What We Believe

 The Holy Bible is our all–sufficient rule for faith and practice. This Statement of Faith is a summary statement and constitutes the foundational beliefs held by this Church. This statement is influenced by the Bible, the Baptist Articles of Faith and An Expression of Christian Faith Representative of American Baptists adopted by the General Board, American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A., November 2005. No claim is made that this statement contains all Biblical truths, only that they cover our need as fundamental doctrines.

The sole basis of all our beliefs is the Bible, God’s infallible written revelation of His Word. We believe that the scriptures, both the Old and the New Testament, are uniquely and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and serves as the supreme and final authority in all matters in which it speaks (II Timothy 3:15-17; I Thessalonians 2:13; II Peter 1:21). We believe the Bible is to be interpreted responsibly under the guidance of the Holy Spirit within the community of faith. The primary purpose of the Bible is to point to Jesus Christ, the living Lord of the Church.

There is one true and living God, the Creator of heaven and earth, eternally self-existent as three persons– Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity and characteristics of personality (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10, 11; Matthew 28:19, 20; Luke 3:22). This one true God is most clearly revealed to us in the incarnate Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jesus Christ is God incarnate, the Living Word (John 1:1-14), virgin born through the miraculous
conception of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31, 35). He lived a sinless life on earth (Hebrews 7:26, I Peter 2:22), and performed many undeniable miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:22; 10:38). He voluntarily atoned for the sins of men by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice, reconciling men back unto God, and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone (Romans 5:8-11; I Corinthians 15:3; II Corinthians 5:21). He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; I Corinthians 15:4). He was exalted and ascended bodily into heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father, where He, and He alone, is the only mediator between God and man, continually making intercession for those who believe in Him (Acts 1:9, 11; 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3).

Jesus Christ shall come again to the earth, personally, visibly, and bodily to establish His Kingdom. At this time, the dead in Christ shall be resurrected, the believer to eternal joy with the Lord, and the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal suffering (Acts 1:11; I Corinthians 15:51; Hebrews 9:28; I Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 19:20; 20:11-15; 22:6-16; Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48).

The Holy Spirit has come into the world to reveal and glorify Jesus Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to humanity. The Holy Spirit convicts and draws sinners to Christ, imparts new life unto them, seals them until the day of redemption, leads and aides them in a life of holiness unto God not fulfilling the lust of the flesh, and equips them for service and work in God’s Kingdom bearing spiritual fruit unto the glory of God. Every believer is called to live under the power of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; I Corinthians 12:1-31). With the baptism of the Holy Spirit comes an overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 4:8), a deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Hebrews 12:28), an intensified consecration to God and dedication to God’s works (Acts 2:42), and a manifestation of the fruit and gifts of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26; Romans 12:3-9; I Corinthians 12:1-31).

The fall of humanity refers to our falling away from our original good relationship with creation.
Humanity was originally created good and upright in the image of God. However, humanity by voluntary transgression, sinned by disobeying God. Thus, humans alienated themselves from God and experienced not only physical death but also spiritual death. That historic fall brought all humans under divine condemnation. Therefore, all humans are born into a sin filled world with a sinful nature, totally unable to please God without regeneration, redemption, and renewal (Genesis 1:26, 27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans 3:23; 5:12-19). Humanity’s fall affects our relationships with God, with ourselves, with each other and with the rest of creation.

The only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is wholly the work of God’s free grace and is not the work, in whole or in part, of human works, goodness or religious ceremony (Ephesians 2:4-10). Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ by the regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God and a joint-heir with Jesus Christ according to the hope of eternal life (Luke 24:47; John 3:1-21; Romans 10:13-15; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7). It is the privilege of all who are born again by the Holy Spirit to be assured of their salvation from the very moment they trust in and confess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. This assurance is not based upon human merit, but is produced by the witness of the Holy Spirit, who confirms in the believer the assurance of their salvation according to the testimony of God’s Word (Romans 8:35-39). The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:16) and the outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness unto God (Ephesians 4:24; Romans 6:1-18; 8:1-9).

Justification is the gracious and judicial act of God by which God grants full pardon of all guilt and complete release from the penalty of sins committed, and acceptance as righteous, to all who believe on Jesus Christ and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. (Acts 13:39-43; Isa. 3:11-12; Rom. 5:9, 8:1) Justification includes the promise of eternal life on principles of righteousness (Rom. 5:17; Titus 3:5-6; 1 Pet. 3:7; 1 John 2:25; Rom. 5:21); that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood (Rom. 4:4-5; 5:21; 6:28; Phil. 3:7-9); by virtue of which faith his perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us of God (Rom. 5:19; 3:24-26; 4:23-25; 1 John 2:12); that it brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity (Rom. 5:1-3, 11; 1 Cor. 1:30-31).

Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication to God (Romans 12:1, 2; I Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12). The Scriptures teach that the goal of believers is to pursue a life of “holiness without which no one can see God” (Hebrews 12:14). Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to be obedient to God’s command: “Be ye holy, for I am holy” (I Peter 1:15, 16). Sanctification is the process whereby we are saved from the power of sin in our lives through a commitment to the spiritual disciplines of prayer, daily devotions and worship, the study of God’s Word, and the fellowship of believers (Romans 6:1-13; Romans 8:1, 2, 13; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12; I Peter 1:5).

The church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Holy Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her mission to win the world for Christ. Jesus Christ is the head of the church and the church is the bride of Christ, which is composed of all men and women, living and dead, who have been joined to Him through saving faith (Matt 16:18; Eph 1:22, 23; 2:22; Hebrews 12:23). According to the Scriptures the church exists to magnify and exalt God in worship, to train and instruct believers in their discipleship, to minister to the needs of its members and the world, to encourage and develop the Christian fellowship of its members, and to equip its members to evangelize the world and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:41-47).

There are two ordinances of the church – Baptism and Holy Communion. The ordinance of baptism by immersion is demonstrated in the Scriptures. All who repent and believe in Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized as the first act of obedience as they are physically able and have opportunity (Matt 28:19, 20; Acts 8:26-38). Baptism is an outward sign of an inward spiritual renewal and rebirth. Thus, they who are baptized declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life (Acts 10:47, 48; Romans 6:4). Holy Communion, also known as the Lord’s Supper, consisting of broken bread, the body of Jesus Christ, and the fruit of the vine, the shed blood of our Lord and Savior, is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (II Peter 1:4); a memorial of His suffering and death (I Cor 11:26); our fellowship and communion with all believers (Eph 4:4-6); an expression of thanksgiving by the church (Luke 22:17-22); and our prophetic expectation of His second coming (I Cor 11:26).

We affirm that God through Jesus Christ calls us to be:

A Redeemed People who claim a personal relationship to God through Jesus Christ; who follow the Lord in believer’s baptism; who gather as a believer’s church; who share in the meal of the kingdom known as the Lord’s Supper; who honor the priesthood of all believers; and who live their faith as visible saints.

A Biblical People who affirm the centrality of Scripture in our lives; who pursue the study of God’s inspired Word as a mandate for faith and practice; who seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit for the understanding of Scripture, while respecting the common interpretation of Scripture within the community of believers; and who submit to the teaching of Scripture that God’s design for sexual intimacy places it within the context of marriage between one man and one woman.

A Worshiping People who gather regularly to praise God; who receive nourishment by communion with the Risen Christ; who share an open and public confession of faith; and who believe that personal devotion brings vitality to corporate celebration.

A Missional People who strive to fulfill the Great Commission to make disciples; who invite persons to receive salvation and follow Christ; who engage in educational, social, and health ministries; who seek justice for all persons; and who provide prayer and financial support to sustain a worldwide mission outreach.

An Interdependent People who affirm the Church’s unity as given in Jesus Christ; who gladly embody in our practice the ministry of the whole people of God; who recognize the gifts of the HOLY SPIRIT for ministry and honor all offices of the five-fold ministry; who live and work together “in association”; and who bring the free church tradition to cooperative and ecumenical Christianity.

A Caring People who care for the needy, the weak, and the oppressed; who care for the earth and for all its creatures.

An Inclusive People who, gifted by a variety of backgrounds, find unity in diversity and diversity in unity; who embrace a pluralism of race, ethnicity, age and gender; and who acknowledge that there are individual differences of conviction and theology. Who supports the call of both men and women to the gospel ministry.

A Contemporary People who have a remembrance for the past and a vision for the future; who are committed to religious liberty and to the separation of church and state; who call our present world to make Jesus Christ Lord of all life; and who trust the Holy Spirit for insight and power to live in the present age.

We accept these large areas of doctrinal teaching on which, historically, there has been general agreement among all true Christians. We accept no humanly devised confession or creed as binding. We desire to allow for freedom of conviction on doctrinal matters, provided that any interpretation is based on the Bible alone, and that no such interpretation shall become an issue which hinders the ministry to which God has called us.