Vision
Mission
Core Values
Discipleship: learning God’s Word
Worship: delighting in Christ
Witness: declaring the gospel
Fellowship: loving one another
Service: loving our neighbors
Beliefs
As a church, we joyfully stand alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout history and around the world to affirm the Christian faith as expressed in the Apostles’ Creed.
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born of the virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontious Pilate,
Was crucified, died, and was buried;
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
He ascended into heaven,
He is seated at the right hand of the Father,
And he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The holy universal Church,
The communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting.
Amen.
For a fuller expression of our church’s beliefs, see our entire Statement of Faith below.
We believe in the one true God, the eternal, infinite Creator, who is and forever will be the supreme King of heaven and earth.1 His mercy is unending, his justice unyielding, his love unfathomable, and he governs all things according to his sovereign will for his own glory.2 He alone is holy, worthy of all glory and honor, trustworthy of all confidence, deserving of all obedience, and the fountain of all love.3 We believe God eternally exists as three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Each person of the triune Godhead is fully God and equally possesses all the perfections of deity while distinctly fulfilling their harmonious roles in the great work of redemption.4
1. Exodus 20:3-4; Deuteronomy 4:35, 39; 6:4-5; 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:2; 1 Kings 8:23; Psalms 86:8-10; Isaiah 44:6-8; 45:5-7; 46:9; Jeremiah 10:6-10; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; 1 Timothy 2:5; James 2:19;
2. Isaiah 6:3; Micah 7:18; Malachi 3:6;
3. 1 Timothy 1:17; Revelation 4:11; 5:9-14;
4. Matthew 28:18-20; John 14:6; 17:3; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; 2 Corinthians 3:17; 13:14; Galatians 3:20; Ephesians 1:3-14; 4:5-6; 1 Timothy 1:17; 1 John 5:20; Jude 25
The Father
We believe in God the Father Almighty, the fully divine sovereign King and Creator of heaven and earth. He is the source of all life and worthy of all praise, glory, love, and allegiance.1 He is the Author of every event both great and small, both in time and eternity, for the purpose of his glory. The Father foreknows, chooses, and predestines people in Christ according to his glorious plan of redemption,2 in which he draws sinners to believe in the Son through the conviction of the Holy Spirit.3 He not only forgives our sin but adopts us as his children, thus giving us peace with him.4
1. Matthew 5:16; 6:5-14; 7:11; 18:35; 28:19; John 5:22-26; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 15:24; Philippians 2:9-11;
2. Matthew 24:36; John 3:16; 6:37-40; 6:44; 8:16; 10:29-30; 17:1-8; Galatians 1:1; Ephesians 1:3-12; 1 Peter 1:2;
3. John 16:8-11; Acts 1:7; 10:38; 1 John 4:14;
4. Romans 5:1; 8:15; 8:28-30; Ephesians 4:32; Hebrews 12:6-10; 1 John 1:9
The Son
We believe in God the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the fully divine and fully human Savior of sinners who has eternally existed with the same glory as the Father, participating in all his eternal works.1 In the fullness of time, he assumed an unfallen human nature, being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, becoming like us in all respects, yet without sin.2 He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father,3 fulfilling the law in order to redeem those under the law, taught the way of God’s kingdom, worked miracles, died as a substitute for sinners,4 and rose from the dead as the Lord and Savior5 of his church.6 Jesus is now seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty and serves as the High Priest and Mediator of all who believe.7 He will soon return to judge sinners and to dwell eternally with those who trust in him.8
1. Matthew 8:18-27; 28:18-20; Mark 4:38; 5:1-15; 15:39; Luke 9:12-22, 22:70; John 1:1-18; 5:18-21; 8:58; 10:30; 11:27-35; 20:28-31; Romans 9:5; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:13-19; 2:9; Hebrews 1:1-2:3; 2 Peter 1:1; Revelation 19:11-16;
2. Matthew 1:25; 4:1; Luke 1:34-35; John 1:14; John 4:6; 19:28; 1 John 4:2-3; 2 John 7;
3. Matthew 11:19; 2 Corinthians 5:21;
4. Matthew 16:21; Mark 10:45; Luke 23:44-49; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Galatians 2:20; Titus 2:13-14; 1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:2;
5. Luke 24:36-43; Romans 1:4; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Revelation 1:5;
6. John 3:16; 1 John 4:15;
7. Acts 1:9-11; 2:34-36; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 2:17; 4:14-16;
8. Revelation 20:11-12; 21:3-4; 22:20-21
The Holy Spirit
We believe in God the Holy Spirit, the fully divine and eternal Spirit who shares in the mutual love and joy of the Father and the Son from before the foundation of the earth.1 He is the Spirit of truth sent by God the Father and Jesus Christ to carry out the eternal plan of redemption among God’s people.2 He accomplishes this glorious plan of exalting Jesus by applying the gospel to sinners’ hearts,3 convicting us of our sin,4 giving us new life in Christ,5 testifying to our adoption as children,6 interceding for us,7 equipping us with gifts for ministry,8 and sealing us until the great day of our redemption.9
1. Genesis 1:2; Acts 10:19; 11:12; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 21:11; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18, 13:14;
2. Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:22-27; John 14:26; 15:26;
3. Act 7:51; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14;
4. John 16:7-14;
5. Romans 8:6-11; 2 Corinthians 3:1-6, 17-18;
6. Romans 8:16; Galatians 4:4-7;
7. Romans 8:26-27;
8. Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11;
9. Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30
We believe that God is graciously self-revealing and has made himself known through the sixty-six books of the Holy Bible, both Old and New Testaments, which he authored by divinely inspiring men to write as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.1 We affirm that the Bible is entirely sufficient and trustworthy, completely free from error in the original manuscripts, and wholly reveals the principles by which God will righteously judge us.2 The Bible faithfully testifies to the only way of salvation, and has as its ultimate fulfillment the perfect revelation of God, Jesus Christ.3 As God’s Word to his people, the Bible will remain to the end of the world the supreme standard and final authority by which all matters of life and doctrine should be tested.4 We believe the Bible’s central message of salvation is made plain to all who read it with a desire to trust and obey God.
1. Psalm 119; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 1:1-2; 2 Peter 1:19-21;
2. Proverbs 30:5-6; Romans 2:12; Philippians 3:16; Hebrews 4:12-13;
3. Luke 24:25-47; John 5:39; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-4;
4. Isaiah 40:8; 1 John 4:1; Revelation 22:18-1;
5. 2 Timothy 1:12-14; Hebrews 13:17;
We believe God created people in his image so that we might share in his joy. Therefore, we have inherent value as those given the privilege of enjoying and reflecting the glory and rule of God on earth. God made us male and female as an intentional reflection of his image.1 Our first parents, Adam and Eve, were created holy and happy, yet willfully rebelled against God and ushered sin into the world.2 As a result, we are all born alienated from God and inherit the spiritual death of our first parents.3 Without hope and without God in the world, we are sinners by nature, utterly void of the righteousness required by God, and corrupted by sin in every part of who we are.4 By nature we do not worship God as he requires, but instead choose to worship idols and every worthless thing.5 Apart from God’s grace we are unable to turn to God and are therefore under his just condemnation of eternal punishment, without defense and without excuse.6
1. Genesis 1:26-27;
2. Genesis 3:1-6;
3. Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12-21; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, 45-50; Ephesians 2:1-3;
4. Genesis 6:5; Isaiah 64:6; Jeremiah 17:9; Psalm 143:2; Romans 6:16-17; 8:7-10; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12; Titus 3:3;
5. Isaiah 55:2; Jeremiah 2:11-13; Romans 1:18; 2:14; Ephesians 4:18;
6. Romans 3:10-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-9
Gender and Sexuality
We believe God created Adam and Eve, the first human beings, in his own image, equal before God as persons, and distinct as male and female. We believe that divinely ordained differences between male and female reflect God’s original creation design and are meant for human good and flourishing.1
1. Genesis 1:26-27
Marriage, Divorce, and Singleness
We believe God created marriage to display the gospel, to supply a secure foundation for raising children, to provide a means for proliferating the human race, and to encourage the joy and holiness of mankind.1 God ordained marriage as the union of one man and one woman in an intimate covenant relationship lasting until death.2 Therefore, no sexual activity should take place outside of biblical marriage.3 Furthermore, divorce should be rigorously avoided because reconciliation is central to the Christian life.4 However, due to the hardness of the human heart and brokenness of our world, divorce is a reality and in rare cases may be legitimate.5 Regardless of circumstances, following the example of our Lord Jesus, Christians ought to display forgiveness, restoration, and love toward one another.6 Since we are all made in God’s image, the unmarried and widowed are to be honored in the church, and God often uses their unique station as an opportunity for gospel ministry.
1. Genesis 1:28; 2:24-25; Song of Solomon; Ephesians 5:22-33;
2. Leviticus 18:1-30; Matthew 19:4-5; Romans 1:26-27; Romans 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:10;
3. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4;
4. Matthew 19:6; 2 Corinthians 5:18;
5. 1 Corinthians 7:15; Matthew 19:8-9;
6. Ephesians 4:25-32; Colossians 3:12-13
Sanctity of Human Life
We believe that all human life is sacred because every human is created in God’s image. People are of inestimable worth in all our dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, and the physically or mentally challenged. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life at every stage or condition from conception through natural death.1
1. Genesis 9:6; Psalm 139
We believe God rescues us from spiritual death into eternal life through the work of Jesus Christ, the promised Savior of the world.1 By Jesus’ death and resurrection, he made full atonement for our sins as our sacrificial substitute. Jesus Christ absorbed the full wrath of God that we might receive the favor of God. He took on every curse against us that we might be given every blessing in him. He endured our alienation from God that we might be reconciled and adopted into the family of God. This message of salvation is known as the gospel.2
We believe God would have done no one an injustice if it had been his will to leave the entire human race in sin and under the curse, and to condemn them on account of their sin. Salvation is freely given without price and without labor, to all who repent and believe in Jesus.3 The right, required, and continual response of sinners to the gospel of Jesus Christ is faith and repentance. To repent is to turn away from sin. To believe is to turn towards the finished work of Jesus Christ in humble reliance.4 The power of God expressed through the gospel is sufficient to save even the greatest of sinners; so, all people everywhere are commanded to repent and believe in Jesus.5 Those who reject Jesus and his gospel do so voluntarily, and will justly receive eternal condemnation. But those who repent and believe in him will rest in the unending joy of his presence forevermore.6
1. Jeremiah 31:31-34; Luke 19:10; John 3:16-21; Acts 4:12; 15:11; 1 Corinthians 3:5-7; Hebrews 9:13-15; Revelation 22:17;
2. Isaiah 53:4-5; Romans 3:21-26; 4:25; Romans 8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 4:4-7; Titus 3:3-8; 2 Timothy 2:8-10; 1 John 4:10;
3. Isaiah 55:1; Romans 3:23-24;
4. Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:14-15; John 3:16-21; 6:29; Acts 2:38; 3:19; Romans 2:4;
5. Romans 1:16-17; Hebrews 7:25; 1 Timothy 1:15-17;
6. Matthew 11:20-24; John 5:40; Acts 13:46; 17:30; Hebrews 12:25-29; 1 John 3:23
Election
We believe that God, in his eternal purpose set forth before the foundation of the world, graciously chose to save those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.1 This choice, also known as election, was not based on any good we have done or will do, but depends entirely on God’s sovereign mercy and pleasure.2 God’s electing grace does not diminish our accountability before God, but is perfectly compatible with our responsibility to believe in Jesus.3 Since God predestined us to be adopted as children through Jesus Christ, we worship him for the breadth of his love and the depth of his wisdom. The electing grace of God humbles our attempts to boast, assures us of our salvation, and fuels our confidence in prayer and evangelism.4
1. Luke 10:22; John 10:16; 15:16; Acts 2:22-23, 4:27-28, 13:48, 15:14; Romans 8:28-9:24; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Galatians 1:15-16; Ephesians 1:1-2:10; 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; Revelation 13:8;
2. Exodus 33:18-19; Deuteronomy 7:7-8; Jeremiah 31:3; John 6:37-44; Acts 16:14; Romans 11:5-6, 28-36; Philippians 3:12; 2 Timothy 1:8-9; 2:10; 1 Peter 1:1-2; 2 Peter 1:10-11; 1 John 4:19;
3. John 1:12-13; Romans 4:16;
4. Romans 3:27; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; 3:5-7; Philippians 1:6; Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; Hebrews 6:11
Regeneration
We believe that a sinner must be regenerated, that is, made new or born again, by the Spirit of God in order to be saved.1 Regeneration is the work of God’s grace whereby the Holy Spirit breathes new spiritual life into our dry bones and replaces our rebellious hearts with a heart that delights in obedience.2 This new birth is evidenced by the spiritual fruits of repentance and faith, and by a newness of life that desires to please God.3 As new creations in Christ, at the moment of regeneration we receive the imperishable gifts of forgiveness of sins, God’s law written on our hearts, the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, and the promise of a heavenly inheritance.4
1. John 1:12-13; 3:3-7; 1 Peter 1:3; 1 John 2:29; 3:9-10; 4:7; 5:1-4; 5:18;
2. Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:25-27; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Ephesians 2:1-5; Colossians 2:13;
3. Galatians 5:22-23;
4. Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:25-27; 1 Peter 1:4
Justification
We believe justification is God’s declaration that those who believe in Christ are righteous in his sight because he has fully forgiven their sin and freely imputed Christ’s righteousness to them.1 This unalterable declaration is given freely by God, not in consideration of anything we have done or ever could do, but solely through faith in Jesus and his finished work.2 Thus, justification brings us into peace and favor with God and secures our eternal life with him.3
1. Genesis 15:6; Psalm 103:12; Isaiah 53:11-12; Matthew 9:6; John 1:16; Acts 10:43; Romans 3:20-28; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Titus 3:5-7; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:12;
2. Romans 6:23; Galatians 2:15-17; 3:24; Philippians 3:7-9;
3. Romans 8:30-34; 1 John 2:25
Adoption
Adoption, which follows justification, is God’s crowning blessing in which God takes sinners to be his children and makes them fellow heirs with our Lord Jesus Christ of all God’s promises.1 In adoption, sinners receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, are placed under God’s fatherly care and discipline, have intimate access to God’s throne of grace, and will never be cast out but kept forever by the power of God.2
1. Isaiah 43:6; Hosea 1:10; Romans 8:14-17; Galatians 3:29;
2.; Matthew 6:6-15, 25:34; John 1:12-13, 17:22;, Romans 8:35-39; 2 Corinthians 1:20-22, 8:9; Galatians 4:4-7; Ephesians 1:5-6, 11, 2:12-13; Colossians 1:12, 3:23-24; Hebrews 2:10-18, 6:12, 12:5-10; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Revelation 21:7
Sanctification
We believe sanctification is the process by which God frees his people from slavery to sin and makes us slaves to righteousness, which is true freedom,1 giving us the desire to share in his holiness and walk in the way in which Jesus walked.2 This progressive work of God begins in regeneration and is carried on throughout our lives by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.3 While this growth in holiness is a work of God’s Spirit in us, we must also actively, intentionally, and persistently fight sin through every means he provides4 from the moment of conversion until Christ calls us to be with him.5
1. Romans 8:21; Galatians 5:1; 1 Peter 2:16;
2. John 17:17; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 6:11; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 5:23; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 12:10; 1 John 2:6;
3. Romans 6:5-6; Galatians 2:20; 5:16-24;
4. Romans 6:11-19; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 13:5; Ephesians 4:20-24; Philippians 3:13-14; Colossians 3:5-10; Hebrews 4:14; 10:24-25; 12:1, 14; 1 Peter 1:15;
5. 1 John 3:9; Revelation 3:19
We believe the church is the communion of God’s people drawn from every tribe and language, people and nation throughout all ages.1 The church is made visible on earth in the gathering of believers into local churches, which are a corporate display of God’s glory to the world and an earthly outpost of God’s heavenly kingdom.2 We, the church, obey our calling by preaching the gospel, making disciples, administering baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and actively loving God, our neighbors, and one another.3
We believe Jesus Christ, as our Head and Chief Shepherd, lovingly rules his church through his Word and Spirit.4 Elders ought to be recognized as those who faithfully follow Jesus and lead the church as spiritual under-shepherds, and deacons ought to be recognized as those who serve the church.5 The congregation, comprised of all covenant members, has the responsibility to defend doctrine and execute discipline when required by Scripture.6 We affirm that members of local churches are commanded to assemble regularly, promote Christ-honoring unity, and live lives that bring glory to God.7
1. Revelation 5:9; 7:9;
2. 1 Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 3:10;
3. Mark 12:29-31; Matthew 28:18-20; John 13:35; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 11:25-26; 1 Timothy 4:13; 5:17;
4. Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9;
5. Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:23; 1 Peter 5:4;
6. Acts 6:1-6; 11:26; 14:23; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 5:4-5; 12-13; 2 Corinthians 2:6-8; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; Hebrews 13:7; 17; 1 Peter 5:1-5;
7. Matthew 5:16; 18:15-20; John 13:34-35; 17:20-24; Ephesians 3:10; 4:1-2, 11-12; Hebrews 10:19-25
Baptism
We believe baptism is the command of Christ for all believers, whereby upon profession of our faith in him we are immersed in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of our fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of the remission of sins, and of giving ourselves to God to walk in new life.1 It is the prerequisite to church membership and to participation in the Lord’s Supper.2
1. Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:38-42; Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:11-12;
2. 1 Corinthians 12:13
The Lord’s Supper
We believe the Lord’s Supper is a command of Christ to be administered with the elements of bread and the fruit of the vine, and to be observed regularly by his churches until the end of the world.1 It is in no sense a sacrifice, but is designed to commemorate his death, to confirm the faith of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge, and renewal of their communion with him, and of their church membership.2
1. Matthew 26:26-29; Luke 22:14-20;
2. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 11:17-34
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society;1 and that our leaders are to be prayed for,2 conscientiously honored and obeyed;3 except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.
1. Daniel 2:21; John 19:11; Romans 13:1;
2. 1 Timothy 2:1-2;
3. Matthew 22:21; Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13
We believe that on the last day Christ will descend from heaven in all power and glory and will raise the dead from the grave to final judgment.1 At that time, there will be a separation in which the wicked will be judged and sentenced to endless punishment under God’s just wrath, and the righteous who have trusted in Christ will be rewarded with endless joy in the presence of God.2 This judgment will be pronounced by Jesus Christ and will be an expression both of God’s unyielding justice and his unfathomable grace and wisdom.3 Thus we eagerly hope that we who belong to Jesus will be eternally satisfied in God as we eternally glorify him in the new heavens and the new earth.4
1. Acts 1:11; 10:42; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11; John 5:21-29;
2. Daniel 12:2; Matthew 13:36-50; 24:31-46; John 4:36; 5:28-29; 6:40; Romans 1:18; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-12;
3. Mark 9:43-48; Luke 14:14; Acts 17:31;
4. Psalm 16:11; John 3:36; 11:23-27; Revelation 20:1-22:21