We believe the Bible is God-inspired and is our final authority for all we believe and how we are to live. (Matt. 5:18; Jn.10:35, 17:17; 2 Tim. 3:16–17; 2 Pet. 1:20–21)
We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man; that He was conceived and born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and offered Himself as a substitutionary sacrifice for mankind. We believe that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, signing the pardon of all who believe on Him. We believe He was raised bodily on the third day and ascended to the right hand of the Father, there to make intercession for the saints forever. (Matt. 1:18–25; Jn. 1:1–18; John 3:16; Rom. 5:8; Rom. 8:34; 1 Cor. 15:1–28; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:10–14; Eph. 1:7; Phil. 2:6–11; Col. 1:15–23; Heb. 7:25, 9:13–15, 10:19; 1 Pet. 2:21–25; 1 Jn. 2:1–2)
We believe God created mankind in His image. Adam and Eve, the first human beings, chose to rebel against God. As a result, all of mankind became separated from God; the image of God in man was distorted; mankind became subject to the power of the evil one; and the sinful nature was passed on to all their descendants. Because of original sin, unregenerate human beings are incapable of pleasing or commending themselves to God. The only remedy for mankind's pitiful predicament is redemption through faith in Jesus Christ. We believe that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. No ordinance, ritual, work or any other activity on the part of man is required or accepted in order to be saved. We believe that when a person exercises saving faith in Christ he passes, immediately, out of spiritual death into spiritual life and from the old creation into the new, a new nature and a new heart imparted; being justified freely by grace, he is accepted before the Father as Christ, His Son, is accepted and loved as Christ is loved--having his place and portion linked to Christ and one with Christ - forever. (Jn. 1:12–13, 6:37–44, 10:25–30; Acts 16:30–31; Rom. 3–4, 8:1–17, 31–39, 10:8–10; Eph. 2:8–10; Phil. 2:12–13; Titus 3:3–7; 1 Jn. 1:7, 9)
We believe that those who put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are given the Holy Spirit, in whom we are also sealed for the day of redemption. The Holy Spirit regenerates, forever indwells, and graciously equips the Christian for godly living and service. We believe that the baptism with the Holy Spirit is given to supply the believer with power to be Christ’s witness in the world. We also believe that signs and wonders, as well as all the gifts of the Spirit described in the New Testament, are operative today and are designed to testify to the presence of the Kingdom and to empower and edify the Church to fulfill its calling and mission. (Matt. 3:11; Jn. 1:12–13, 3:1–15; Acts 4:29–30; Rom. 8:9, 12:3–8; 1 Cor. 12:12–13; 2 Cor. 1:21–22; Gal. 3:1–5; Eph. 1:13–14, 5:18)
We believe that the one true God exists eternally in three persons—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and that these, being one God, are equal in deity, power and glory. We believe that God not only created the world but also now upholds, sustains, governs and providentially directs all that exists and that He will bring all things to their proper completion in Christ Jesus to the glory of His name. (Ps. 104, 139; Matt. 10:29–31, 28:19; Acts 17:24–28; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 1:9–12, 4:4–6; Col. 1:16–17; Heb. 1:1–3; Rev. 1:4–6)
We believe that water baptism and the Lord's Supper are the two ordinances of the Church to be observed until the time of Christ's return. They are not a means of salvation, but are channels of God's sanctifying grace and blessing to the faithful in Christ Jesus. (Matt. 26:26–29, 28:19; Rom. 6:3–11; 1 Cor. 11:23–34; 1 Pet. 3:21)
We believe that the Church is God's primary instrument through which He is fulfilling His redemptive purposes in the earth. We also affirm the importance of every Christian being joined with and actively involved in the community of the saints. We believe that God has called the Church to preach the gospel to all nations, to especially remember the poor, the fatherless and the widow and to minister to their needs through sacrificial giving and practical service. This ministry is an expression of the heart of the Lord Jesus Christ and is an essential part of the Kingdom of God. (Isa. 58:6–12, 61:1; Matt. 5–7, 28:18–20; Matt. 16:17–19; Lk. 4:18, 21:1–4; Acts 2:17–18, 42; Gal. 2:10; Eph. 3:14–21, 4:11–16; 1 Tim. 2:11–15; 1 Tim. 6:8; Heb. 10:23–25; 1 Pet. 2:4–5, 9–10)
We believe that Satan, originally the great and good angel Lucifer, rebelled against God, taking a multitude of angels with him. He was cast out of God's presence and is at work with his demonic hosts to establish his counter-kingdom of darkness, evil and unrest on earth. Satan was judged and defeated at the cross of Christ and will be cast forever into the lake of fire which has been prepared for him and his angels. (Isa. 14:10–17; Ezek. 28:11–19; Matt. 12:25–29, 25:41; Jn. 12:31, 16:11; Eph. 6:10–20; Col. 2:15; 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6; Rev. 12:7–9, 20:10)
We believe that it is the will of God that we be sanctified daily, growing constantly in faith. We believe that the experience and daily walk of the believer should never lead to extremes or fanaticism. We believe that it is the will of God that we walk by the power and the leading of the Holy Spirit daily . (Heb. 6:1; Gal. 5:22; Phil. 4:5).
Nicene Creed (AD 325)
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets. And I believe one holy catholic* and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Apostles Creed (Early church pre 300 AD)
I believe in God the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord:
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic* church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
* Catholic from the Greek kata-holos meaning "according to the whole" or more colloquially, "universal or general."
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