Living out the full Gospel
OUR BELIEFS
The Word of God
We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the Word of God, fully inspired, without error, and the infallible rule of faith and practice. The Word of God is the foundation upon which the church operates and is the basis for which the church is governed.
We believe that the Word of God supersedes any earthly law that is contrary to the Holy Scriptures.
Scripture Reference:
Isaiah 28:13; Nehemiah 8:8; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:23-25; 2 Peter 1:3-4, 21
The Trinity
We believe that there is one living and true GOD, eternally existing in three persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory; that this triune God created all, upholds all, and governs all things.
(Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:8, 48:16; Matthew 28:19-20; John 10:30; Hebrews 1:3)
God the Father
We believe in the person of God the Father, an infinite, eternal, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love; that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; that He hears and answers prayer; and that He saves from sin and death all those who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
Scripture Reference: Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:2, 102:27; John 3:16, 4:24; 1 Timothy 1:7; Titus 1:3
God the Son
We believe in the person of Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings, his substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people and personal, visible return to earth.
Scripture Reference: Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2;Matthew 1:23; Mark 16:19; Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1-2, 8:58, 11:25; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:8; 1 John 1:2; Revelation 1:8)
Eternity
We believe we were created to exist forever.
We believe that forever is spent in one of two places: eternally separated from God because of sin or in union with God because of forgiveness and salvation. When you die, you will either spend eternity in heaven or hell. Eternal separation from God happens in hell. Eternal union with God occurs in heaven.
(John 3:16-18, 1 John 2:25, John 5:11-13, Romans 6:23, Revelation 20:15)
Gospel
We believe that the Gospel is the good news of what God has accomplished for sinners through the life, death, and resurrection of his Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. The Gospel is centered in Christ and is not proclaimed if his death and resurrection are not the focus of our message. The church is responsible for proclaiming and living out the full Gospel of Jesus Christ in power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit. The church is responsible for defending the Gospel against all who would seek to distort or re-define its core truths.
The Gospel is the foundation for the life of the church and our only hope for eternal life. The Gospel is not only the means by which we are saved, it is pleasing to God and to grow in progressive conformity to the image of Christ.
(Mark 1:1, Luke 4:18; 24:46-47, John 3:16-18, Romans 1:16-17, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; 2:2; 15:1-4, 2 Corinthians 4:1-6; 9:13, Galatians 1:6-9, 2 Timothy 1:8-14, Jude 3-4)
Salvation
We believe salvation is God’s gift to you, if you will accept it. We can never make up for our sin with self-improvement or good works.
It is only if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God has raised him from the dead. Eternal life begins the moment you receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior by grace alone, through faith alone.
Salvation has three parts: Justification (2 Timothy 1:9), Sanctification (1 Corinthians 1:18), Glorification (Romans 5:8-9, Romans 1:16; 5:1; 6:23; 10:9-13, 2:8-9, John 1:12, Titus 3:5, Galatians 3:26, Romans 10:9-13).
Eternal Security
We believe God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. Salvation is kept by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian.
It is the grace and eternal power of God that gives this security. (John 3:16, John 10:28-29, 2 Timothy 1:12, Hebrews 7:25; 10:10-14; 6:4-6, Philippians 2:12-13, 1 Peter 1:3-5, Philippians 1:6, Galatians 2:21, Romans 11:6, Romans 8:30; 38-39)
Identity/Marriage
We believe that from the beginning of creation God wonderfully and immutably created each person as male and female; they are equal but different. These two distinct, complementary sexes together reflect the image and nature of God.
Rejection of one’s biological sex/gender identity is a rejection of the image of God within that person. Holy Scripture makes it clear that the divine design for marriage is one man and one woman. Any sexual relationship outside of marriage (one man, one woman) is sin.
Marriage between a man and a woman is the only legitimate and accepted sexual relationship ordained by God. (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:18-25, Exodus 20:14, Matthew 19:3-12, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-20, Ephesians 5:22-33, Hebrews 13:4)
Church
We believe that the church of Jesus Christ is composed solely of those who have been redeemed and washed by His blood, regenerated and sealed by the Holy Spirit. We are saved to be loved, to love, worship, witness, and serve.
We believe the church is called to live out the Gospel and advance the kingdom of God. We also affirm the priesthood of all believers and the importance of each one being joined with and actively involved in a local community church of saints.
We believe the local church is an expression of the universal church. (Matthew 16:16-18; 28:18-20, Revelation 1:5, Titus 2:12; 3:5,7,14, Ephesians 1:13-14, Luke 4:18; 21:1-4; 24:47, Acts 2:17-18, 37-47, Galatians 2:10, Ephesians 3:14-21; 4:11-16, 1 Timothy 6:8, Hebrews 10:23-25, 1 Peter 2:4-5,9-10)
Ordinances
We believe that water baptism and the Lords Supper are the two ordinances of the church to be observed until the time of Christ’s return.
They are not a means of salvation but are sacramental channels of Gods sanctifying grace and blessing to the faithful in Christ Jesus. Only those who have personally and consciously placed their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are qualified to receive the sacraments.
(Matthew 26:26-29; 28:19, Romans 6:3-11, 1 Corinthians 11: 23-34, 1 Peter 3:21)
Things to Come
We believe that the kingdom of God came in the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, that it continues to expand by the ministry of the Holy Spirit through the church. It will be consummated in the glorious, visible, and triumphant appearing of Christ when He returns to the earth as King.
We believe that after Christ’s returns, He will bring about the ultimate defeat of Satan, the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment, and the eternal blessing of the righteous. At that time, the Kingdom of God will be completely fulfilled in the new heaven and the new earth, in which he will be worshipped forever. (1 Corinthians 15:20-28; 50-58, Philippians 3:20-21, 1 Thessalonians 4:13; 5:11, 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12, Revelation 19:1-21)
God the Holy Spirit
We believe in the person of the Holy Spirit, who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement, and to regenerate, sanctify and empower for ministry all who believe in Christ. (John 16:8-11; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:26, 15:13,16; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Hebrews 9:14).
We believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide. (John 16:13, 14:16-17, 16:8-11; Romans 8:26)
We believe in the Baptism with the Holy Spirit as a distinct and separate experience to that of regeneration, occurring either subsequent to or simultaneous with salvation, evidenced by a greater dynamic in the believers life, enabling that person to be a bold and more effective witness. The supreme evidence of the Spirit-filled life is the fruit of the Spirit, love.
We believe in the continual work of the Holy Spirit regarding all spiritual gifts, signs & wonders. (Mark 16:14-20, Acts 1:8; 2:38-39, Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 1:7,12-14)
Humanity
We believe humanity is made in the image of God. Although God designed us to have fellowship with Him, we became alienated from God through disobedience. As a result, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and choose to sin against God. We are incapable of regaining a right relationship with God through our own efforts.
(Genesis 1:27, Psalm 8:3-6, Isaiah 53:6, Romans 3:23, Colossians 1:21, Isaiah 59:1-2)