Statement of Faith

It is our earnest desire to see the school securely anchored within the stream of historic Protestant orthodoxy. To that end we affirm that we are in essential agreement with the historic confessions of the Protestant Reformation. The following articles are a distillation of this confessional heritage, and they represent the key elements of Christianity that will be taught in various ways through all the grade levels. All teachers, administrators, and School Board members declare unconditional acceptance of these beliefs. In all matters of faith and practice, we desire to be guided at all times by the Scriptures, having our submission to Them aided and informed by our confessional heritage.

I.    Concerning Holy Scripture:
We believe that the Scriptures, both old and New Testaments, are the inspired, perfect Word of God. The Bible is the complete revelation of Godıs will for the salvation of man and the only ultimate and infallible authority in all matters of faith and practice. The Scriptures are a unified whole. The Old and New Testaments must each be understood in light of the other.

II.     Concerning God, the Holy Trinity:
We believe in one living, Sovereign, and true God who is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in all His attributes. He exists eternally in three Persons ­ Father, Son, and Holy Spirit ­ these three being coequal in power and glory, having the same essence, attributes, and perfections.

III.    Concerning Godıs Eternal Purpose:
We believe that the eternal purpose of God extends to all events. Further, we believe that His purpose is holy, wise, and altogether good, does not deprive man of his responsibility, nor does it make God the author of sin. Before the foundation of the world, God the Father chose for Himself, in Jesus Christ, a people whom He gave to His Son that they should be holy and without blame before Him.

IV.     Concerning Creation and Mankind:
We believe that God created the world and all things out of nothing by His powerful Word ­ all for His own glory. Mankind, and all life on earth, did not evolve but was created by a direct act of God. Man was created in the image of God, male and female, to have fellowship with Him and to glorify and serve Him by multiplying godly offspring, taking dominion over the earth, and reflecting His holy character.

V.    Concerning Sin:
We believe that all men are sinners because Adam and Eve, our first parents, disobeyed Godıs command and by their own willful sin fell from their original state of innocence and fellowship with God. This terrible choice placed them and all their progeny under the power and penalty of sin and death. Godıs image remains within fallen man, yet marred and defaced beyond all powers of human restoration. All men are therefore sinners by imputation and by choice, spiritually dead, separated from God, unable of themselves to please Him or to merit salvation, apart from which, they remain under His just condemnation.

VI.     Concerning Christ:
We believe that Jesus Christ was ­ and remains ­ true God and true man, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. While on earth, He lived a sinless life. He was crucified and on the cross He died a voluntary, substitutionary death to save His people from their sins. After three days in the grave He was raised bodily from the dead, He ascended into heaven, where, at the Fatherıs right hand, He now intercedes for His church, rules over all things in her behalf, and continues His presence among His people through the agency of His Holy Spirit.

VII.    Concerning Salvation:
We believe that salvation is totally by Godıs grace ­ an unmerited gift to the believer. All who are born again by the Holy Spirit receive, by faith, the Lord Jesus Christ and are justified on the grounds of His shed blood, not because of any works they have done. True faith is always accompanied by repentance and a determination to follow Jesus as Lord in a life filled with joyful, thankful obedience and good works, in accordance with His Word.

VIII.    Concerning the Return of Christ and the Last Things:
We believe that Jesus Christ will return personally, bodily, and visibly at the end of the age to judge the world ­ both the living and the dead. We further believe in the bodily resurrection of the righteous and the unrighteous, the everlasting punishment of the unrighteous, and the everlasting happiness and bliss of the saints whom God has called to Himself.

IX.    Concerning the Church:
We believe in one universal church of which Christ is the Head, made up of true believers in all places and in all times. The visible local church is the ordinary means of the spread of Godıs kingdom and the building up of Godıs people in Christ. The primary means by which God extends His grace are the Word, the sacraments, and prayer. The marks of a true church are the proclamation of God in Scripture, the biblical administration of the sacraments, the exercise of biblical government and discipline, the edifying use of the spiritual gifts given to the members of the Body, and a manifestation of unity and love among the members.

X.    Concerning the Sacraments:
We believe that Christ has ordained two sacraments for the church in the present age: water baptism and the Lordıs Supper. They are not, merely in themselves, means of salvation. They are signs and seals of Godıs covenant of grace and are properly given to every member of the visible church.

XI.    Concerning God Ordained Governments:
We believe that God has ordained various governments among men. To the civil government He has assigned the power of the sword and the administration of justice. To the church He has assigned the task of discipling the nations through the proclamation of the Word and the administration of the sacraments. To the family He has assigned the task of nurture and education. We deny that the authority of any of these governments should be considered absolute or set against the others. God has assigned to them differing responsibilities. Each relies upon His grace to accomplish its given tasks, and each is ultimately subject and answerable to Him.