Statement of Faith

Someone new to Christianity or churches will naturally wonder what a “statement of faith” is. It is a way of telling other people what you believe about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Bible, and so forth. This is important because there are a lot of cults that pretend to be Christian organizations (which are not really Christian at all). A statement of faith can be used as an indicator toward learning whether an organization represents true Christianity.

 

We believe that the Bible is God’s “word” (communication to us), written by men but directed and inspired by God. It is the complete, final, and only authority in all matters of faith and conduct. (See 2 Timothy 3:16,17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; and 2 Peter 1:20,21)

We believe that God the Father is perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, and measureless in power. God showed His love for all people by sending His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins so that we might have eternal life with God in Heaven. (Luke 18:27; John 3:16,17; Romans 11:33; 1 Peter 1:16; 1 John 4:7-10; Revelation 4:8)

We believe that Jesus is God the Son and that He became completely man. Conceived through the power of God, He was born of the virgin Mary. Jesus lived a sinless (perfect) life and chose to die as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of every person. Three days after He died and was buried in a tomb, He was resurrected from the dead and appeared to many people before ascending back to Heaven. He will return in glory and power to righteously judge all people based on their acceptance or rejection of Him. Jesus is the only way to bridge the gap of sin between God and people, thus He is the only way to have a relationship with God now and eternal life with God in Heaven. (Matthew 16:16,17 and 25:31-46; Mark 14:61,62; Luke 1:34,35 and 2:7; John 1:1 and 1:14 and 5:22-30 and 10:30 and 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22-24)

We believe that God the Holy Spirit actively seeks to convince people concerning their sin, God's righteousness, and the coming judgment. He is received in full when someone gets right with God through repenting and receiving Jesus, so all true Christians “have the Holy Spirit.” He is the power that Christians have that enables them to live a Christ-like life. (John 16:8-11; Acts 2:38; Romans 8:9; Galatians 5:16-26; 1 John 3:24)

We believe that mankind was created in the image of God and given rule over all the earth. Man forfeited this esteemed position when he chose to disobey God (in the Garden of Eden) in spite of warnings regarding the consequences for doing so. As a result of mankind's rebellion, sorrow, tears, pain, sickness, death, and all that is “not good” came into existence. This was never God’s intention (and therefore not His fault). All of the people who lived since that time have also sinned, for which the penalty is death (physical and spiritual death). Only through accepting Jesus as Savior and by making Him Lord of your life can you spend eternity with God in Heaven. Those who reject or ignore Jesus Christ will suffer God’s wrath because of their sins and will suffer forever in Hell. God loves everyone and does not want anyone to be condemned in Hell, but He will not force anyone to repent of their sin and receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. (Genesis 1:26,27; Matthew 25:31-46; Romans 3:23 and 6:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Revelation 20:11-15 and 22:3-5)

We believe that Salvation depends on accepting Christ as both Savior and Lord of your life. (John 1:12; Acts 2:38,39 and 8:26-40 and 16:25-34; 1 Peter 3:21,22)

 

Salvation is a completely Free Gift that Jesus paid for on the cross. We cannot "earn Heaven" by being "good" or doing "religious deeds." Our problem is not a lack of good works, our problem is that we have sinned against a perfectly holy God, and our sin must be paid for. If we repent and receive Jesus Christ, then God sees our sins as having been already paid for through the death of Jesus in OUR place. (Ephesians 2:8,9, Romans 6:23, John 3:16, Romans 5:8)