What We Believe

We believe that the Bible is the sole authority for the church and that it is verbally inspired, inerrant, infallible, and totally sufficient and trustworthy. We maintain unity on the essentials and liberty on the non-essentials. We will not compromise the Word of God for trends. We will not compromise truth for technique. We will not compromise theology for therapy. We are committed to the advance of the Gospel, expository preaching of God’s Word, and the development of each other through building relationships in the context of biblical fellowship. We affirm the five “Solas” of the Reformation:
"Sola Scriptura" - Scripture Alone
"Sola Gratia" - Grace Alone
"Sola Fide" - Faith Alone
"Solus Christus" - Christ Alone
"Soli Deo Gloria" - To the Glory of God Alone

1.  God and the Trinity
We believe in the one true and living God, in three Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, who is invisible, personal, omnipresent, eternal, dependent on none, unchanging, truthful, trustworthy, almighty, sovereign, omniscient, righteous, holy, good, loving, merciful, long-suffering and gracious.

2.  The Holy Scripture
We believe that Almighty God has revealed all that is necessary to life and salvation in the sixty-six books of Holy Scripture, which are the Word of God. All Scripture was given by inspiration of God, is infallible and inerrant, and is the final arbiter in all disputes. Its authority is derived from its Author and not from the opinions of men.

3.  Election
We believe that God, before the foundation of the world, for His own glory did elect a great multitude of men and women to eternal life as an act of free and sovereign grace. This election was in no way dependent upon His foresight of human faith, decision, works or merit.

4.  Adam Our Representative
We believe that God made our first father Adam perfect, holy and upright. He was appointed representative and head of the human race, thereby exposing all his offspring to the effects of his obedience or disobedience to God's commands.

5.  The Fall and Its Effects
We believe that Adam fell from his original righteousness into sin and brought upon himself and all his offspring death, condemnation and a sinful nature.

6.  Man's Inability
We believe it is utterly beyond the power of fallen man to love God, to keep His laws, to understand the gospel, to repent of sin or to trust in Christ.

7.  Christ Our Representative
We believe that God sent His Son into the world, conceived of the virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit, unchangeably sinless, both God and man, born under the law, to live a perfect life of righteousness on behalf of His elect people.

8.  Particular Redemption
We believe that God's Son died at Calvary to effect propitiation, reconciliation, redemption and atonement for His elect people. God bore testimony to His acceptance of His Son's work by raising Him bodily from the dead.

9.  The Ascension of Christ
We believe that God's Son ascended to the right hand of His Father and is enthroned in glory, where He intercedes on behalf of His people and rules over all things for their sake.

10.  Irresistible Grace
We believe that God the Son has poured out the Holy Spirit to work alongside the preached Word. The Spirit of God regenerates elect sinners and draws them irresistibly to faith in Christ the Savior.

11.  Justification
We believe the elect, who are called by grace, are justified in the sight of God on account of the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, which is received by faith alone.

12.  Perseverance
We believe that all who are regenerated, called and justified shall persevere in holiness and never finally fall away.

13.  #’s 3-12 above are commonly remembered by the acrostic T.U.L.I.P.
T - Total Depravity - Because man is dead in his sins he does not have the desire or the ability to come to Christ for salvation.
U - Unconditional Election - Before time began, God chose certain people to be saved based solely upon the pleasure of His good will.
L - Limited Atonement - Jesus' atoning death was limited in that it paid only for the sins of God's elect.
I - Irresistible Grace – By the Holy Spirit, God will draw all of His elect into a saving relationship through the gospel.
P - Perseverance of the Saints - All those who have been elected, redeemed & called will persevere in faith until the end.

14.  Evangelism
We believe it is the calling of every local church to participate in fulfilling the Great Commission by making disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything Christ has commanded us.

15.  The Church
We believe that the local church is under the authority of Christ alone. Nevertheless, He has appointed men to be elders (undershepherds) to represent Him as they care for His body. Deacons also serve Christ as His ministers of mercy. Furthermore, the communion of saints requires the recognition of and fellowship with other local evangelical churches.

16.  Church Ordinances
We believe that baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper are gospel ordinances belonging only to regenerated believers.

17.  Eschatology
We believe in the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord truthfully prophesied that at His return the dead would be raised bodily, and that the righteous would enjoy everlasting life and the wicked would endure everlasting punishment.

(Taken in large part from “Fellowship of Independent Reformed Evangelicals Statement of Faith”)