to be anointed with the Spirit and His power, enabling us to preach the gospel to the poor, to set free those held captive by the devil, to bring healing to the sick, and to set free those who are oppressed (Matt. 28:19-20; Eph. 4:13; Luke 4:18).
The End Times
We believe in Historic Premillennialism and a glorious, victorious end-time church—a church who is filled with the Spirit, conformed into the image of Christ, mature in unity, character, and love, and who operates in the power of the Spirit with signs, wonders, and miracles. We also believe Matthew 24 and the book of Revelation are yet to be fulfilled and the church will go through the Great Tribulation, during which time the Lord will make the bride ready in the greatest harvest in history. Though no one can predict the exact time of Jesus’ return, we do believe we are living in the end times. Whether that means Jesus returns in 10, 20, or 50 years, however, we don’t know. Nevertheless, as Scripture commands us, we are watching for, preparing for, and hastening His glorious return, which is our blessed hope. That said, we don’t believe in Partial or Full Preterism, meaning end-time prophecy was partially or fully fulfilled in 70 A.D. Nor do we believe the church will take dominion over the seven-mountains of culture through a great revival before Jesus returns (Postmillennialism/Dominionism). We also don’t believe in a pre-tribulation rapture of the church seven years before Christ returns. (Ps. 2:7–9, 22:27–28; Matt. 24:36; Jn. 14:12; 17:20–26; Rom. 11:25–32; 1 Cor. 15:20–28, 50–58; Eph. 4:11–16; Phil. 3:20–21; Titus 2:13; 1 Thess. 4:13–5:11; 2 Thess. 1:3–12; 2 Pet. 3:12; Rev. 7:9–14).
Eternal Reward and Punishment
We believe that when Christians die, they pass immediately into the presence of Christ and began to enjoy conscious fellowship with Jesus. We also believe that all believers will experience the resurrection and glorious transformation of their bodies. The saved will appear before the judgment seat of Christ and receive eternal rewards. Unbelievers, on the other hand, will be sentenced to hell, awaiting the Day of Judgment, when they shall be punished in the lake of fire with eternal, conscious torment, forever separated from the presence of God (Dan. 12:2; Mt. 25:46; Lk. 16:19–31; Jn. 5:25–29; 1 Cor. 15:35–58; 2 Cor. 5:1–10; Phil. 1:19–26, 3:20–21; 2 Thess. 1:5–10; Rev. 20:11–15; 21:1–22:15).
