What We Believe
About God
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three Persons, who are co-equal: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Genesis 1:1, 26-27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; I Peter 1:2; II Corinthians 13:14
About Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a life free of sin and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. he arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His victory over sin and death. He ascended into the glory of Heaven and is there now seated at the right hand of the Father making intercession for use. He will return to rapture all of those who have accepted Him (dead or alive) to be with Him in the clouds. He will then establish His Kingdom here earth where He will reign forever as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; I Corinthians 15:3-4; I Thessalonians 4:15-18; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; I Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13
About the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and the third person in the God Head. He is also referred to in Scripture as the Spirit of Christ and the Comforter. He is co-equal with God the Father and God the Son. He works to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides Christ-followers with the power for daily living, understanding of spiritual truth and power for effective witnessing to others. The Christian is commanded to live under the Spirit's control every day.
II Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13; 14;16-17; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 2:12; 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; 5:18; Galatians 5:25
About the Bible
The Bible is the written record of God's revelation of Himself to humanity, coming to fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. The Bible was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the perfect source of instruction, authority for knowing God and living the Christian life.
II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20-21; II Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105, 160; 12:6; Proverbs 30:5
About Humanity
We have been created in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. Men and women are the supreme object of God's creation. Although we have tremendous potential for good, we are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called "sin". This attitude separates humanity from God.
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2
About Eternity
Humankind was created to exist forever. Men and women can live this existence separated from God through disobedience, or in union with God through salvation. Heaven and Hell are the future places destined for those who live in union with God (Heaven) and those who choose to remain separated from God (Hell).
John 2:25; 3:16; I John 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; Matthew 18:8; 25:44-46
About Personal Salvation
Salvationis a gift given to humanity by God. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good deeds. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness can we be saved from sin's penalty. Eternal life begins the moment we receive Jesus Christ by faith.
Romans 5:1, 6:23, 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5
About Spiritual Growth
The Bible teaches us that it is God's desire for every Christian to grow to full spiritual maturity. This means that the goal of Christian growth is activated in our lives through the working of the Holy Spirit. We also cultivate spiritual growth through such personal disciplines as: Bible study, prayer, worship, fellowship with other Christians and sharing Christ with those that that do not know Him.
Ephesians 4:13; Romans 8:29; II Timothy 3:16-17; I Peter 2:2, 3:15; John 16:24 Hebrews 10:25
About Eternal Security
Because eternal life is based on the gift of God to sinful persons through grace, the believer in Christ is secure in that salvation for eternity. His or her salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. The Christian's life of righteousness is motivated by God's grace, not by fear of losing salvation.
John 10:28-29; II Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 10:10, 14; I Peter 1:3-5
Church Ordinances
Jesus gave His church two symbolic ordinances that "act out" the message of the Christian faith: Baptism and Communion (also called The Lord's Supper). They are both outward expressions of an inner experience of faith. We do not believe the physical elements in Baptism or the Lord's Supper possess spiritual powers to impart grace or salvation to us. Rather, their sacred significance is in the heart-felt union of the believer to Jesus that they express.
Baptism
Thisis the way we confess Christ as an initiation into His church. It signifies ones inclusion in God's family. It publicly announces to the world, "I am not ashamed to be a part of God's family. In baptism, Christians are immersed in water, symbolizing Christ's plunge into our world's sufferings to die and rise again for our salvation. This is the way He gave for us to identify ourselves as His disciples. Though baptism is an act of saving faith, it does not and cannot save us; only Jesus does that. It is and outward expression of an inward change.
Communion
Communion/The Lord's Supper signifies the sacrifice of the body and the blood Jesus lovingly made us, symbolized with bread and grape juice, and recalls His desire for all to receive Him personally. Participating in communion, we remember Christ's radical commitment to us and reaffirm our commitment to Him. While Baptism is done once, at the beginning of our Christian journey, the Lord's Supper is repeated often throughout our life of Christian devotion.
Matthew 28:19-20; I Corinthians 1:17-18; 8:8; 10:16; 11:23-26; Hebrews 13:9; Romans 14:17
