Who We Are and What We Believe
wThe Bible
We believe that the Bible is God’s inspired message to us and that it was given to provide instruction for what we should believe and how we should live our lives. We believe that the Bible is true, infallible, and reliable, was written under direct influence from God, and is completely authoritative for all Christians. We accept the Bible as the final authority for all matters of faith and practice. (Isaiah 40:8; Psalm 119:105; Matthew 5:18; 24:35; Romans 15:4; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
God
We believe that there is only one true God, the creator of all things visible and invisible, He is living and exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1-2; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 5:16, 45; 6:1, 4, 8, 9, 28:19; John 1:1, 14; 4:24; 14:9-26; Acts 17:24-28; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Hebrews 11:3; James 1:17; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Peter 1:21;)
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus was God’s only Son, our one and only Savior, was born Jesus of Nazareth, fully human, and fully divine, conceived of the Holy Spirit and of the virgin Mary. We believe that Jesus lived a sinless life, voluntarily died on the cross for our sins, under Pontius Pilate, and was bodily raised from the dead on the third day. He ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of the Father and acts as an intermediary on our behalf. One day Jesus will return to earth to judge both the living and the dead. (Matthew 1:18; 21:11; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1-18; 3:16; 19:19; Romans 5:15-17; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; 1 John 1:1; 4:9; Colossians 2:9; 2 Peter 3:18; Acts 2:22-41; Philippians 2:1-11)
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is one with the Father and the Son of God as part of the Triune God. The Holy Spirit provides power to overcome sin, insight into scripture, and personal direction in life. All believers are given the gift of the Holy Spirit at conversion, and through the Holy Spirit’s presence and power are enabled to attain spiritual maturity in Christ. Through the Holy Spirit each person in the body is given certain gifts to use in ministry. (Luke 11:13; John 16:5-16; Acts 1:7-8; Romans 8:11, 26-27; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; 2 Timothy 1:14)
Sin
We believe that every person has worth as a creation of God. We believe that a human being’s central purpose for existence is to have a close and personal relationship with God. Originally created for that purpose, humans defied God, choosing to go their own independent way, and were thus alienated from God. This “Fall” took place at the beginning of human history, and all individuals since have suffered these consequences; are separated from God, lost and without hope apart from Christ, and are in need of God’s forgiveness and mercy. (Romans 3:10, 23; 5:12; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-5, 12)
Salvation
We believe that salvation is a free gift that is offered to all people by God. Forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life is available to anyone who trusts Jesus Christ as their Savior. It is not earned by any good works which we do. It has already been accomplished for us when Jesus died on the cross in our place. Any person can accept this free gift by believing that Jesus is God’s son, repenting of their sin, confessing their faith in Jesus’ power to save them, and by being joined with Christ in baptism (immersion). However, none of these is sufficient in and of itself. (Romans 6:23; John 3:16; Romans 10:9; Mark 16:16)
Baptism
While traditions about baptism have varied widely throughout Christian history, we believe that the Biblical pattern is for every believer who accepts Jesus and repents of their sins to be baptized by immersion as they begin their new life in Him. Baptism is an act of repentance that leads to forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. It symbolizes the washing of our sins. And it is a way in which we identify ourselves as belonging to Christ (Acts 2:38, 22:16; Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12).
The Church
We believe that the Church is the Body of Christ on earth, comprised of those who have accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. The Church is empowered by the Holy Spirit and exists to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to the lost and edify (build up and educate) the saved. The Church exists to bring glory to God alone. (Acts 2:47, 9:31; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 12:27; Ephesians 4:1-16)
Jesus Return & Human Destiny
We believe that the return of Jesus Christ is imminent. We believe that everyone will live forever. Where one spends eternity will depend on what they do with Jesus Christ. For all humankind there will be a resurrection and a judgment that will determine the fate of each individual. Because unbelievers have rejected Jesus, they will be separated from His presence for all eternity in Hell. Believers will be received into heaven to be with God for all eternity. He will come to reign as King forever. (Matthew 25:31; Mark 13:32; John 3:36; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 17:14, 20-22)
We believe that the Bible is God’s inspired message to us and that it was given to provide instruction for what we should believe and how we should live our lives. We believe that the Bible is true, infallible, and reliable, was written under direct influence from God, and is completely authoritative for all Christians. We accept the Bible as the final authority for all matters of faith and practice. (Isaiah 40:8; Psalm 119:105; Matthew 5:18; 24:35; Romans 15:4; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
God
We believe that there is only one true God, the creator of all things visible and invisible, He is living and exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1-2; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 5:16, 45; 6:1, 4, 8, 9, 28:19; John 1:1, 14; 4:24; 14:9-26; Acts 17:24-28; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Hebrews 11:3; James 1:17; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Peter 1:21;)
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus was God’s only Son, our one and only Savior, was born Jesus of Nazareth, fully human, and fully divine, conceived of the Holy Spirit and of the virgin Mary. We believe that Jesus lived a sinless life, voluntarily died on the cross for our sins, under Pontius Pilate, and was bodily raised from the dead on the third day. He ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of the Father and acts as an intermediary on our behalf. One day Jesus will return to earth to judge both the living and the dead. (Matthew 1:18; 21:11; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1-18; 3:16; 19:19; Romans 5:15-17; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; 1 John 1:1; 4:9; Colossians 2:9; 2 Peter 3:18; Acts 2:22-41; Philippians 2:1-11)
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is one with the Father and the Son of God as part of the Triune God. The Holy Spirit provides power to overcome sin, insight into scripture, and personal direction in life. All believers are given the gift of the Holy Spirit at conversion, and through the Holy Spirit’s presence and power are enabled to attain spiritual maturity in Christ. Through the Holy Spirit each person in the body is given certain gifts to use in ministry. (Luke 11:13; John 16:5-16; Acts 1:7-8; Romans 8:11, 26-27; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; 2 Timothy 1:14)
Sin
We believe that every person has worth as a creation of God. We believe that a human being’s central purpose for existence is to have a close and personal relationship with God. Originally created for that purpose, humans defied God, choosing to go their own independent way, and were thus alienated from God. This “Fall” took place at the beginning of human history, and all individuals since have suffered these consequences; are separated from God, lost and without hope apart from Christ, and are in need of God’s forgiveness and mercy. (Romans 3:10, 23; 5:12; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-5, 12)
Salvation
We believe that salvation is a free gift that is offered to all people by God. Forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life is available to anyone who trusts Jesus Christ as their Savior. It is not earned by any good works which we do. It has already been accomplished for us when Jesus died on the cross in our place. Any person can accept this free gift by believing that Jesus is God’s son, repenting of their sin, confessing their faith in Jesus’ power to save them, and by being joined with Christ in baptism (immersion). However, none of these is sufficient in and of itself. (Romans 6:23; John 3:16; Romans 10:9; Mark 16:16)
Baptism
While traditions about baptism have varied widely throughout Christian history, we believe that the Biblical pattern is for every believer who accepts Jesus and repents of their sins to be baptized by immersion as they begin their new life in Him. Baptism is an act of repentance that leads to forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. It symbolizes the washing of our sins. And it is a way in which we identify ourselves as belonging to Christ (Acts 2:38, 22:16; Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12).
The Church
We believe that the Church is the Body of Christ on earth, comprised of those who have accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. The Church is empowered by the Holy Spirit and exists to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to the lost and edify (build up and educate) the saved. The Church exists to bring glory to God alone. (Acts 2:47, 9:31; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 12:27; Ephesians 4:1-16)
Jesus Return & Human Destiny
We believe that the return of Jesus Christ is imminent. We believe that everyone will live forever. Where one spends eternity will depend on what they do with Jesus Christ. For all humankind there will be a resurrection and a judgment that will determine the fate of each individual. Because unbelievers have rejected Jesus, they will be separated from His presence for all eternity in Hell. Believers will be received into heaven to be with God for all eternity. He will come to reign as King forever. (Matthew 25:31; Mark 13:32; John 3:36; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 17:14, 20-22)