Statement of Faith

1. 1. The Holy Scriptures: GOD’s Living and Authoritative Word

   We believe that Holy Scripture is the written and active Word of GOD. From the ancient Scriptures of Israel—the Tanakh (Old Testament)—to the New Covenant Writings of the New Testament, GOD has spoken and continues to speak to His people through the Bible. All Scripture is breathed out by GOD and faithfully delivered through human authors by the inspiration and sovereign work of the Holy Spirit. As the Word of GOD, the Bible is without error in its original writings and stands as the complete and sufficient revelation of His will for salvation and for a life that honors Him. It is the ultimate authority in all matters of faith and practice.

   Psalm 19:7–11; Matthew 5:18; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:15–17; 2 Peter 1:20–21

2. 2. The One GOD: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

   We believe that the LORD is One—eternal, perfect, infinite, all-powerful, all-knowing, and entirely good—revealed in the unity of the Trinity. The LORD our GOD, the LORD is one. This perfect unity is expressed eternally as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory. The Father has always loved the Son; the Son has always delighted in the Father; and the Holy Spirit has always been the Spirit of the Father and the Son. In perfect love and fellowship, the Triune GOD exists forever as one Being in three Persons—a unity with distinctions.

   Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1–2; 14:16–17; 15:26; 17:24; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 4:6

3. 3. GOD’s Eternal Purpose: A Holy People of Love

   From before the foundation of the world, GOD purposed to create, redeem, and dwell with a people for Himself. His desire is that we would be His people and He would be our GOD, reigning among us as we steward His creation as His image bearers. Every Divine action toward the world is accomplished by the Father, through the Son, and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

   1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 1:4–10; Colossians 1:16–17; Revelation 21:3

4. 4. Creation: GOD’s Good Design for Humanity and the World

   GOD the Father, by His Son (the Word) and through the Holy Spirit, created all things—the heavens and the earth, visible and invisible. Humanity was made in His image as male and female, equal in dignity and worth, yet distinct and complementary. GOD ordained marriage as a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman and established it as the proper context for sexual union.

   GOD placed this first family in the Garden of Eden, where Heaven and earth met in harmony, to live in joyful fellowship with Him and each other. They were given a mission to grow the family of GOD, become heirs together that possess the earth, drive out the chaos, and rule over creation—all in partnership with GOD. This creation mandate is the intended destiny of humanity.

   Genesis 1:26–31; 2:18–25; Psalm 8:4–8; Habakkuk 2:14; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16

5. 5. The Fall: Sin, Death, and Humanity’s Need for Salvation

   Tempted by Satan, who appeared as a serpent, humanity rebelled against GOD. Through Adam’s sin, sin and death entered the world, bringing separation from GOD, corruption of human nature, and disorder throughout creation. All people are now born sinful, unable to save themselves or restore their righteousness by their own efforts. Yet even in our fallen state, we remain image-bearers, loved by GOD and created with dignity and worth. If we are to be rescued, GOD Himself must act to reconcile us to Himself.

   Genesis 3:1–24; 9:6; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:23; 5:12–19; Ephesians 2:1–5; James 3:9

6. 6. The First Promise: Salvation Through the Descendant of the Woman

   Even before the first humans were sent out of Eden, the LORD promised that the serpent, who is Satan, would be defeated and that redemption would come through a descendant of the woman. This Son would crush the serpent’s head in a royal victory on humanity’s behalf, yet the serpent would strike His heel: He would triumph through His own suffering. In Him the LORD would redeem humanity from sin, death, and enslavement to Satan, restoring what was lost in Eden and accomplishing His plan for humanity and creation. This promise unfolds in the midst of a cosmic war. Satan led many angels into rebellion and formed a kingdom of darkness that deceives the whole world, amplifies human sin and lawlessness, causes sickness, afflicts people through evil spirits called demons, and holds humanity in bondage through the fear of death. But the LORD promised his defeat through the Messiah who would come.

   Genesis 3:14–15; Luke 13:16; John 8:44; Acts 10:38; Romans 16:20; Ephesians 6:12; Hebrews 2:14–15; 2 Peter 2:4; 1 John 3:8; Jude 6; Revelation 12:7–9

7. 7. The Promised Messiah: Son of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David

   From Adam, through Noah, GOD made every nation and ethnic group, and these ethnicities are good; the LORD’s heart has always been to save all the families of the earth. To accomplish this, He in His love irrevocably chose and set apart Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their physical descendants, the people of Israel, and became known as the GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He promised to be Israel’s GOD forever, to give them the land of Israel as an everlasting possession, and to extend His family to bless all the nations of the earth. He redeemed Israel from slavery in Egypt through Moses, with mighty judgments against human evil and the gods of Egypt, by the blood of the Passover lambs, and through the Red Sea. He brought them to Himself and gave them the Torah at Sinai as a covenantal way of life, to live as a holy nation in His presence, a royal priesthood, and a light to the world. He dwelt among them in the Tabernacle and later the Temple, brought them into the land, made an everlasting covenant with King David, and established Jerusalem as the City of the Great King. Yet, like the first humans, Israel continued to struggle with sin, division, and exile.

   Still, GOD remained faithful. He promised that His reign would come in power through the Messiah, bringing salvation through judgment. The Messiah would be a descendant of Abraham and David from the tribe of Judah, the Anointed One who is Prophet, Priest, and King. In Him the LORD would defeat the evil one, sin, and death; rescue, bless, and unite Israel and every nation; dwell among His people; give them a new heart; and put His Spirit within them to follow His Teaching. The Scriptures even indicated He would be the LORD come in the flesh. And it was a mystery, hidden until the appointed time, that these promises would be fulfilled through two comings of the one Messiah.

   Genesis 10:1–32; 12:1–3; 17:7–8; 26:3–5; 28:13–15; 49:10; Exodus 3:7–10; 12:12–13; 14:13–31; 19:4–6; Deuteronomy 4:5–8; 18:15; 2 Samuel 7:12–16; Psalm 48:1–2; 110:1–4; Isaiah 9:6–7; 49:5–6; Jeremiah 31:31–34; Ezekiel 36:26–28; Acts 3:19–21; 17:26; Romans 16:25–26; Hebrews 9:28

8. 8. The Incarnation: The Son Who Is Fully Divine and Fully Human

   According to His promises to Israel, the Father in His love for the world sent His Son. In the fullness of time He became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Jewish virgin Miriam (Mary): the promised descendant of Abraham and David, Immanuel, the Eternal Word who became human and tabernacled among us. He was named Yeshua (Jesus) because He came to save His people from their sins. He is one Person with two natures, divine and human, united yet distinct. Because He shares fully in the identity of the LORD, He can be our Savior; because He is fully human, He is our representative Head as the Last Adam.

   The Father anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and power as the promised Messiah, the long-awaited Prophet, Priest, and King, the Son of the Living GOD. He came to destroy the works of the devil, proclaim the Kingdom of GOD, and seek and save the lost. Through signs, wonders, miracles, and gifts of the Spirit, He healed every sickness and disease and freed captives from demonic power, revealing the Father’s compassion for the poor, the orphan, and the widow and His love for Jew and Gentile alike. In light of the judgment to come, He called sinners to repent, trust, and follow Him, promising all who came like trusting children the forgiveness of their sins, new life, and entrance into the Kingdom as they are born of water and Spirit. He taught the perfect interpretation of the Law and the Prophets for His followers to obey as the fruit of salvation by grace through faith, a faith that works through love by the power of the Spirit.

   Deuteronomy 10:18; Matthew 1:21–23; 4:23–24; 5:17–20; 8:5–13; Mark 2:17; Luke 1:30–35; 4:18–19; 7:11–17; 19:10; John 1:1, 14; 3:5; Acts 10:38; 1 Corinthians 15:45; Galatians 5:6; Ephesians 2:8–10; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 2:14–17; 1 John 3:8

9. 9. The Son’s Perfect Obedience: Living the Life We Could Not Live

   As King of Israel, Jesus is the perfect Israelite, the whole nation embodied in one Man, and as the Last Adam He is the perfect representative of all humanity. Adam and Eve sinned, the nations sinned, and Israel sinned; all have fallen short of the glory of GOD, failing to reflect His righteousness and beautiful holiness. But Jesus never sinned. He fulfilled the commandments of the Law without blemish and related perfectly to the Father, reflecting and representing His Name in the power of the Spirit and always doing what pleased Him. Day by day He heard and obeyed His Father, embodying Israel’s Shema. He did this for our salvation: had He sinned even once, He could not have saved us. Because He was obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross, we can be saved.

   Deuteronomy 6:4–5; Matthew 2:15; John 5:19; 8:29; 12:49–50; 14:31; Romans 3:23; 5:18–19; Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 1:18–19

10. 10. The Cross: The Son Died for Our Sins as the Lamb of GOD

    Jesus our Righteousness lived as the spotless, unblemished Lamb through temptation, betrayal, and suffering, even to death on a cross, and died as the Lamb of GOD who takes away the sin of the world. Though innocent, He died for all our sins, the just for the unjust, bearing the curse and punishment for our transgressions to cancel our debt. By His death He destroyed the devil, who held the power of death, and as our King He disarmed the rulers and authorities, triumphing over them. He shed His own blood of the promised New Covenant to secure all its blessings, revealing GOD’s goodness, love, and faithfulness toward Israel and the nations. In the Messiah, GOD was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and His atoning blood reconciles Jew and Gentile to GOD and to one another.

    Isaiah 53:4–12; Luke 22:20; John 1:29; 2 Corinthians 5:19–21; Galatians 3:13; Ephesians 2:13–16; Colossians 2:13–15; Hebrews 2:14–15; 9:15; 1 Peter 3:18

11. 11. The Resurrection: The Firstfruits of GOD’s New Creation

    After He was buried and descended into Hades, the Father raised Him from the dead on the third day by the power of the Holy Spirit, vindicating Him as the innocent and righteous Messiah and reversing the unjust verdict that condemned Him. His resurrection shows that His blood shed on the cross fully accomplished its work, and He is the King who has been given all authority in heaven and on earth. His resurrection is the beginning of GOD’s new creation, the firstfruits and guarantee of what GOD will do at His second coming for all who belong to the Messiah, and the hope of the World to Come, when GOD will make all things new.

    Psalm 16:8–11; Matthew 28:18; Acts 2:24–32; Romans 1:4; 4:24–25; 8:11; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4, 20–23; Revelation 21:5

12. 12. The Ascension: The Son Reigns as High Priest, King, and Sovereign LORD

    As our High Priest, Jesus ascended into the heavenly Holy of Holies by His own blood, the once-for-all atoning sacrifice for sin. As King, He sat down at the right hand of the Father, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him and the Name above every name, in this age and the age to come. He upholds the universe by the word of His power and awaits the day when all His enemies will be placed under His feet. Heaven must receive Him until the restoration of all things foretold by the holy prophets in Israel’s Scriptures. Just as He ascended from the Mount of Olives, His feet will stand there again when He returns.

    Psalm 110:1; Zechariah 14:4; Acts 1:9–12; 3:19–21; Ephesians 1:20–22; Philippians 2:9–11; Hebrews 1:3; 9:11–12, 24–26

13. 13. The Gift of Salvation and the Holy Spirit to All Who Repent and Believe

    On the basis of the cross, the risen and exalted LORD is willing and able to save every person in this present age. As a gift purchased on the cross, He gives grace for anyone to experience the Spirit’s convicting and illuminating work through the Gospel, so that they can willingly repent and believe. Those who do receive the new birth, forgiveness of sins, justification, reconciliation, deliverance from Satan’s kingdom into the Kingdom of GOD’s beloved Son, adoption as GOD’s children, and the indwelling and empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.

    The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are GOD’s children. He reveals, fills, leads, teaches, sanctifies, transforms, and empowers us: to know the Messiah’s love, grow in holiness and in love for GOD and neighbor, walk in unity and the fruit of the Spirit, proclaim and demonstrate the Gospel with signs, wonders, and gifts of the Spirit, suffer for the advance of the Kingdom, overcome temptation, stand against the schemes of the devil, and pray effectively. He is the firstfruits, down payment, and guarantee of our inheritance in the age to come. Believers who die go to heaven to await their bodily resurrection at the Messiah’s second coming; those alive when He comes will receive transformed bodies like His. Until then, GOD uses our many trials to make us like His Son, as we run this race and fight this fight together in community.

    John 3:3–8; 16:7–11; Acts 1:8; 2:38; Romans 5:1–11; 8:14–17, 23, 26–29; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 12:4–11; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Galatians 5:22–25; Ephesians 1:13–14; 6:10–18; Colossians 1:13–14; 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17; 1 Timothy 2:3–6; 6:12; Hebrews 2:3–4; 10:24–25; 12:1–2; 2 Peter 3:9

14. 14. Baptism and the LORD’s Table: Means of Grace for GOD’s New Covenant People

    According to His command, all Jewish and Gentile disciples of the Messiah are to be baptized into the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Baptism is a tangible expression and means of grace tied to our union and participation with the Messiah in His death, burial, and resurrection, by which we become members of His Body by the Spirit. Together we also celebrate the LORD’s Table (the LORD’s Supper, Eucharist, or Communion), remembering His body broken for us and His blood of the New Covenant shed for us. In eating the bread and drinking the cup as a means of grace, we participate by faith in His body and blood and proclaim the LORD’s death until He comes.

    Matthew 28:19; Luke 22:19–20; Romans 6:3–5; 1 Corinthians 10:16–17; 11:23–26; 12:13

15. 15. One Church: The Remnant of Israel and the Redeemed of All Nations

    Through union with Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant, GOD is our GOD, we are His people, and He dwells in and with us by the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the Head of the Church, made up of the saved remnant of Israel and the redeemed of every nation, people, tribe, and language across time and space. Through the Gospel, the Gentiles have been made coheirs with Israel (not replacing them), members of one Body, and partners in the promise. Through the cross He reconciled Jew and Gentile to GOD in one body and put the hostility to death; He is our peace. In the One New Man there is unity with distinction: Jewish believers continue to live as Jews, and Gentile believers in their own ethnic identities, each being who they were created to be.

    As children of Abraham by faith who have received the Spirit of His Son, we live out this unity in growing love for GOD and neighbor, as faithful witnesses who embody, demonstrate, and proclaim the good news, win souls, and make disciples trained toward increasing Messiah-likeness. So we steward godly relationships and Gospel partnerships in the Church of our city and beyond, honoring and learning from those who came before us. With Jesus we pray and pursue that all His disciples on earth today, across congregations, traditions, denominations, and movements, may be made completely one, as the Father and the Son are one, so that the world will believe.

    Matthew 28:19–20; John 17:20–23; Acts 15:19–21; 21:20–26; Romans 11:1–5; 1 Corinthians 7:17–20; Galatians 3:28–29; Ephesians 1:22–23; 2:11–22; 3:6; Hebrews 8:6–10; Revelation 7:9–10

16. 16. Israel’s Irrevocable Calling and the Blessing of Their Salvation for the World

    GOD’s love and purposes for the Jewish people are deeply connected to and fully consistent with His love and purposes for all nations. This was shown most dramatically when His Son took on a fully human nature as a Jew: the promised King of Israel who died and rose for all and is destined to sit on David’s throne, reigning over Jacob forever and over the nations, whom He loves equally. In keeping with the Gospel, we affirm that Israel’s gifts and calling are irrevocable. To them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, the worship, the promises, and the patriarchs, and from them by physical descent came the Messiah, who is GOD over all.

    That many Jewish people have not accepted Jesus does not nullify GOD’s faithfulness to His promises for Israel. Many have accepted Him, and they remain Jewish forever; their presence as the remnant of Israel in the one Body of the Messiah proves that GOD is not done with Israel as a nation. When the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, all Israel will be saved by Jesus, the dead will be raised, and unprecedented blessing will come to the whole world.

    Isaiah 49:5–6; Jeremiah 31:35–37; Zechariah 12:10; Luke 1:32–33; Romans 3:3–4; 9:4–5; 11:1–2, 11–12, 15, 25–29; 1 Corinthians 15:22–23

17. 17. The Return of the King: Redemption for His People and Righteous Judgment for the World

    Those who have turned from idols to serve the living and true GOD wait for His Son from heaven: Jesus, raised from the dead, who rescues believers from the coming wrath. Because their sins were already condemned on the cross, GOD has appointed them not to wrath but to salvation, glory, and His Kingdom. At His second coming, the salvation He fully purchased on the cross will be completed in the redemption of their bodies as GOD’s adopted children, as He raises and transforms their lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.

    He will return with all His holy angels and saints, judge the world in righteousness, and pour out the final bowls of GOD’s wrath on His enemies who refused to repent and receive the free gift of salvation. So we expectantly await His personal, visible, and victorious return in power and glory to establish fully His universal reign from Jerusalem over all the earth, so that the knowledge of the glory of GOD will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.

    Psalm 2:6–8; Habakkuk 2:14; Zechariah 14:4, 9; Matthew 25:31; Acts 17:31; Romans 8:1–3, 23; Philippians 3:20–21; 1 Thessalonians 1:9–10; 3:13; 4:14; 5:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–10; Revelation 16:1

18. 18. The Millennial Reign and the Final Judgment

    As the Son of Man, Jesus will sit on the glorious throne of His father David and reign over a saved and restored Israel and all the families of the earth, and His Kingdom will have no end. In Him every promise concerning Jerusalem, the people and land of Israel, all nations, and all creation will be completely fulfilled. Satan’s kingdom, decisively defeated at the cross, will be utterly destroyed. When Jesus returns, the devil will be held prisoner in the bottomless pit for a thousand years during Jesus’s millennial reign with His saints; after a short release, he will be thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur to be tormented forever and ever. The wicked will be resurrected to be judged with eternal punishment. Then, His work of establishing the Kingdom complete, the Son will hand the Kingdom over to the Father.

    Isaiah 11:1–12; Zechariah 14:16–19; Matthew 19:28; 25:46; Luke 1:32–33; John 5:28–29; 1 Corinthians 15:24–28; 2 Corinthians 1:20; Colossians 2:15; Revelation 20:1–15

19. 19. All Things Made New: GOD Dwelling Forever with His One People

    GOD will make all things new, creating a New Heaven and a New Earth with its glorious Garden-City, the New Jerusalem. There will be no more death, grief, crying, or pain. Everything in heaven and on earth will be cleansed, liberated, reconciled, and made new through the blood of the cross.

    GOD—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—will be our GOD, and we will be His people. All the saved of Israel and the nations will be one and together forever. We will see His face, worship Him, and reign with GOD Almighty and the Lamb, who will sit on the throne in His Kingdom forever and ever.

    Isaiah 65:17–19; Romans 8:21; Ephesians 1:10; Colossians 1:19–20; 2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 5:13; 7:9–10; 21:1–5; 22:1–5