STATEMENT OF FAITH

GOSPEL CENTERED MISSIONS

1. The Bible. We believe the entire Bible to be inspired of God, inerrant in its original autographs. We believe God has preserved its transmission through the ages so we may uphold any faithful translation and confidently declare it to be the only infallible, authoritative Word of God. Apart from the Bible, there is no infallible, authoritative revelation.

2. God. We believe there is only one living and true God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This triune God is the creator of all things and is infinite and holy in all His perfections.

3. Jesus. We believe in the full and complete deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. This includes His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death through His blood, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His personal, visible return in power and glory to judge the world and establish His kingdom. We believe while fully God, Jesus came and clothed Himself in our humanity, yet without at any time diminishing His deity.

4. Man. We believe man, male and female, was specially created by God in His own image. Both male and female complete the design by God and both share in privileges and responsibilities. Though their roles may sometimes differ, they are equals under God. Through the crowning work of God’s creation, the first man used his God-given freedom of choice to sin against his Creator, incurring God’s wrath and plunging the human race into sin and corruption. Apart from God’s grace and redemption in Christ, mankind remains under a state of condemnation and subject to God’s judgment. Yet mankind still maintains the image of God, so all people, regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, disability, or social status, possess dignity and are worthy of respect and care. We affirm that marriage is heterosexual, firmly rooted in the creation of humans as male and female. Sexual relations are exclusively meant for a lifelong marriage between one man and one woman.

5. Salvation. We believe that for the salvation of the lost and sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential. Apart from Christ, people are “dead in their trespasses and sins” and incapable of obedience to God or professing faith in Christ. In His great love, God sent His Son to take upon Himself the wrath of God for our sin, so whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord, having been moved by the Spirit, will be saved. It is Christ's sacrificial life, death, and resurrection ALONE that secures the redemption of everyone who believes, repents, and accepts this substitutional atonement.

6. The Holy Spirit. We believe the Holy Spirit is the fully divine, third member of the Trinity. We believe His primary work is of exalting Christ. He does so mainly in His present ministry of convicting the world of their sin, drawing people to Christ, and empowering and in dwelling believers to live to the glory of God and faithfully proclaim the gospel until Jesus returns.

7. The Resurrection. We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and lost. Those that are saved unto the blessedness of dwelling eternally in God’s presence and those that are not saved unto eternal punishment and separation from God.

8. The Church. We believe in the spiritual unity of all true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the head of His spiritual body. They worship God in spirit and truth. God makes Himself known to them as they incorporate into local churches and make more and better disciples who know and worship Him. Genuine faith does not guarantee health and wealth.

9. The Great Commission. We believe only those who call upon the substitutional atonement of Christ will be saved, and belief in Christ ALONE is necessary for salvation. We further believe the faithful, obedient declaration of the gospel among the nations is the vital work of the believers of Jesus Christ.