04/02/2026
STATEMENT OF FAITH
PROLOGUE
This Statement of Faith is founded upon the Holy Scriptures as the inspired, authoritative, and sufficient revelation of God for faith and life. It reflects the Apostolic Gospel proclaimed by the Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles, faithfully preserved in Scripture, and is informed by the testimony of the early Church Fathers of AD 90–325—particularly Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus of Lyons, and Tertullian—insofar as their teachings agree with the Holy Scriptures.
1. The Holy Scriptures
We affirm that the Holy Scriptures consist of the Old Testament and the New Testament (2 Timothy 3:16; Luke 24:44; Matthew 5:18), and are divinely inspired (2 Peter 1:20-21), authoritative, and sufficient for faith and life (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Romans 15:4; Psalm 119:105). They faithfully record God’s revelation through the Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles (John 14:26; Acts 1:1-2), and are the final standard for doctrine, correction, and righteous living (1 Corinthians 14:37; Galatians 1:8-9). We honor the apostolic traditions as preserved in Scripture (2 Thessalonians 2:15), and reject any teaching that contradicts the Apostolic Gospel (Galatians 1:6-9).
2. God the Father
We confess one true and living God, the Father, the Almighty (John 17:3; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6), who is over all (Ephesians 4:6; 1 Timothy 6:15), from whom are all things (Romans 11:36; Colossians 1:16) and for whom we exist (Romans 11:36). He is sovereign (Psalm 103:19; Daniel 4:35), holy (Isaiah 6:3; 1 Peter 1:15-16), merciful (Exodus 34:6; Psalm 103:8), unchanging in purpose (James 1:17; Malachi 3:6), and perfect in wisdom (Romans 11:33; Isaiah 40:28). He is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Psalm 2:5-7; 2 Corinthians 1:3; John 20:17), to whom belong glory, honor, and dominion forever (1 Peter 1:3; Revelation 4:11). He strengthens the weary (Isaiah 40:29-31) and is the living God, everlasting and faithful (Jeremiah 10:10).
3. The Lord Jesus Christ
We confess one Lord, Yeshua the Messiah or Jesus Christ, the begotten Son of God (1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:5; John 1:14; John 3:16), who from the beginning exists in the bosom of the Father (John 1:1-2; John 1:18), who proceeded forth and came from God (John 8:42; John 16:27), through whom all things were created (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:3). In the fullness of time, the Son became flesh, was born of the virgin Mary (Galatians 4:4; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31-35), lived without sin (Hebrews 4:15), died for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3; Romans 4:25; 1 Peter 2:24), rose bodily from the dead (Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:4), and was exalted by God as Lord (Acts 2:36; Philippians 2:9-11). He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), sustaining all creation (Hebrews 1:3). He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead (Acts 1:11; Revelation 22:12-13).
4. The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the giver of life (Genesis 1:2; John 6:63; 2 Corinthians 3:6). He proceeds from the Father and is sent through the Son (John 14:26; John 16:7; John 14:16-17), to renew hearts (Titus 3:5; Ezekiel 36:26), produce holiness (Galatians 5:22-23), distribute spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Romans 12:6-8; 1 Peter 4:10), guide believers into truth (John 16:13), testify to our sonship (Romans 8:14-16), and empower them for witness (Acts 1:8). Believers are exhorted to live continually under the Spirit’s influence (Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 5:18; John 3:8).
5. The Eternal Tri-unity
We believe that from the beginning God the Father exists with the Son and the Holy Spirit, sharing one divine nature (Isaiah 48:16; Genesis 1:26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-2; Philippians 2:5-6). The Son eternally exists in the bosom of the Father, fully divine and one with Him, and was revealed in time through incarnation, without changes in His divine nature (John 1:14; John 17:5; Colossians 2:9). The Holy Spirit eternally proceeds from the Father, accomplishing God’s saving and sanctifying work in creation and in believers (John 15:26; Romans 8:9-11; 2 Corinthians 13:14). The Baptism of Jesus shows all three persons working together (Matthew 3:16-17). Thus, there are not three gods, but one God. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit work in perfect unity (Deuteronomy 6:4; John 10:30; 1 Corinthians 8:6).
6. The Personal Name of God
We believe that YHWH, rendered as Yahweh, is the personal Name by which the Lord God has revealed Himself in the Holy Scriptures (Exodus 3:14-15 LSB ; Psalm 83:18 LSB ). This Name declares His self-existence, faithfulness, and covenant relationship with His people (Exodus 6:2-3 LSB ; Deuteronomy 7:9 LSB ; Isaiah 42:8 LSB ; Malachi 1:11 LSB ). All worship, glory, and obedience belong to Yahweh alone (Revelation 4:11; John 4:23-24).
7. Spiritual Salvation
We believe that salvation is the free gift of God, received by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:28). Through His death and resurrection, believers are forgiven (1 John 1:7; Romans 4:25; Ephesians 1:7), reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:18-19), granted eternal life (John 3:16; John 5:24), and born again by the Holy Spirit (John 3:5-6; Titus 3:5). God’s grace trains us in holiness (Titus 2:11-12), and believers are given a living hope through resurrection (1 Peter 1:3-5).
8. Water Baptism
We believe that all who repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ should be baptized in water (Acts 2:38; Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16) as an act of obedience and public confession of faith (Romans 6:3-4; Acts 10:48). Baptism identifies the believer with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12), and is administered in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, in the Name of the Lord Yeshua or Jesus (Matthew 28:19; Acts 8:16).
9. Baptism in the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ baptizes believers in the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5; Acts 1:8; Luke 24:49), empowering them for witness, service, and spiritual growth (Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:7; Acts 2:4). Believers are exhorted to live continually under the Spirit’s influence (Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 5:18; John 3:8).
10. Spiritual Gifts
We believe that the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to believers for the building up of the Ekklesia (1 Corinthians 12:4-7; Ephesians 4:11-12; Romans 12:6-8; 1 Peter 4:10). These gifts are to be exercised in love, humility, and proper order for unity and service (1 Corinthians 13:1-13; 1 Corinthians 14:40).
11. The Lord’s Supper
We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a sacred act instituted by Jesus Christ (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-24,25), through which believers proclaim His death until He comes (1 Corinthians 11:26; John 6:53-58). It is to be observed with reverence, faith, and self-examination (1 Corinthians 11:27-28), expressing fellowship and unity in the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16-17).
12. The Ekklesia ( Church )
We believe that the Ekklesia or the Church is the one spiritual body of believers united in the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:4-6; Matthew 16:18). It exists worldwide as God’s people, worshiping in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24), remaining faithful to the apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42), and marked by love, holiness, and perseverance (Ephesians 5:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:15-16; Hebrews 10:24-25; Acts 20:28).
13. The Law of Moses and Non-Jewish Believers
We believe that the Law of Moses was given to Israel and fulfilled by Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:17; Romans 10:4). Non-Jewish believers are not bound by its ceremonial requirements (Galatians 3:28; Colossians 2:16-17), but are called to walk by the Spirit and fulfill God’s moral will through love (Galatians 5:16-18; Romans 13:8-10; Romans 6:14; 1 Corinthians 9:20-21).
14. The Return of Christ and Final Victory
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will return visibly and gloriously (Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:7; Revelation 19:11-16; Matthew 24:30-31). The dead will be raised (1 Corinthians 15:52; John 5:28-29), the living gathered to Him (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), Satan will be finally defeated (Revelation 20:10), and all things will be brought under Christ’s authority (Philippians 2:10-11; 1 Corinthians 15:24-25).
15. New Heavens and Final Judgment
We believe that God the Father will create new heavens and a new earth where righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1). All people will be raised and judged by the Lord Jesus Christ (John 5:28-29; Revelation 20:12-13; Daniel 12:2; Matthew 13:49-50), receiving eternal life or eternal punishment according to God’s righteous judgment (Matthew 25:46; Romans 2:6; Revelation 21:4).
