Our Statement of Faith
I believe the Bible is the inspired written Word of God, completely sufficient for all ages in revealing the being and essence of God and His redemptive plan to mankind. The Bible is inerrant in the original writings and is infallible. (See the HBCC Hermeneutic Guide for more information on this topic.) [2 Tim. 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21, Rev. 22:18-19]
I believe in one eternal God, that He exists in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. [Rev. 1:8, 18, Matt. 28:18-19, Col. 1:16, Malachi 3:6, Rom. 1:20] God created the world in six days, He is the creator and sustainer of all things, sovereign overall and forever changeless. The testimony of creation leaves the nations without excuse. God is the giver of all life. [Ex. 20:11, John 1:3]
I believe that sin is any thought, word, or action that violates the righteousness of God. Sin is the result of mankind’s choice to rebel against God. Sin creates separation from God, resulting in both physical death and everlasting punishment. [Gen. 3:6-7, Isaiah 59:2, John 8:34, Rom. 7:13, 1 John 3:4, 5:17]
I believe mankind was created sinless and in the image of God. Adam & Eve sinned in willful disobedience, spiritual death immediately separated them from God and every person who came after them was born with a sinful nature. Due to the sin of Adam and Eve and the sinful nature inherited by every human, all have sinned. Consequently, all have fallen short of God’s glory, which has led to separation between God and mankind. [Gen. 1:27, 31, Rom. 3:23, 5:12, Eph. 2:1-3]
I believe salvation is the gift of eternal life, graciously offered by God to each person who has been separated from God due to sin. I receive salvation by expressing belief in Jesus Christ as my resurrected Lord, repenting from sin, and having faith empowered by the Holy Spirit. This faith not only acknowledges Jesus, but also leads to knowing, choosing, and trusting in Him. Salvation is a gift from God that cannot be earned by any of our works; it can only be received. Salvation is initiated, enabled, and completed by God. [Rom. 6:23, 10:9-10, Eph. 2:5-10, Acts 2:38, 16:30-33, John 1:12-13, John 3:3-6, 16-18, Gal. 2:20, Matt. 7:21, James 2:18-19]
I believe Jesus Christ was the Divine Son of God, conceived of the Holy Spirit, and born of a virgin. He lived a sinless life and by his perfect life, His death on the cross and shed blood, and His resurrection from the dead became the only means of salvation for all mankind. Jesus is both fully God and fully man, and yet one Christ. He is resurrected from the dead to be eternally alive, interceding for us today. [John 1:14, 18, Matt. 1:20, 23, 3:17, 2 Cor. 5:21, Acts 4:12, 1 Cor. 15:3-4, Rom. 4:25,
1 Timothy 2:5, Philippians 3:20-21]
I believe the Father is the first person of the Trinity, who is inherently holy. The Father's full revelation to us occurred through His Son, Jesus Christ. Through Jesus' sacrificial act on the cross, the Father has graciously adopted all who believe in Jesus as His beloved children. He is our Father, known intimately as 'Abba,' who lovingly provides and cares for us. Through Jesus, we are granted a profound relationship with God as our Father, enabling us to commune with Him and offer our prayers. [Matt. 6:9, 25-34, Mark 14:36, John 14:9, 20:17, Hebrews 1:3, 1 Peter 1:13-21]
I believe the Holy Spirit indwells all believers, empowers the believer to Holiness and service, convicts, and comforts. The redemptive work of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit provide complete restoration in relationship with God and the ability to live victoriously over sin. [John 14:26, 15:26, 16:8, 1 Cor. 3:16, Acts 1:8, Titus 3:5, Eph. 2:8]
I believe Jesus Christ will one day gather all the saved to dwell with Him forever. All those who reject the Son of God will enter everlasting punishment. [John 3:16, 14:3, 1 Cor. 15:12-58, Rev. 20:12, 22:20, 2 Tim. 4:1, Matt. 25:46]
Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible;
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds;
God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father,
by whom all things were made.
Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven,
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered and was buried;
and the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures;
and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father;
and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead;
whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord and Giver of Life;
who proceedeth from the Father and the Son;
who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified;
who spake by the prophets.
And I believe one catholic and apostolic Church;
I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins;
and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
Amen.