Who We Are

The Holy Scriptures are the only sufficient, certain, and infallible standard of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience.

References 2 Tim 3:15-17; Isa 8:20; Luke 16:29,31; Eph 2:20; Rom 1:19-21; Rom 2:14-15; Ps 19:1-3; Heb 1:1; Prov 22:19-21; Rom 15:4; 2 Pet 1:19-20

The divine and infinite Being consists of three real persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three have the same substance, power and eternity, each having the whole divine essence without this essence being divided.

References 1 John 5:7; Matt 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14; Exod 3:14; John 14:11; 1 Cor 8:6; John 1:14,18; John 15:26; Gal 4:6

By [original] sin our first parents fell from their original righteousness and communion with God. We fell in them, and through this, death came upon all. All became dead in sin and completely defiled in all their capabilities and parts of soul and body.

References Rom 3:23; Rom 5:12-21; Titus 1:15; Gen 6:5; Jer 17:9; Rom 3:10-19

God was pleased, in His eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, His only begotten Son, according to the covenant made between them, to be the mediator between God and humanity.

[This is manifest in His incarnation, life, death, resurrection, ascension]

References Isa 42:1; 1 Pet 1:19-20; Acts 3:22; Heb 5:5-6; Ps 2:6; Luke 1:33; Eph 1:22-23; Heb 1:2; Acts 17:31; Isa 53:10; John 17:6; Rom 8:30

Faith that receives and rests on Christ and His righteousness is the only instrument of justification. Yet it does not occur by itself in the person justified, but it is always accompanied by every other saving grace. It is not a dead faith but works through love.

References Rom 3:24; Rom 8:30; Rom 4:5-8; Eph 1:7; 1 Cor 1:30-31; Rom 5:17-19; Phil 3:8-9; Eph 2:8-10; John 1:12; Rom 5:17

By His obedience and death, Christ fully paid the debt of all those who are justified. He endured in their place the penalty they deserved. By the sacrifice of Himself in His bloodshed on the cross, He legitimately, really and fully satisfied God’s justice on their behalf.

References Heb 10:14; 1 Pet 1:18-19; Isa 53:5-6; Rom 8:32; 2 Cor 5:21; Rom 3:26; Eph 1:6-7; Eph 2:7

Saving repentance is a gospel grace in which those who are made aware by the Holy Spirit of the many evils of their sin, by faith in Christ humble themselves for it with godly sorrow, hatred of it, and self-loathing. They pray for pardon and strength of grace and determine and endeavor by provisions from the Spirit to live before God in a well-pleasing way in everything.

References Zech 12:10; Acts 11:18; Ezek 36:31; 2 Cor 7:11; Ps 119:6,128

The moral law first written in the heart of man continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness after the fall and is revealed in the scriptures. It is by this standard that all in Adam are judged sinners.

“The uses of the law [revealing sin, ordering society, and a rule for life] are not contrary to the grace of the Gospel but are in sweet harmony with it, for the Spirit of Christ subdues and enables the human will to do freely and cheerfully what the will of God as revealed in the law requires.”

References Rom 6:14; Gal 2:16; Rom 8:1; Rom 10:4; Rom 3:20; Rom 7:7-25; Rom 6:12-14; 1 Pet 3:8-13

The bodies of the unjust will be raised by the power of Christ to dishonor. By His Spirit the bodies of the just will be raised to honor and will be made like Christ’s own glorious body.

References Acts 24:15; John 5:28-29; Phil 3:21

God has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ, to whom all power and judgment is given by the Father.

References Acts 17:31; John 5:22,27; 1 Cor 6:3; Jude 6; 2 Cor 5:10; Eccl 12:14; Matt 12:36; Rom 14:10,12; Matt 25:32-46

We believe that believer’s baptism and believer’s communion upon credible profession of faith is the most Biblically faithful application of the ordinances. We hold that any practice associated with the presumption of baptismal regeneration is no baptism at all. Though covenantal baptism (in the Presbyterian understanding for instance) is not our understanding or practice, we nevertheless affirm essential gospel unity with covenantal paedobaptists and welcome their fellowship without requiring believer’s baptism.

We endorse and practice contextual exposition of the scriptures in preaching. We believe the text should determine the primary theme and emphasis of Biblical sermons. This conviction does not necessarily exclude occasional sermons but seeks to ground our preaching, whether consecutive or topical, in faithfulness to the text. This is to take precedence over the preferences, insights, or giftings of the preacher.

• Total Depravity: Due to the Fall, all humans are spiritually dead and incapable of choosing God or saving themselves on their own.
• Unconditional Election: God, from eternity past, has chosen certain individuals for salvation based solely on His will, not on any foreseen faith or action by the person.
• Limited Atonement: Also known as “definite atonement,” this is the belief that Christ’s death was intended to and did secure salvation for the elect, not just make it possible for everyone.
• Irresistible Grace: When God calls an individual to salvation, the Holy Spirit makes that call effective, overcoming the person’s resistance and granting them the ability to respond in faith.
• Perseverance of the Saints: Those who are truly chosen by God and brought to salvation will be kept by His power and will persevere in faith until the end.

• Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone): The Bible is the highest authority for faith and life, not the teachings of the Pope or church tradition. The scripture alone is the sufficient rule of faith and practice.
• Sola Gratia (Grace alone): Salvation is a free gift from God, not earned through human merit or works.
• Sola Fide (Faith alone): A person is justified and saved through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not by faith plus works.
• Solus Christus (Christ alone): Jesus Christ alone is the mediator between God and humanity, and salvation is found in Him alone.
• Soli Deo Gloria (To God alone be the glory): All glory and honor belong to God alone, and human actions should be done for His glory.

The nature of mankind’s relationship with God in the history of redemption is understood in terms of the following covenants:

• A. The ‘Covenant of Works’ in Adam
• B. The ‘Covenant of Grace’ in Christ
• C. The Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic covenants are administrations of the covenant of grace each serving to advance God’s purposes in redemptive history in temporal and typological ways.
• D. Additional covenants such as marriage, family, church, and civil government are established by God to order life according to His design.

According to Christ Himself in Luke 24:27

“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”

All the scriptures are written with reference to Jesus. Sound Biblical interpretation and understanding takes into account how each book of scripture points to Christ. This does not exclude but rather grounds the breadth of scriptural application which is sufficient for all of life and thought.

• Pedagogical Use [to reveal sin]: The law serves to convict individuals of their sin by showing them they fall short of God’s standards. It acts like a mirror, revealing sin and driving them to seek a savior.
• Civil Use [to order society]: The law restrains sin in society and encourages order by punishing evildoers. It provides a framework for civil government and helps maintain discipline within the community, regardless of whether people are believers.
• Normative Use [a rule for life]: This use provides a guide for believers to live according to God’s will. It teaches them the way of righteousness and helps them perform good works out of thankfulness for redemption, even though they are no longer condemned by the law.

• Moral law: The eternal, unchanging law that defines what is right and just, summed up in the Ten Commandments. It applies to all people and addresses both inner thoughts and outward actions.
• Ceremonial law: The laws that guided worship and ritual practices in ancient Israel. It served as a shadow or type that pointed to Jesus Christ and was fulfilled by his death. Laws concerning sacrifices, temple rituals, and diet are in this category
• Judicial law: The civil and criminal laws that governed the nation of Israel are example applications of the moral law governing social order. The general equity featured in application of governing principles remain a model and standard to judge civil government yet today.

The Kingdom of God is sovereign over all other claims to authority. There is no neutrality; there is no independence. Though there are distinct spheres of Biblically instituted government, there is no realm or jurisdiction independent of Christ. All people and institutions must answer to Him in submission or judgment.

• A. Marriage: From creation God has ordained the marriage ideal as one man and one woman united in marriage till death do them part. The mystery of this union is revealed in the scriptures as a reflection of Christ’s relationship with his church. As such, the husband in submission to God is the head of the household. He is called to love his family as Christ has loved him. His wife is to submit to God and her husband, and their children are to honor their parents in the Lord.
• B. Ministry: The created order of relationships extends to roles and responsibilities within the church. Men are exclusively called to leadership roles over the church as a whole in the offices of teacher, pastor, or elder. Women are called to serve in ministry to other women, children, and alongside their husbands in various ways as God has properly ordered His church.
• C. Society: The normative order of a Biblically structured society assigns roles and responsibilities according to God’s design for men, women, & family. Though providential circumstances may permit exceptions to the norm, in general, Godly men ought to take up the primary roles of leadership and protection in society as in the family.

We believe the congregation is best served when authority and responsibility for shepherding are shared among multiple qualified men. The New Testament apostolic admonition frequently refers to multiple elders in local churches, providing a model for church governance. Multiple elders bring different gifts, strengths, and perspectives to the table, compensating for each other’s weaknesses and providing more comprehensive care for the church.

We hold to the reformation conviction that all believers have a priestly calling. This means all Christians are called to offer their lives as living sacrifices in every area of life, not just in select religious roles. God uses lawful careers and vocational enterprises as the means by which he stewards creation and cares for people.

Our Sunday morning service prioritizes declaration in our worship service. This meeting is our formal assembly. Additional studies, small groups, and activities may emphasize applications like: focused group studies, youth events, small groups, conferences, homeschooling coop opportunities, etc. These are vetted by the elders and are intended to help the congregation grow in practical areas of faith.

Sunday school teaching, youth ministries and other resources are designed to assist and support parents in the nurture and admonishment of their children. As the gathered assembly we encourage whole families to worship together. Our supplemental teachings are meant to reinforce, not take the place of, parents’ regular instruction and family worship with their children.

In the elements and structure of our worship services we seek to proclaim the fullness of the Gospel. In confession & prayer, call to worship, hallowing Name of the Lord in song, exposition of the Word of God, and benediction readings, we seek to glorify Christ and equip His bride for every good work.

In service of the great commission, it is our conviction and privilege to assist ministries abroad with financial resources, ministry support, and prayer. We consider those opportunities that God has provided via relationships within our church body to take priority in our missions giving. These connections allow us to verify first hand the integrity and sound teaching of ministries outside of our local body.

We strive to encourage and equip fathers and husbands to lead their families regularly in family worship. We emphasize the importance and responsibility of families to provide a Christian education for their children.

We strive to encourage and equip believers to share their faith and mentor others who are less mature in Christ. Christian hospitality, a testimony of integrity, and friendships nurtured in gospel love for others are great means of church growth in maturity and number.