WHAT WE BELIEVE
The Bible is God's word for all time. Written by human authors, yet inspired by God, it is without error. It is the testimony of Christ and speaks to the hope of salvation. The Bible is the supreme source of truth and living.
1 Peter 1:24-25, 2 Peter 1:19-21, 2 Timothy 3:15, Romans 15:4, Matthew 5:17-18, Deuteronomy 4:1-2, Joshua 8:34, Psalm 19:7-10
There is only one living and true God who is eternal, all knowing, all-powerful, and is above space and time. He is a personal God who is the Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, and Ruler of the universe. His perfect knowledge extends to all things, for all time, and the future decisions of His creatures. God is triune, revealing Himself to man as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - with distinct attributes, but without division of nature, being or essence.
Christ is eternal as the Son of God. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Taking on the nature of God as well as the nature of man, Jesus lived a sinless life and provision for the redemption of men from sin. Christ died on the cross and was raised from the dead and ascended into heaven. He is fully God and fully man, being the mediator to God for all believers. He will return to his world in power and glory to judge and complete His redemptive mission.
God the Father reigns throughout the entire universe displaying his providence over all things. He is only Father to those who come to know Christ, but is fatherly towards all men.
Genesis 1:1, 2:7, Ephesians 4:6, Colossians 15, 1 Timothy 17, 1 John 5:7, Hebrews 11, Jeremiah 10:10, Isaiah 43:3 and 15, Mark 1:9-11, John 4:24, 5:26, 14:6-13, Romans 8:14-15.
The Holy Spirit is fully God and is present in the lives of believers. He seals believers for salvation and illuminates understanding for Christians. The Holy Spirit is the convicting agent that calls men to faith in Christ. He baptizes every believer into the church and then shapes him or her into godly individuals, instilling him or her with gifts, for the edification of the church.
Genesis 1:2, Ephesians 1:13-14, Hebrews 9:8, 14, 2 Peter 1:21, 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Romans 8:9-11. Acts 2:1-4, Joel 2:28-32, Isaiah 61:1-3, Psalms 51:11-19.
Salvation is the free gift of God to those who accept Christ. Through Jesus' death on the cross, his sacrifice takes the punishment for sin and restores the human to a right relationship with God. Salvation cannot be achieved through any good work or self-improvement. It must come through Christ. At the point of salvation the believer is made into a new creation. Due to their understanding that they need Christ, they repent, and Christ provides right standing for them in the sight of God. They are then brought into a relationship that offers a pursuit of godliness ending with the culmination of salvation found in heaven.
Genesis 3:15, Matthew 1:21, Luke 1:68-69, John 1:10-14, 10:9, 15:1-16, Acts 16:30-31, 17:31, 1 Peter 1:2-23, 1 John 1:6-2:11, Revelations 3:20, 21:1-22:5, Romans 1:16-18, 3:23-25, 10:9-13, Philippians 2:12-13.
The church is local and universal. The local church is an autonomous group of baptized believers that seeks to glorify God through worship, discipleship, and evangelism. The local body exercises the Lord's Supper and Believers baptism, while being governed by the word of God and extending the message of Christ to all people. While all believers are valuable to the local body, the universal church is the believers of all time in all places.
Matthew 16:15-19, 18:15-20, Acts 2:41-47, 6:3-6, 13:1-3, 14:23, 37, 15:1-30, Romans 1:7, Revelations 2-3, 21, 1 Timothy 2:9-14, 3:1-5, Hebrews 11:39-40, 1 Peter 5:4.
God elects those to Himself for His divine purpose. This election is consistent with the free choice of man, but it is the grace of God's sovereign goodness that oversees this event. This grace is undeserved, and God's favor is unmerited. Through this act of grace, the believer is saved and brought into a right relationship with God. All true believers will persevere and not turn away from God. Those whom God has saved will never turn away from Christ, but they may fall into sin neglect. All Christians shall be kept by the power of God in which they have placed their faith unto salvation.
Genesis 12:1-3, Matthew 16:18-19, Isaiah 5:7, 2 Timothy 1:12, 2:10, John 12-14, 3:16, 6:44-45, 65, 10:27-29, Romans 5:9-10, 8:28-39, 1 Corinthians 1:1-2, 15:24-28, Ephesians 1:4-23, 2:1-10, Colossians 1:12-14, Hebrews 11:39-12.
Human beings are the special creation of God. Made in God's image, humanity was given the gift of gender and certain roles. Through their free choice, humanity sinned and thus brought sin and death to the human race. This sin brought about a separation between humanity and God and there is no other way to come back to God except through the grace of Jesus Christ. Every human being of every race is worthy of respect and Christian love.
Genesis 1:26-30, 2:5, 7, 18-22, Psalms 1, 8:3-6, Isaiah 6:5, Romans 1:19-32, 3:10-18, Matthew 16:25, Colossians 1:21-22, Ephesians 2:1-22.