Statement of Faith

ONE GOD

They believe in the one God—Father (the Invisible Essence), Son (the Divine Word), and Holy Spirit (the Divine Working)—the three being one in essence; and in His absolute power and infinite grace to create the universe, to sustain it, to reveal His own being, to save humankind, and to judge the world at its end.

"…to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we live through him." 1 Corinthians 8:6

"Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one." Deuteronomy 6:4

ONE BOOK

They believe that the Bible, from beginning to end, is inspired by God, and therefore accept it as the supreme and trustworthy authority in all matters of faith and practice.

"knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation. For no prophecy ever came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:20-21

ONE PROBLEM

All people are sinful and fall short of the glory of God. They have used their free will contrary to God's nature. Therefore they stand condemned before God's perfect justice.

"Therefore, as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin, so death passed to all men because all sinned." Romans 5:12

ONE SALVATION

The Word of God, who has neither beginning nor end, came into the world in human flesh as the solution, because God is perfect love just as He is perfect in justice. This Word in the flesh is Jesus Christ. Being the Son of God (in the spiritual sense), Jesus Christ died on the cross as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of humankind, rose again on the third day, and ascended into heaven. He is the only fully sufficient remedy to save people from sin. Cleansed from all their sins by His blood, a person begins an entirely new life.

"There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved!" Acts 4:12

"One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won't see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." John 3:36

ONE GRACE

Sinful humanity is justified and receives eternal life only by faith in Jesus Christ, who was crucified and raised from the dead—that is, by the grace of God.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

"He who has the Son has the life. He who doesn't have God's Son doesn't have the life." 1 John 5:12

ONE SPIRIT

There is one SPIRIT who enlightens a person, renews their spirit, dwells within them, and transforms them toward holiness. Since the day of Pentecost, God's Holy Spirit has been giving people special help for their salvation.

"For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit." 1 Corinthians 12:13

ONE BODY

Everyone who receives Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord becomes part of the Lord's community (His Church)—in other words, of His body. The head of this community of believers is JESUS CHRIST; united in one hope, one body, one Spirit, and one baptism, the believer—one who resembles Christ (a Christian)—is brought into the universal community (the Church).

"For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ." 1 Corinthians 12:12

ONE END

The Lord Jesus Christ will come again at the end of the world to take His believers to Himself, to judge the world, and to reign forever.

"to the end he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints." 1 Thessalonians 3:13