Statement of Faith

Statement of Faith
of
Reflect His Glory

The Holy Scriptures

We believe the Scriptures -- both the Old and New Testaments -- to be the verbally inspired Word of the Living God, written by men in God's control, inerrant and infallible, in the whole and in the part, in all areas (including creation, science, geography, chronology, history, and in all other matters in which it speaks), in the original manuscripts, and the complete and final authority in faith and life. We accept the historical record of the Bible as accurate and adequate (1 Thes. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; 2 Pe. 1:20,21; Psa. 19:7-9; Rev. 22:18-19).

Creation

We believe in the Biblical account of the creation of the universe in six literal, solar days; that God created by His Word the heavens, the earth, and all their hosts, without pre-existing materials. That man was created by a direct act of God. That new individuals (in all their parts) come into existence today, not by a continuing creation, but through the laws of propagation established by God. That each individual is a living person from the moment of conception. That all forms of evolutionary hypotheses are serious errors which strike at the very person and glory of God (Gen. 1:1-31; 2:7; 5:3; Exo. 20:11; Heb. 11:13; Psa. 139:13-16; Lk. 1:41,44; Jn. 1:3; Rom. 5:12-24; 1 Cor. 15:22; Col. 1:15-19; Heb. 11:3).

The Godhead

We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- who are identical in essence, equal in power and glory, and possess exactly the same attributes and perfection (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; Lk. 3:22; 2 Cor. 13:14).

The Condition of Man

We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, in innocence and without sin. But in Adam's sin the race fell, inherited its sinful nature, became spiritually dead, causing alienation from God. That man is a sinner by both nature and imputation, thereby justly condemned to eternal separation from God without defense or excuse, and that man, of himself, is incapable of remedying his condition by any means whatsoever (Gen. 1:26; 3:1-24; Rom. 3:10-18; 5:12,19; Eph. 2:1-3).

The Person and Work of Jesus the Christ

We believe that God demands a life of perfect obedience to His law; i.e., complete and total righteousness. Thus, God the Son had to become man in order to provide for us what God the Father's holy nature demanded -- perfect righteousness. Thus, our Lord Christ Jesus, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God; having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. He accomplished this redemption by voluntarily giving Himself, as a sinless substitute sacrifice, on the cross, thereby satisfying God's righteous judgment against sin. He then gave proof that He accomplished that redemption by His bodily resurrection from the grave. He then ascended to the right hand of His Father where He intercedes on behalf of those who have believed on Him (Jn. 1:1,2,14,18; Lk. 1:34,35; 24:36-43; Rom. 2:12,13; 3:24-26; 8:34; Heb. 4:14-16; 2 Cor. 5:21).

Salvation

We believe that salvation is the gift of God's grace given to all who believe on the Son. It includes all that God does in saving those who believe on the Son, from the penalty, power, and presence of sin, and in restoring them to a right relationship with God. It is solely the work of God by His grace. It cannot be gained by good works, but is a free gift for all whom God has enabled to believe on the Lord Christ Jesus and His finished work on the cross. All who so put their faith in Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord have been forgiven and saved from their sins and declared righteous before God, and have been born into the family of God by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. God's purpose for saving those who believe on the Son is to bring glory to Him by their lives (Rom. 1:16; 10:17; Acts 16:14b; Eph. 1:7; 2:8,9; Jn. 1:12,13; Rom. 9:16; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 1:6; Titus 2:11-14; 3:5-7; 1 Pe. 1:18- 19; Jn. 5:40; 6:44; 3:36; 5:24; 1 Jn. 5:1).

Movements Contrary to the Faith

We are opposed to all forms of theological compromise, apostasy, liberalism, modernism, and religious tolerance. We believe that all are out of harmony with the Word of God.

Attitude Toward Civil Government

We believe that civil government is ordained of God for the welfare of human society to promote and protect the good and to restrain and punish evil. Therefore, we consider it the duty of Christians to pray for their leaders, and for those that are in authority over them and to give due loyalty, respect, and obedience to them. However, where the demands of civil law would violate the supreme law and will of God, Christians should obey God rather than man (Dan. 4:17; Matt. 22:17-21; Acts 4:19, 5:29; Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Tim 2:1-4; Acts 23:5; Titus 3:1; 1 Pe. 2:13,14).

Ordinances

We believe that our Lord Christ Jesus instituted two ordinances to be observed by all believers until His return -- water baptism (by immersion) to show forth our identification with the crucified, buried, and risen Savior (Matt. 28:19; Rom. 6:3-5; Acts 2:38; Col. 2:12) and the Lord's Supper as the commemoration of His death until He comes (1 Cor. 11:23-26).

The Second Coming of Christ

We believe in the imminent, personal, pre-tribulational coming of the Lord Jesus for His Church and His subsequent pre-millennial return to earth with His saints to establish His Millennial Kingdom with the Elect upon the earth (1 Thes. 1:10; 4:13-18; Rev. 3:10; Zech. 14:4-11; Rev. 19:11- 16; 20:1-6).