Statement of Faith

I affirm that the 66 books of the Bible are the written Word of God. The Bible is divinely inspired and inerrant throughout. Its assertions are factually true and completely trustworthy in all the original autographs. It is the supreme authority in everything it teaches. Its authority is not limited to doctrine nor purely spiritual, religious, or redemptive themes but also includes its assertions in all areas of the natural world including but not limited to daily human life, history and science. All Scripture is profitable and sufficient for teaching believers everything they need to know for life and godliness.

I affirm that the account of creation in Genesis is to be read historically and not merely metaphorically.  God created the world in the space of six literal days.  As the crowning work of creation, God made human beings in his own image.  Adam and Eve were historical persons and not mere symbols of human existence.  The Fall was an actual event that brought mankind into a state of sin and misery and made necessary man’s redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ.

I affirm that the Godhead is triune: one God, three Persons—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

I affirm that all mankind are sinners, inherently from Adam and individually (by choice), and are therefore subject to God’s wrath and condemnation. Freedom from the penalty and power of sin is available to man only through the sacrificial death and shed blood of Jesus Christ and His complete and bodily resurrection from the dead.

I affirm that The Holy Spirit enables the sinner to repent and believe in Jesus Christ, and further that the Holy Spirit lives and works in each believer to produce the fruits of righteousness.

I affirm that Salvation is a gift received by faith alone in Christ alone and expressed in the individual’s repentance, recognition of the death of Christ as full payment for sin, and full trust in the risen Christ as Savior, Lord, and God. All things necessary for our salvation are expressly set down in Scripture.

I affirm that Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus Christ rose bodily from the dead, ascended to heaven, and is currently seated at the right hand of God the Father, and shall return in person to this earth as Judge of the living and the dead.

I affirm that those who do not trust in Christ for their Salvation are subject to everlasting conscious punishment, but believers enjoy eternal life with God.

I affirm that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. Any forms of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, incest, fornication, adultery, pornography, etc., are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. Marriage, a creation ordinance instituted by God before the Fall, is a covenant commitment between one man and one woman to live together as husband and wife in a one flesh-union that lasts a lifetime.

I affirm that children are a blessing and not a nuisance.  The Scriptures command and I shall encourage parents to bring their children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

I affirm the proper Biblical roles of men and women in the home, church, and society.   With regard to the church, I affirm the service of godly, gifted, and called men only to positions of teaching authority and leadership. This means that I affirm the true Biblical teaching that women are not called to positions of teaching authority and leadership within the church. This does not exclude women from all forms of teaching and leadership, but properly maintains men as the divinely prescribed head of the church.

I affirm that it is the duty of Christians to faithfully attend and be actively engaged in a local Bible believing church, as portrayed in the New Testament. This involves much more than attendance on Sunday morning, and requires the many aspects of being a faithful church member. The family and the local church are distinct institutions that are mutually encouraging toward one another, and neither should take unhealthy or unbiblical precedence over the other.

I affirm God’s call for believers both to live in the world and to be separated from the ways of the world.  We are to love not the world, nor the things that are in the world.  We are to be holy as God is holy.  This should be reflected in our language, lifestyle, vocation, dress, education, recreation, entertainment, and associations.

I affirm God’s call for the church to be engaged in disciple-making (locally and abroad) – both corporately and individually (yet within the context and under the authority of the local church). The great commission is not given only to the apostles or to a few specially called individuals, but to a church as a whole, and every believer has a personal responsibility to share the Gospel with and sow into the lives of those whom they encounter in their daily lives, including family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers. The great commission does not direct the church only to evangelize those outside the church, but also to faithfully disciple and teach those within the church. Our posture of evangelism towards the lost and edification towards our brethren should be a constant flow of love and service resulting from the Holy Spirit working in our own hearts as we walk with Christ.