What I Believe

The Bible
The Bible is inspired by God in every word, completely without error in the original writings, and is the authority in faith and life. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21)

God Exists Eternally
GOD exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:18, 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Man
Man was created in the image of God, but man sinned, rebelling against his Creator, incurring not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God. Being born in this state, all men have a sinful nature and thus deserve eternal judgment from a righteous God. (Romans 5:12-14; Ephesians 2:13)

The Lord Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ is true God and true man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He paid the full penalty for man's sin when He died on the cross and shed His blood at Calvary as a substitutionary sacrifice. He was buried and raised bodily from the dead, is now seated at the right hand of the Father and is our High Priest and Advocate. (Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Peter 3:18; Ephesians 1:17-23)

Salvation
Salvation is a free gift of God's grace, received through a personal faith in the person and finished work of Jesus Christ. Once granted, salvation and eternal life can never be lost. Man's eternal destiny is solely determined by his acceptance or rejection of Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7; John 10:28-29; John 3:16-18)

The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit produces new life and places every believer into the Body of Christ. He permanently indwells the believer, effecting maturity and conformity to the image of Christ and producing a witness to the saving power of Christ to a lost world. The evidence of this indwelling rests not in some spectacular event or spiritual gift, but rests solely in the authority of God's Word. (John 3:1-7; Romans 8:9-10; Ephesians 1:13-14)

Satan
Satan is a real personality and he, with his demons, is in aggressive warfare against God. In His omnipotence, God is permitting him for a season to be "the god of this world" and "the prince of power of the air." The Lord Jesus Christ defeated Satan by His death, resurrection and ascension. In Christ Jesus the believer may claim continuous victory in this warfare! (Luke 4:11-13; Ephesians 2:1-7; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4)

The Blessed Hope
The Blessed Hope of the believer is the imminent, personal return of the Lord and Savior. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:11-15)