Statement of Faith

The Scriptures

We believe the Bible is the written Word of God and the final, supreme, and controlling authority for Christian faith, doctrine, and life. The Scriptures consist of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments: the thirty-nine books of the Protestant Old Testament, corresponding in content to the Hebrew Scriptures received by the Jewish people, and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament.

Scripture is God-breathed. Though God used human authors writing in their own historical circumstances, languages, vocabulary, and literary styles, the words they wrote were given under the superintendence of the Holy Spirit so that Scripture communicates what God intended to reveal. Because God is its ultimate author, Scripture is truthful, trustworthy, authoritative, and sufficient for the purposes for which God has given it.

The authority of Scripture does not rest upon the church, tradition, human reason, personal experience, cultural consensus, or any ecclesiastical institution. Rather, Scripture stands in judgment over each of these. Creeds, confessions, theological systems, traditions, teachers, churches, experiences, and interpretations are valuable only insofar as they faithfully agree with the teaching of Scripture. Where any human authority conflicts with Scripture, Scripture must prevail.

We believe Scripture should be interpreted according to the grammatical-historical method. The meaning of a biblical text is discovered by seeking the meaning communicated through its grammar, vocabulary, syntax, literary form, historical setting, and immediate and broader biblical context. A passage should therefore be understood according to what its words meant in their linguistic, literary, and historical setting rather than being assigned meanings foreign to that setting.

We reject interpretive methods that replace or override the meaning of the biblical text with allegorical meanings, private revelation, subjective impressions, ecclesiastical tradition, philosophical systems, political ideology, contemporary cultural preferences, reader-centered meanings, or other meanings imposed upon the text from outside it. Spiritual applications may legitimately be drawn from Scripture, but they must arise from the meaning of the text rather than replace it.

Because Scripture is a unified revelation from God, individual passages should also be understood in light of the whole counsel of Scripture. Later biblical revelation may clarify, develop, or reveal the fulfillment of earlier revelation, and Scripture itself establishes legitimate patterns of typology, promise, fulfillment, and intertextual connection. Such interpretations must arise from the biblical text and its canonical context rather than from imaginative or arbitrary associations.

Scripture reveals God, makes known the way of salvation, exposes sin, gives wisdom, corrects error, trains God's people in righteousness, and equips them for every good work. It is therefore the ultimate standard by which every doctrine, teaching, spiritual experience, moral claim, and practice must be tested.

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:4–9; Psalm 19:7–11; Psalm 119:89, 105, 130, 160; Isaiah 8:20; 40:8; Matthew 5:17–18; 15:1–9; 22:29–32; Luke 24:25–27, 44–45; John 10:35; 17:17; Acts 17:10–12; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 2:12–13; 4:6; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:14–17; Hebrews 1:1–2; 4:12; 2 Peter 1:19–21; 3:15–16.

God

We believe there is one true and living God, eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are distinct persons, yet they are one God, sharing the same divine nature and worthy of the same worship, honor, and obedience.

God is eternal, holy, righteous, loving, wise, all-knowing, all-powerful, and present everywhere. He created all things and continually sustains his creation. Nothing lies outside his knowledge or providential care, and he accomplishes his purposes in creation and redemption according to his wisdom, holiness, and goodness.

Scripture: Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 90:2; Isaiah 6:1–5; 40:25–28; Matthew 3:16–17; 28:19; John 4:24; Acts 17:24–28; 1 Corinthians 8:4–6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 1:3–14; Colossians 1:16–17; 1 Timothy 1:17; 1 John 4:8–10; Revelation 4:8–11.

God the Father

We believe God the Father is the first person of the Trinity. He is the Creator, sustainer, and providential ruler of all things. He lovingly cares for his creation, calls people to himself, hears the prayers of his people, and adopts into his family all who come to him through Jesus Christ.

The Father sent the Son into the world for our salvation and, together with the Son, sends the Holy Spirit to dwell within his people. Through Christ, believers know God not only as Creator and Lord but also as Father.

Scripture: Matthew 6:9–13, 25–34; 11:25–27; John 3:16–17; 5:19–23; 6:37–40, 44; 14:6–11, 26; 17:1–5; Romans 8:14–17; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 1:3–6; 3:14–19; 1 Peter 1:2–5.

Jesus Christ

We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God and the second person of the Trinity. He is truly God and truly man. The eternal Word became flesh, was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, and lived among us without sin.

Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of God, revealed the Father, performed mighty works, and willingly gave himself on the cross for sinners. He truly died, was buried, and on the third day rose bodily from the dead. Through his death and resurrection, Christ defeated sin and death and provided the only way of reconciliation between God and humanity.

Jesus ascended bodily into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, where he reigns and intercedes for his people. Salvation is found in him alone, for no one comes to the Father except through the Son.

Scripture: Isaiah 7:14; 9:6–7; 53:4–12; Matthew 1:18–23; John 1:1–3, 14–18; 3:16–18; 8:58; 10:30; 14:6–11; Acts 2:22–36; 4:12; Romans 3:21–26; 5:6–11; 1 Corinthians 15:1–8, 20–22; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:5–11; Colossians 1:15–20; 2:9; Hebrews 1:1–4; 4:14–16; 7:25; 1 Peter 2:22–24; 1 John 2:1–2.

The Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, fully divine and eternally one with the Father and the Son. The Spirit was active in creation, spoke through the prophets, empowered the earthly ministry of Christ, and was given to the church following the resurrection and ascension of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit convicts concerning sin, gives spiritual life, and indwells every believer from the time of salvation. Those who trust in Christ are sealed by the Spirit as belonging to God and are given the Spirit as the guarantee of their inheritance.

The Spirit teaches, guides, comforts, empowers, and transforms God's people. He produces spiritual fruit in believers, equips God's people for service, and works throughout the Christian life to conform believers increasingly to the character of Christ.

Scripture: Genesis 1:2; Ezekiel 36:26–27; Joel 2:28–29; John 3:5–8; 14:16–17, 26; 15:26; 16:7–15; Acts 1:8; 2:1–4, 32–33; Romans 8:9–17, 26–27; 1 Corinthians 2:10–14; 6:19–20; 12:4–13; 2 Corinthians 1:21–22; 3:17–18; Galatians 5:16–25; Ephesians 1:13–14; 4:30; Titus 3:4–7.

Humanity and the Image of God

We believe God created human beings in his image and therefore endowed every person with inherent dignity and value. Humanity was created male and female, made for relationship with God and with one another, and entrusted with stewardship and dominion over God's creation.

To bear God's image means that human beings uniquely reflect their Creator in ways appropriate to creatures. Human beings possess moral responsibility, rational capacity, relational capacity, creativity, and meaningful agency and are accountable to God for how they exercise these gifts.

Human dignity does not depend upon ability, achievement, social status, age, wealth, usefulness, or any other human distinction. Every human life possesses value because every person is created by God and bears his image.

Scripture: Genesis 1:26–28; 2:7, 15–25; 5:1–2; 9:6; Psalm 8:3–8; 139:13–16; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Acts 17:24–28; James 3:9.

Sin and the Human Condition

We believe humanity's fellowship with God was profoundly altered through sin. In the beginning, human beings rebelled against God's command, bringing sin and death into the human experience. All people now live under the effects of sin and are themselves sinners who fall short of the glory of God.

Sin affects every dimension of human existence and separates humanity from the holy God for whom we were created. Human beings cannot restore themselves to God through morality, religious observance, good intentions, human effort, or works.

Yet God did not abandon humanity. From the beginning, Scripture records God's gracious purpose to redeem a people for himself, a plan that reaches its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

Scripture: Genesis 3:1–24; Psalm 14:1–3; 51:5; Isaiah 53:6; 59:1–2; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 1:18–32; 3:9–23; 5:12–21; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1–3; James 1:13–15; 1 John 1:8–10.

Salvation

We believe salvation is the gracious gift of God and cannot be earned through human works or merit. God saves sinners by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus accomplished what humanity could not accomplish for itself. Through his sacrificial death and bodily resurrection, he made reconciliation with God possible. Everyone who repents and places faith in Christ is forgiven, justified before God, reconciled to him, and given eternal life.

Justification is God's gracious declaration that the believer is righteous on the basis of Christ and his saving work, received through faith rather than earned through works. Good works do not produce or contribute to justification; rather, they are the fruit of the new life God gives.

At salvation, the believer receives the Holy Spirit and is sealed by the Spirit as belonging to God. The Christian's confidence rests not in personal achievement but in the faithfulness of God, the completed work of Christ, and the presence of the Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of the believer's inheritance until the day of redemption.

Scripture: John 1:12–13; 3:3–18; 5:24; 6:37–40; 10:27–30; Acts 2:38; 4:12; 16:30–31; Romans 3:21–28; 4:1–8; 5:1–11; 6:23; 8:1, 28–39; 10:9–13; 2 Corinthians 5:17–21; Galatians 2:16; 3:10–14; Ephesians 1:7, 13–14; 2:1–10; Philippians 1:6; Titus 3:3–7; Hebrews 7:25; 1 Peter 1:3–5; 1 John 5:11–13.

The Christian Life and Sanctification

We believe salvation begins a lifelong process of transformation in which God works within his people to make them increasingly like Jesus Christ. Scripture describes this work as sanctification.

The Christian life is neither an attempt to earn God's acceptance nor permission to remain unchanged. Because believers have been united with Christ and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, they are called to turn from sin, grow in holiness, renew their minds through God's truth, love God and their neighbors, practice justice and mercy, forgive others, serve faithfully, and bear the fruit of the Spirit.

Christian maturity occurs through the work of the Holy Spirit as believers abide in Christ, hear and obey God's Word, pray, worship, participate in Christian community, and faithfully follow Jesus. Though believers continue to struggle with sin in this life, God is continually at work to conform them to the image of his Son.

Scripture: John 15:1–11; Romans 6:1–14; 8:12–14, 28–30; 12:1–2; 1 Corinthians 6:19–20; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 5:17; Galatians 5:13–26; Ephesians 2:10; 4:17–5:2; Philippians 1:6; 2:12–13; Colossians 3:1–17; 1 Thessalonians 4:1–8; Hebrews 12:1–14; James 1:22–27; 1 Peter 1:13–16; 1 John 2:3–6.

The Church

We believe there is one universal church composed of all people who belong to Jesus Christ. Christ alone is the head of the church, and all believers are members of his body regardless of nationality, ethnicity, social standing, or other human distinction.

The universal church finds visible expression in local congregations where believers regularly gather for worship, prayer, the teaching and study of Scripture, fellowship, mutual encouragement, service, and participation in the mission Christ has given his people.

The church exists under the authority of Christ and his Word. No church, denomination, council, pastor, bishop, teacher, or other ecclesiastical authority possesses the right to establish doctrine contrary to Scripture or to bind the conscience where Scripture does not bind it.

Christ has called his church to make disciples of all nations, proclaim the gospel, teach believers to obey his commands, care for those in need, pursue unity and holiness, and bear faithful witness to God in the world.

Scripture: Matthew 16:18; 18:15–20; 23:8–10; 28:18–20; Acts 2:42–47; 11:26; 14:21–23; 17:11; 20:28; Romans 12:4–8; 1 Corinthians 12:12–27; Galatians 3:26–29; Ephesians 1:22–23; 2:19–22; 4:1–16; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 10:24–25; 1 Peter 2:4–10.

The Mission of God's People

We believe every Christian is called to bear witness to Jesus Christ in both word and life. The gospel is good news for every nation and people, and the church has been entrusted with the responsibility of making disciples throughout the world.

Christian mission includes proclaiming the death and resurrection of Christ, calling people to repentance and faith, teaching believers to follow Jesus, demonstrating love toward our neighbors, caring for the vulnerable, and living in a manner that displays the character and kingdom of God.

The church does not create the mission of God; it participates in the mission God has been carrying forward throughout Scripture and which will ultimately result in people from every tribe, language, people, and nation worshiping before Christ.

Scripture: Genesis 12:1–3; Isaiah 49:6; Matthew 5:13–16; 22:37–40; 28:18–20; Luke 24:46–49; Acts 1:8; Romans 10:13–17; 2 Corinthians 5:18–20; 1 Peter 2:9–12; Revelation 5:9–10; 7:9–10.

The Return of Christ, Resurrection, and Final Judgment

We believe Jesus Christ will personally, visibly, and bodily return. His return will bring God's redemptive purposes for this age to their fulfillment.

We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead and a final judgment before God. Those who belong to Christ will enter everlasting life in the presence of God, while those who remain apart from Christ will face final judgment and everlasting separation from him.

The Christian hope is ultimately not escape from God's creation but its redemption. God will bring about a new heaven and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Death, mourning, suffering, and evil will finally be defeated, and God's redeemed people will dwell forever in his presence.

Because this hope rests in the resurrection and promised return of Jesus Christ, Christians are called to live faithfully, expectantly, and courageously in the present age.

Scripture: Daniel 12:2; Matthew 24:30–31; 25:31–46; John 5:25–29; 11:25–26; Acts 1:9–11; 17:30–31; Romans 8:18–25; 1 Corinthians 15:20–28, 35–58; Philippians 3:20–21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; 2 Thessalonians 1:5–10; Titus 2:11–14; 2 Peter 3:10–13; Revelation 20:11–15; 21:1–5; 22:1–5, 12–13, 20.

Our Center

These convictions are centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ and the authority of the Word of God. We recognize that faithful Christians may disagree about secondary theological questions while remaining united around the historic essentials of the Christian faith.

Christian unity, however, does not require treating every interpretation as equally valid. Our beliefs must continually be tested against Scripture, interpreted according to its grammatical, historical, literary, and canonical context. Tradition, experience, reason, and theological systems may assist us, but none may stand above Scripture or be permitted to alter its meaning.

We therefore seek to hold firmly to what Scripture clearly teaches, exercise humility and charity where Scripture permits legitimate disagreement, and refuse to surrender biblical truth merely because it conflicts with prevailing cultural, ecclesiastical, philosophical, or political assumptions.

Our desire is to confess Jesus Christ as Lord, faithfully understand and proclaim the Word God has given, live in obedience to him, and make his gospel known.

Scripture: Isaiah 8:20; Matthew 4:4; 15:3–9; John 8:31–32; 17:17; Acts 17:11; Romans 14:1–13; 1 Corinthians 4:6; 15:1–4; Ephesians 4:1–6, 15; Colossians 2:8; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16–17; 4:1–4; Jude 3.