Statement of Faith
Together with the Church in All Ages
We 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, true God of true 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 at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And we believe in the HOLY SPIRIT, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.
And we believe in one, holy, universal, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins [1], and we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
[1] Baptism is “for the forgiveness of sins” (Acts 2:38; cf. Mk. 1:4) in that baptism signifies or represents the believer’s union with Christ by faith; we receive forgiveness on the basis of this union. The act of baptism itself is not the means by which we receive forgiveness of sins. Rather, God gives forgiveness when one repents and puts their faith in Jesus, uniting them to him, which baptism symbolizes.
Furthermore
I. The Scriptures
We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture of error for its content; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us, and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the only sufficient, certain, and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience.
2 Tim. 3:15-17, 2 Pt. 1:20-21, 1 Cor. 2:13, 14:37, Mt. 22:31, Acts 1:16, 4:24-25, Ps. 19:7-11, Heb. 1:1-2, 1 Jn. 1:3-4, Jude 3, Gal. 1:8-9, 2 Thess. 3:14, Rev. 22:18-19, Jn. 10:35, Mt. 4:4, Lk 16:29-31, Rom. 10:17
II. The True God
We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, whose name is the LORD, the Maker and supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, having in and of Himself all perfections, and being infinite in them all; worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being, equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
Dt. 6:4, Dt. 32:39, Is. 44:6-8, 45:4-7, 22-23, Jer. 10:10, Jn. 4:24, Ex. 3:13-15, Rev. 4:11, Is. 6:3, Rev. 4:8, Ps. 145:3, Ps. 147:5, Job 11:7-9, Nahum 1:2-7, Ex. 34:5-7, Rom. 11:33-36, 1 Tim. 1:17, 6:15-16, Rev. 5:13, Mt. 22:37-38, Mt. 28:19, 2 Cor. 13:14, Eph. 4:4-6, Rev. 1:4-6, 1 Cor. 8:4-6, 12:4-6, 1 Pt. 1:2, Mt. 3:16-17, Jn. 1:1-3, 1:18, 5:23, 10:30, 14:9-11, 17:3, 5, 24, 20:28-31, Col. 1:16-17, Heb. 1:1-3, Phil. 2:5-11, Mt. 11:27, 1 Cor. 2:10-11, 2 Cor. 3:17-18, Acts 5:3-4, Jn. 14:16-17, 23, 26, 15:26, Gal. 4:4-6, Eph. 1:3-14, Rom. 8:9-17
III. Providence
We believe that God from eternity ordains all things that come to pass, and perpetually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and all events; yet so as not in any way to be the author or approver of sin, nor to destroy the will and responsibility of intelligent creatures.
Ps. 135:5-6, Ps. 33:9-11, Dan. 4:34-35, Mt. 10:29, Eph. 1:11, Col. 1:16-17, Rom. 11:35, Is. 46:8-11, Acts 2:23, 4:27-28, James 1:13, 1 Jn. 1:5, Job 1:21-22, Gen. 45:4-8, 50:20, Rom. 9:14-23, Mk. 14:21
IV. The Fall of Man
We believe that God originally created Man in His own image, and free from sin; that Man was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression, through the temptation of Satan, fell from that holy and happy state; in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint, but choice; being by nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law, positively inclined to evil, and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse.
Gen. 1:26-27, 1:31, 5:1-2, Acts 17:26-29, Eccl. 7:29, Gen. 3, Gen. 6:5, 12, 8:21, Is. 53:6, Jer. 17:9, Rom. 5:12-19, 3:9-18, Ps. 51:5, Rom. 8:7, 6:16-23, Jn. 6:44, Eph. 2:1-3, Rom. 1:18-32
V. The Way of Salvation
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself our human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law by His personal obedience, and suffered and died upon the cross as our substitute to make a full atonement for our sins, satisfying God’s justice and wrath. He was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He is now enthroned in heaven, and ever lives to make intercession for His people. He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest, and King of the Church, and the Sovereign of the Universe. Uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfections, He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate, and all-sufficient Savior.
Eph. 2:1-5, 1 Jn. 4:10, Acts 15:11, Jn. 1:9-16, Titus 2:11, 3:4-7, 2 Cor. 5:21, Heb. 2:14-18, Phil. 2:5-11, 1 Pt. 2:22-24, Is. 53:4-5, Mt. 20:28, 26:28, Col. 2:13-14, Rom. 3:21-26, 4:25, 5:8-9, 1 Cor. 1:30, 15:1-4, Heb. 1:3-4, 7:25, 10:11-14, Col. 3:1-4, 1 Tim. 2:5, Acts 4:12, Heb. 1:1-3, Eph. 1:20-21, Heb. 4:14-16
VI. Justification
We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures for all who believe in Him is justification; that justification includes the gracious and full pardon of sin, a righteous standing before God, and the promise of eternal life on principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but on account of the obedience, substitutionary death, and resurrection of Christ, received by us solely through faith in Christ; by means of this faith, Christ’s perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us of God. Justification brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity.
Rom. 3:21-26, 4:1-8, 4:23-25, 5:15-21, 6:23, 9:30-10:4, Is. 53:11-12, Col. 2:13-14, John 3:16, Acts 10:43, Titus 3:4-7, Eph. 2:8-10, Lk. 18:13-14, Phil. 3:7-9, Heb. 11:7, 2 Cor. 5:21, Gal. 2:16, Rom. 5:1-11, 8:31-39
VII. The Freeness of Salvation
We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a heartfelt penitent and obedient faith; and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth, but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel; this rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation.
John 3:16, 6:37, Rom. 10:13, Is. 55:1, Rev. 22:17, Mark 1:15, Acts 17:30-31, Jn. 3:19, 5:40, Acts 13:46, 2 Thess. 1:8, Mt. 11:20-24, Heb. 10:26-31, Lk. 12:47-48
VIII. Grace in Regeneration
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or born again; that regeneration is a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit, who makes alive those dead in trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and renewing their whole nature, so that they love and practice holiness; that regeneration is a work of God’s free and special grace alone; that it is effected in a manner above our comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.
John 3:1-8, 1:13, James 1:18, 1 Pt. 1:23-25, Col. 2:11, 13, Ez. 36:26, Dt. 30:1-6, Eph. 2:1-8, Rom. 2:28-29, 2 Cor. 5:17, 1 John 4:7, 5:1, 5:18, Rom. 6:1-4
IX. Repentance and Faith
We believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God. In repentance a person is made sensible by the Holy Spirit of the manifold evil of his sin, and is deeply convinced of his guilt, danger and helplessness, and also of the way of salvation by Christ. Thus he turns to God with genuine contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy, humbling himself with godly sorrow and hatred for sin, with a purpose and endeavor to walk before God so as to please Him in all things. In saving faith a person believes, on God’s authority, whatsoever is revealed in His Word concerning Christ, receiving and resting upon Christ alone for justification and eternal life, relying upon Him as the only and all-sufficient Savior. God’s gift of saving faith is accompanied by all other saving graces, and leads to a life of holiness.
Mark 1:15, Acts 20:21,Acts 2:37-38, Lk. 24:45-47, Acts 16:30-31, Jn. 20:31, Jn. 16:7-8, Acts 11:18, 2 Tim. 2:25, Eph. 2:8, 1 Jn. 5:1, Acts 13:48, 1 Tim. 1:14, Luke 18:13, 15:18-21, James 4:7-10, 2 Cor. 7:10-11, Ps. 51, Rom. 10:9-17, 4:20-24, Jn. 1:12, James 2:14-26, Gal. 5:6
X. God’s Purpose of Grace
We believe that election is God’s eternal choice of some persons unto everlasting life—not because of foreseen merit in them, but of His mere mercy in Christ—in consequence of which choice they are called, justified, and glorified; that being perfectly consistent with the free agency of man, it comprehends all the means in connection with the end; that it is a most glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy, and unchangeable; that it utterly excludes boasting, and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, trust in God, and active imitation of His free mercy; that it encourages the use of means in the highest degree; that it may be recognized by its effects in all who truly believe the gospel; that it is part of the foundation of Christian assurance; and that to discern it with regard to ourselves demands and deserves the utmost diligence.
2 Tim. 1:8-9, Eph. 1:3-14, 1 Pt. 1:1-2, Rom. 11:5-6, 11:32-36, 9:14-23, Jn. 15:16, 13:18, Mk. 3:13, Mt. 11:25-27, 1 Jn. 4:19, 2 Thess. 2:13-14, Acts 13:48, Ex. 33:18-19, Mt. 20:15, Rev. 21:27, Col. 3:12, Rom. 8:28-30, 8:33, James 1:17-18, 1 Pt. 2:9, 2 Tim. 2:10, 1 Cor. 9:22, 15:10, Jn. 6:37-40, 44, 1 Cor. 1:26-31, Eph. 2:8-9, 1 Pt. 5:10, 1 Thess. 1:2-7, 2 Pt. 1:10-11, Phil. 3:12, Heb. 6:11
XI. Sanctification
We believe that sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of His holiness; that it is a progressive work through the supply of divine strength, which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after a heavenly life in heartfelt obedience to all Christ’s commands; that it is begun in regeneration; and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of God’s appointed means – especially the Word of God, the ordinances, and prayer.
Eph. 2:10, Heb. 12:10, 1 Thess. 4:3, 5:23, Rom. 8:28-29, 2 Cor. 7:1, Phil. 3:12-16, 1 Jn. 2:29, Rom. 8:5, 8:13, Eph. 1:4, 2 Cor. 3:18, 2 Pt. 1:3-8, Phil. 1:9-11, 2:12-13, 1 Pt. 2:2, 2 Pt. 3:18, Lk. 9:23, Eph. 6:10-18, Col. 3:1-17, Eph. 4:11-12, Mt. 26:41, Acts 2:41-42
XII. Perseverance of the Saints
We believe that only those who endure to the end are real believers; that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special providence watches over their welfare; that those whom God has accepted in the Beloved, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end; and though they may fall through neglect and temptation, into sin, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the Church, and temporal judgments on themselves, yet they shall be renewed again unto repentance, and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
1 Jn. 2:19, 2:27-28, 3:9, 4:4-6, 5:18, 2 John 9, Mt. 10:22, 13:20-21, 24:13, John 6:66-69, 8:31, Rom. 8:28-30, Phil. 1:6, Jude 24, John 6:37-40, 10:27-29, 1 Jn. 2:1-2, Heb. 12:3-11, 1 Pt. 1:1-7, 1 John 5:4, 5:13
XIII. The Harmony of the Law and the Gospel
We believe that the law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of his moral government; that it is holy, just, and good; and that the inability which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen men to fulfill its precepts arises entirely from their love of sin. One great end of the gospel, and of the means of grace connected with the visible church, is to deliver them from this love of sin, and to restore them through Christ to sincere obedience to the holy law.
Rom. 3:31, Mt. 5:17, Rom. 3:20, Ps. 119, Rom. 7:7, 7:12, 7:14-22, 8:7-8, Jer. 13:23, Jn. 6:44, 5:44, Rom. 8:2-4, 8:9-14, Heb. 8:10, Rom. 6:1-23, Titus 2:11-14
XIV. A Gospel Church
We believe that the Lord Jesus is the head of the Church, which is composed of all His true disciples, and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government. According to His commandment, Christians are to associate themselves into visible, local churches, which are congregations of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and to each of these churches He has given needful authority for administering that order, discipline, and worship which He has appointed. Its only scriptural officers are elders (also called oversees or pastors) and deacons, whose qualifications and duties are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus.
Mt. 16:13-19, 18:15-20, 28:18-20, Eph. 1:20-23, 2:11-22, 3:7-12, 3:21, 4:4-16, 522-32, Col. 1:18, 1 Tim. 3:15, Rev. 1:20, Rev. 2-3, Heb. 10:24-25, 3:12-14, 13:17, Acts 2:41-47, 9:31, Phil. 1:5, 1:27, 1 Cor. 12:4-26, 14:12, 1 Cor. 1:1-3, Gal. 1:2, 1:22, Rom. 16:4-5, 16, 23, 1 Cor. 16:19, 2 Cor. 8:1, Acts 15:41, 16:5, Col. 4:15-16, 1 Cor. 5:1-6:8, 1 Cor. 11:17-34, Jn. 13:34-35, Gal. 6:2, 6:10, Phil. 1:1, Acts 14:23, 15:22, 20:28, 1 Tim. 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-9
XV. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, into the name of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful sign our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, and our death to sin and resurrection to a new life with Him; that it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership, and to the Lord's Supper. We believe that in the Lord’s Supper, the members of the church, by the sacred use of bread and the cup, are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ, always preceded by earnest self-examination. The Lord’s Supper confirms the faith and other graces of Christians, and is a bond and pledge of their communion with Christ, and of their church fellowship.
Matt. 28:18-20, 26:26-29, Acts 2:38-41, 2:42, Acts 8:12, 8:36-39, 10:47-48, 16:32-34, 18:8, 22:16, Gal. 3:26-28, Rom. 6:4, Col. 2:12, 1 Pt. 3:20-21, Mk. 14:22-25, Lk. 22:18-20, Acts 20:7, 1 Cor. 11:17-34, 10:16-17, 21-22, 5:1-13
XVI. The Lord’s Day
We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord's Day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance, which commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and points to the rest that awaits the people of God. It should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private.
Rev. 1:10, Jn. 20:1, 20:19, Acts 20:7, 1 Cor. 16:1-2, 11:17-18, 20, 5:4, Heb. 10:25, 4:3-11, Col. 2:16-17, Acts 2:42, 11:26
XVII. Liberty of Conscience
We believe that God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men, which are in anything contrary to His Word, or not contained in it. We also believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed, except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Ruler of the kings of the earth.
Rom 14:4-12, Mt. 15:1-9, 2 Tim. 3:16-17, 1 Tim. 4:1-7, Rom. 13:1-7, Mt. 22:21, Titus 3:1, 1 Pt. 2:13-17, 1 Tim. 2:1-4, Acts 5:29, 4:18-20, Dan. 3:13-15, 6:7-10, Mt. 28:18, Rev. 19:16, 1:1, Ps. 2
XVIII. The Righteous and the Wicked
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that only those who through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem; while all who continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in and after death.
1 Cor. 6:9-11, Gal. 5:19-24, Eph. 5:1-21, Rom. 6:14-22, 8:13-15, Titus 3:3-8, 1 Jn. 1:5-2:2, 2:29, 3:1-10, Acts 10:34-35, 1 Pt. 1:2, 1 Cor. 1:2, Jn. 3:36; 8:21-24, Mt. 7:13-27, 12:33-37, Eph. 6:24, 1 Cor. 16:22, Ps. 1, 32, 36:1-4, Prov. 28:13, Is. 55:6-7, Mal. 3:18, Is. 5:20, Gen. 18:23, Gal. 3:10-14
XIX. The World to Come
We believe that the bodies of men after death return to dust, but their spirits return immediately to God—the righteous to rest with Him; the wicked, to be reserved under darkness to the judgment. We believe that the end of the world is approaching; that at the Last Day Christ will descend from heaven, and raise the dead, both just and unjust, from the grave to final retribution; that a solemn separation will then take place; that the wicked will be adjudged to endless punishment, and the righteous to endless joy; and that this judgment will fix forever the final state of men in heaven or hell, on principles of righteousness.
Gen. 3:19, Ps. 90:3, 104:29, Lk. 23:43, Acts 7:55-59, Phil. 1:21-24, 2 Cor. 5:1-9, 2 Pt. 2:4-9, Jude 5-7, 1 Pt. 4:7, 1 Cor. 7:29-31, Heb. 1:10-12, Mt. 24:35, 1 Jn. 2:17-18, Mt. 28:20, 2 Peter 2:3-13, Acts 1:11, Rev. 1:7, Heb. 9:27-28, Acts 3:28, 1 Thess. 4:13-18, 5:1-11, 1 Cor. 15:12-58, Acts 24:15, Jn. 5:28-29, Dan. 12:2, Luke 14:14, John 6:40, 11:25-26, Mt. 13:36-43, 13:47-50, 16:27, 24:27-31, 25:31-46, Mk. 9:43-48, 2 Pt. 2:4-9, Jude 5-7, Ps. 1:5, 2 Cor. 5:10, 2 Cor. 4:16-18, 1 Cor. 4:5, Acts 17:31, Rom. 2:2-16, 1 Jn. 2:28, 4:17, Jn. 14:1-3, Phil. 3:20-21, Rev. 20-22, Ps. 16:10-11
The first portion of our church’s statement of faith is the Nicene Creed (AD 381). The second portion is compiled and adapted from the 1853 New Hampshire Confession of Faith and 1858 Abstract of Principles. We believe these articles faithfully summarize the teaching of the Bible, which is the supreme and unrivaled authority in Christ’s Church.
Our church affirms as faithful to Scripture the statements of faith of the ancient Church (the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Creed of Chalcedon, and the Athanasian Creed) and likewise affirms the historic Reformed faith as expressed in the five solas of the Protestant Reformation and the consensus of the historic Reformed confessions. Regarding more contemporary challenges to biblical Christianity, our church affirms the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy (1978) and the Nashville Statement on Biblical Sexuality (2017).