Statement of Faith

Bible Inerrancy
The Bible is the Word of God, and that its original manuscripts are free from errors and contradictions. It is the one and only infallible, authoritative, and trustworthy rule for faith and life. (2 Peter 1:21, 2 Tim 3:16)

Trinity
There is one God in whom there are three persons — the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit. All three are God, yet there is only one God. (Isaiah 44:6,8; 45:5; Gen. 1:26-27; 3:22; Matt 3:17; 28:19; Luke 10:35; 2 Cor 13:14) See also, The 

God
God is the only Supreme Being with no gods created before or after Him in all of existence, in all places, in all time (Isaiah 43:10; 44:6; 44:8; 1 Tim. 1:17). He has always been God and was never anything else (Psalm 90:2). He is Holy (Rev. 4:8), Eternal (Isaiah 57:15), Omnipotent (Jer. 32:17, 27), Omnipresent (Psalm 139:7), Omniscient (1 John 3:20); etc. He is Love (1 John 4:8, 16); Light (1 John 1:5); Spirit (John 4:24); Truth (Psalm 117:2); Creator (Isaiah 40:12, 22, 26), etc. He is to be worshiped (Gen. 24:26; Ex. 4:31; 2 Chron. 29:28; 1 Cor. 14:25; Rev. 7:11). He is to be served (Matt. 4:10; 1 Cor. 6:19; Phil. 3:7; 1 Thess. 1:9; Heb. 9:14). He is to be proclaimed (Matt. 28:19f.; John 14:15f.; Acts 1:8).

Jesus
Jesus Christ is God who became a man. He is both human and divine, and, therefore, has two natures. Yet, He is one person, not two. (Phil 2:5-11; Col. 2:9; 1 Tim 3:16; Heb 1:5-13; John 1:1-3,14)

Virgin Birth
Jesus Christ was miraculously born of the virgin Mary. (Luke 1:42)

Resurrection
Jesus Christ rose again in the same body He died in on the third day after His death. He ascended to heaven, and rules heaven and earth. (John 2:19; 1 Cor. 15; Luke 24:39)

Substitutionary Atonement
Jesus Christ so loved us, that He took upon Himself the suffering, punishment, and death that man deserved. As a result, God’s justice was satisfied, and Christian believers are released from punishment. (Isa 53:4-12; 1 Pet. 3:18; Matt 1:21; Rom. 5; 1 Pet. 2:24; 1 John 2:2)

Total Depravity
Man, in his natural state, is so pervasively corrupt and wicked, that no man is able to believe in Jesus Christ by himself, nor can he win salvation by his attempt at good works, nor can he understand the spiritual things of God. Eternal punishment in hell and separation from God are the consequences of the natural man’s sinfulness. (John 6:44; 15:5; Rom. 8:7; 1 Cor. 2:14; 2 Cor. 3:5; Phil 2:13)

Justification by Faith Through Faith Alone
We are saved from damnation by the undeserved and unearned mercy and kindness of God, not because of our good works. This justification is received by faith alone and only upon trusting the true and living Lord Jesus. (Eph. 1:1-11; 2:8, Rom 3:28; Gal. 2:21)

Baptism
My view on baptism is here. Baptism is not necessary for salvation. The act of water baptism does not save anyone. We are made right before God by faith–not by faith and baptism (Rom. 3:28-30; 4:3, 5; 5:1; Gal. 2:16, 21; Phil. 3:9; see also Acts 10:44-48).

Man’s Condition
Man is fallen, corrupt, and wicked. Man believes in God by God’s grace through faith (John 6:28-29; 15:5; Phil. 1:29), is unable to come close to God through his own efforts (John 6:44; Rom. 3:10-12), nor is he born again of his own will (John 1:13), nor can he understand the spiritual things of God on his own (1 Cor. 2:14; Rom. 8:7), nor can he earn salvation by his attempt at good works (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 4:1-6), nor once saved does he maintain his salvation by his works (Gal. 3:1-3). Eternal punishment in hell and separation from the blessed presence of God are the consequences of the unregenerate person’s sinfulness who has not trusted in the redemptive sacrificial work of Christ on the cross (Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 6:23).

Divine Election
That people believe in Jesus Christ, and become children of God, because God chose them to believe, and chose them to be saved. They were chosen even before the creation of the world. (John 1:12-13; John 6:28-29; Acts 13:48; Phil. 1:29; Eph. 1:3-14; Rom 8:28-30) More on divine election here.

Christian Church
God calls Christians to his Church, where the Word of God is preached, where baptism and the Lord’s Supper (communion) is administered, where believers are discipled and disciplined, and where believers serve to build up one another. (Matt 16:18)

Christian Officers
God calls qualified Christians to be ordained and to serve Jesus Christ in special leadership capacities, i.e. Elders, Deacons, Ministers of the Word, and Evangelists. Women are not to be pastors nor elders. (1 Tim 2:11-15; 3:11-13). 

Discipleship
We have been called to “make disciples” of all people by nurturing a church environment that is both encouraging and provocative. Our obligation is to build each other up in the faith and contribute to each other’s Christian development.

Reformed Documents
Agree with the confessional standards embodied in the Reformation documents referred to as the ‘Three Forms of Unity’ – The Heidelberg CatechismThe Belgic Confession and The Canons of Dort.

Hell

What is Hell?