Statement of Faith

GodGod is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. He alone is eternal, creating everything from nothing by His word. He is historically and personally knowable through Scripture.Attributes of God
God is:- Perfect, eternal, and sovereign
- All-knowing (omniscient), all-powerful (omnipotent), and present everywhere (omnipresent)
- All-wise, all-good, just, and loving
- Light and life
He has revealed Himself through creation and Scripture and has made Himself known to His people by personal names. He created humanity in His image and desires a relationship with them.The Trinity
God exists eternally as three distinct persons:God the Father – First person of the Trinity
God the Son (Jesus Christ) – Second person of the Trinity
God the Holy Spirit – Third person of the TrinityJesus ChristJesus exists eternally as the second person of the Trinity. He is fully God and fully man.Life and Ministry
- Born of a virgin
- Lived a sinless life, perfectly in line with the Father’s will
- Fulfilled Old Testament promises as the Messiah
- Preached the gospel of repentance and established His kingdom
- Rejected by the Jews
- Came to bring a sword (division between truth and falsehood)Death and Resurrection
- Died on the cross as a perfect and acceptable sacrifice for the sins of the world
- Rose from the dead and appeared to many
- Ascended to heaven and sits at the right hand of the FatherPresent and Future Work
- Our High Priest, Intercessor, and Savior
- Will return for His bride, the Church
- Will rule forever in the new heaven and new earthThe Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit exists eternally with the Father and the Son.Work of the Spirit
- Active in the Old Testament
- Descended on Jesus at His baptism
- Sent to believers at Pentecost
- Indwells believers at the moment of justification by faith
- Empowers believers to live by faith
- Reveals truth and seals believers for the day of redemption
- Distributes spiritual gifts to individuals
- Produces the fruit of the Spirit in believers
- Remains active in the Church todayMankind- Created in the image of God, male and female
- Originally walked with God in the Garden of Eden without sin
- Fell into sin when Adam and Eve disobeyed God
- Inherited a fallen sin nature through Adam
- All have fallen short of God’s standard and need a Savior
- Destined for hell apart from Christ
- Can only be saved through faith in JesusSatan and EvilSatan
- A fallen angel who rebelled against God
- Leads an army of fallen angels (demons)
- Seeks to steal, kill, and destroy
- The enemy of God and humanity
- Not omniscient or omnipresent
- Will be ultimately defeated by Christ and cast into eternal punishmentSin
- Entered the world through Adam and Eve’s disobedience
- Separates humanity from God
- The wages of sin is death
- Christ conquered sin and death through His resurrection
- Sin is moral evil (e.g., pride), as opposed to natural evil (e.g., disease)
- Humanity has inherited a sinful nature
- Believers receive a new heart and are transformed through sanctification
- Sin will be completely eradicated in the new heaven and earthSalvation- Jesus is the only means of salvation. No other name, religion, or work can save
- Salvation is by grace through faith, a gift from God
- Not based on works, and therefore cannot be lost by works
- Believers are sealed by the Holy Spirit upon faith in Jesus
- Scripture warns of apostasyThe Church- Jesus is the head of the Church
- Composed of all born-again believers
- Should live life together in worship, teaching, fellowship, and mutual edification
- Local congregations should be led by pastors, shepherds, and elders
- Marked by unity and love
- Should function more like an AA meeting or emergency room—a place for sinners to find healing, rather than a place of rigid formalityThe Bible- Written for us, perfect in its original form
- The prime authority for the believer in all areas of life
- Contains the one and only gospel and points to Jesus
- God’s primary tool for revealing Himself to mankind
- A living word that accomplishes God’s purposes
- The primary way God speaks today
- Should not be added to or taken away fromLast Things (Eschatology)End times doctrine is often debated
and a plain reading of Scripture is preferred.
I lean toward pre-millennial or pre-wrath rapture, but am not dogmatic.
I am confident that Jesus is returning and believers should remain alert and prepared.
As the end approaches:
- Tribulation will increase
- Deep darkness will cover the earth, but the Church will be a light
- Jesus will return for His Church
- Believers will live eternally in the new heaven and new earth
- Unbelievers will face eternal separation from God in hellPhilosophy of Ministry- A pastor’s ministry should flow from his personal relationship with God
- His first ministry is to his home, then the Church
- The local church should be faithful in obedience, leaving growth to God
- Programs often reflect man’s attempt to force results instead of trusting God’s workThe mission is clear:
Love God
Love people
Teach them to obey Jesus
Baptize believers
Traditions should never be added as requirements beyond what the New Testament teaches

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