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We believe sound doctrine is essential and paramount to any healthy church and therefore affirm certain truths we believe to be contained in the Holy Scriptures.We also emphasize the importance of unity. While we may not all agree of everything, we believe in the unity of God’s people. A preface to all our beliefs may be summed up in the statement: “In the Essentials-Unity, the Non-Essentials- Liberty, and in All Things- Charity.”
1. We are Baptists
We are committed to the Baptist tradition of Christianity. As Baptists we affirm the authority of scripture, believers baptism by immersion, the autonomy of the local church, and regenerate church membership. Our Baptist identity can be explored in the historical Second London Baptist Confession of Faith. We hold to a “subscription of unity” to the confession, which means that while we see the overall teaching of the confession as biblically accurate, not all members are required to commit to every word in the confession as absolute. Those who have the Spirit of Christ may certainly disagree about secondary doctrines without causing strife in the church because of their love for Christ and for one another. Confessions are not infallible and are always subject to correction by the Word of God.
2.We are Reformed
We are committed to Reformed Theology. What is Reformed Theology? It simply means having a God centered view of life, worship and salvation. We believe in a sovereign God who is all powerful, all knowing and in control of all events and circumstances. In light of that we center all our worship and lives in the context of bringing glory honor and praise to Christ and not to man. We especially believe that God is sovereign over salvation. Apart from the grace of God, no person can be saved. Reformed also means that we are carrying the legacy of the Protestant Reformation, which sought reform and restore the church by looking to the scripture as our ultimate authority. We are always seeking to be reformed and conformed to the word of God.
3. We are Evangelical
We are committed to fulfilling the mandate of the Great Commission in spreading the gospel to all men and women who do not know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We believe the gospel is the power of God unto salvation and must be understood in its clear meaning. It is every believer’s responsibility to seek and save the lost by spreading the Gospel message. Part of the Great Commission is also sending and supporting missionaries to bring the gospel to parts of the world where it was never preached.
4. We are Diverse
We are committed to visibly demonstrating the unity of the church through ethnic and cultural diversity. We believe that the Gospel unites and binds men and women from all walks of life with one common ground- the cross of Christ. Gal. 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
1. God and the Trinity
We believe in the one true and living God, in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, who is invisible, personal, omnipresent, eternal, dependent on none, unchanging, truthful, trustworthy, almighty, sovereign, omniscient, righteous, holy, good, loving, merciful, long-suffering and gracious.
2. The Holy Scripture
We believe that Almighty God has revealed all that is necessary to life and salvation in the sixty-six books of Holy Scripture, which are the Word of God. All Scripture was given by inspiration of God, is infallible and inerrant, and is the final arbiter in all disputes. Its authority is derived from its Author and not from the opinions of men.
3. Election
We believe that God, before the foundation of the world, for His own glory did elect a great multitude of men and women to eternal life as an act of free and sovereign grace. This election was in no way dependent upon His foresight of human faith, decision, works or merit.
4. Adam Our Representative
We believe that God made our first father Adam perfect, holy and upright. He was appointed representative and head of the human race, thereby exposing all his offspring to the effects of his obedience or disobedience to God’s commands.
5. The Fall and Its Effects
We believe that Adam fell from his original righteousness into sin and brought upon himself and all his offspring death, condemnation and a sinful nature.
6. Man’s Inability
We believe it is utterly beyond the power of fallen man to love God, to keep His laws, to understand the gospel, to repent of sin or to trust in Christ.
7. Christ Our Representative
We believe that God sent His Son into the world, conceived of the virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit, unchangeably sinless, both God and man, born under the law, to live a perfect life of righteousness on behalf of His elect people.
8. Particular Redemption
We believe that God’s Son died at Calvary to effect propitiation, reconciliation, redemption and atonement for His elect people. God bore testimony to His acceptance of His Son’s work by raising Him bodily from the dead.
9. The Ascension of Christ
We believe that God’s Son ascended to the right hand of His Father and is enthroned in glory, where He intercedes on behalf of His people and rules over all things for their sake.
10. Irresistible Grace
We believe that God the Son has poured out the Holy Spirit to work alongside the preached Word. The Spirit of God regenerates elect sinners and draws them irresistibly to faith in Christ the Savior.
11. Justification
We believe the elect, who are called by grace, are justified in the sight of God on account of the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, which is received by faith alone.
12. Perseverance
We believe that all who are regenerated, called and justified shall persevere in holiness and never finally fall away.
13. Evangelism
We believe it is the calling of every local church to participate in fulfilling the Great Commission by making disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything Christ has commanded us.
14 The Church
We believe that the local church is under the authority of Christ alone. Nevertheless, He has appointed men to be elders (under-shepherds) to represent Him as they care for His body. Deacons also serve Christ as His ministers of mercy. Furthermore, the communion of saints requires the recognition of and fellowship with other local evangelical churches.
15. Church Ordinances
We believe that baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper are gospel ordinances belonging only to regenerated believers.
16. Eschatology
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ shall come again to raise the dead bodily, both righteous and unrighteous, and that the righteous shall enjoy everlasting life and the wicked endure everlasting punishment.
*Statement of Faith adopted from Fellowship of Independent Reformed Evangelicals
