GUIDING PRINCIPLES
-We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
-Jesus Christ is the answer to the problem of human sin. He lived a perfect life in our place and died for our sins as our substitute.
-We receive salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. We must repent of our sins and recognize that Christ died for us and that He rose again. All believers enjoy a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
-We believe that for salvation of the lost and sinful people regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
-We believe the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, to be the only inspired, inerrant, infallible, authoritative Word of God written.
-Jesus Christ is the answer to the problem of human sin. He lived a perfect life in our place and died for our sins as our substitute.
-We receive salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. We must repent of our sins and recognize that Christ died for us and that He rose again. All believers enjoy a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
-We believe that for salvation of the lost and sinful people regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
-We believe the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, to be the only inspired, inerrant, infallible, authoritative Word of God written.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
God-- We believe in the one God, Creator and Sustainer of all things, infinite in love, perfect in judgments and unchanging in mercy. God exists eternally in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit;
Scripture-- We believe in the divine inspiration, truthfulness and authority of both the Old and New Testaments, the only written Word of God, without error in all it affirms. The Scriptures are the only infallible rule of faith and practice. The Holy Spirit preserves God’s Word in the church today and by it speaks God’s truth to peoples of every age;
Humankind-- We believe that human beings were created in the image of God. This image was marred in every part through the disobedience of our first parents, and fellowship with God was broken. God, in His prevenient grace, restores moral sensibility to all humankind and enables all to respond to His love and to accept His saving grace, if they will;
Jesus Christ-- We believe that Jesus Christ is God’s Son incarnate, born of the Virgin Mary. He died for the sins of all, taking on Himself, on behalf of sinful persons, God’s judgement upon sin. In His body he rose from the grave and ascended to the right hand of the Father where He intercedes for us;
Holy Spirit-- We believe that the Holy Spirit is God present and active in the world. The Holy Spirit was given to the church in His fulness at Pentecost. By the Spirit, Christ lives in His church, the gospel is proclaimed and the kingdom of God is manifested in the world;
Justification-- We believe that God graciously justifies and regenerates all who trust in Jesus Christ. Believers become children of God and begin to live in holiness through faith in Christ and the sanctifying Spirit;
Entire Sanctification-- We believe that God calls all believers to entire sanctification in a moment of full surrender and faith subsequent to their new birth in Christ. Through sanctifying grace the Holy Spirit delivers them from all rebellion toward God, and makes possible wholehearted love for God and for others. This grace does not make believers faultless nor prevent the possibility of their falling into sin. They must live daily by faith in the forgiveness and cleansing provided for them in Jesus Christ;
Assurance of Believers-- We believe that all believers are assured that they are children of God by the inward witness of God’s Spirit with their spirits, by faith in the gracious promises of God’s Word, and by the fruit of the Spirit in their lives;
Christians in Society-- We believe that Christians are called to live in daily witness to the grace which comes to us in Jesus Christ, to preach the gospel to every person according to the command of Christ, and to declare God’s insistence upon righteousness and justice in all relationships and structures of human society;
The Church—We believe that the Church is the people of God composed of all those who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The Church is Christ’s body; it is visible in the world wherever believers, in obedience of faith, hear the Word, receive the sacraments and live as disciples;
Return of Christ-- We believe in the personal return of Jesus Christ, in the bodily resurrection of all persons, in final judgment and in eternal reward and punishment;
God’s Ultimate Victory-- We believe in God’s ultimate victory over Satan and all evil and the establishment of His perfect kingdom in a new heaven and a new earth.
Scripture-- We believe in the divine inspiration, truthfulness and authority of both the Old and New Testaments, the only written Word of God, without error in all it affirms. The Scriptures are the only infallible rule of faith and practice. The Holy Spirit preserves God’s Word in the church today and by it speaks God’s truth to peoples of every age;
Humankind-- We believe that human beings were created in the image of God. This image was marred in every part through the disobedience of our first parents, and fellowship with God was broken. God, in His prevenient grace, restores moral sensibility to all humankind and enables all to respond to His love and to accept His saving grace, if they will;
Jesus Christ-- We believe that Jesus Christ is God’s Son incarnate, born of the Virgin Mary. He died for the sins of all, taking on Himself, on behalf of sinful persons, God’s judgement upon sin. In His body he rose from the grave and ascended to the right hand of the Father where He intercedes for us;
Holy Spirit-- We believe that the Holy Spirit is God present and active in the world. The Holy Spirit was given to the church in His fulness at Pentecost. By the Spirit, Christ lives in His church, the gospel is proclaimed and the kingdom of God is manifested in the world;
Justification-- We believe that God graciously justifies and regenerates all who trust in Jesus Christ. Believers become children of God and begin to live in holiness through faith in Christ and the sanctifying Spirit;
Entire Sanctification-- We believe that God calls all believers to entire sanctification in a moment of full surrender and faith subsequent to their new birth in Christ. Through sanctifying grace the Holy Spirit delivers them from all rebellion toward God, and makes possible wholehearted love for God and for others. This grace does not make believers faultless nor prevent the possibility of their falling into sin. They must live daily by faith in the forgiveness and cleansing provided for them in Jesus Christ;
Assurance of Believers-- We believe that all believers are assured that they are children of God by the inward witness of God’s Spirit with their spirits, by faith in the gracious promises of God’s Word, and by the fruit of the Spirit in their lives;
Christians in Society-- We believe that Christians are called to live in daily witness to the grace which comes to us in Jesus Christ, to preach the gospel to every person according to the command of Christ, and to declare God’s insistence upon righteousness and justice in all relationships and structures of human society;
The Church—We believe that the Church is the people of God composed of all those who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The Church is Christ’s body; it is visible in the world wherever believers, in obedience of faith, hear the Word, receive the sacraments and live as disciples;
Return of Christ-- We believe in the personal return of Jesus Christ, in the bodily resurrection of all persons, in final judgment and in eternal reward and punishment;
God’s Ultimate Victory-- We believe in God’s ultimate victory over Satan and all evil and the establishment of His perfect kingdom in a new heaven and a new earth.