WHAT WE BELIEVE

Check out our statement of faith.

The Trinity

We believe God is the one and only God, eternally existing in three equal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each completely and fully God. (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; Eph. 4:4-6)

God The Father

We believe the Father is fully God, and His fatherhood is eternal and personal. He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and of all who believe in Christ. (Gen. 1:1; Matt. 6:9; 2 Cor.1:3; Eph. 4:6)

God The Son

We believe Jesus Christ is the only Son of God, equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He is fully God and fully man, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. He lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect, complete sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He physically rose from the dead, demonstrating His victory over sin and death, and ascended to heaven where He is at the throne of the Father, interceding for us. One day, He will return to earth to reign as King of Kings. (Matt. 1:18-25; John 1:1-2, 14; 3:16-18; Acts 1:9-11; Rom. 5:8; 1 Cor. 15:20; 2 Cor. 5:21; Eph. 1:20; Phil. 2:5-11; Heb. 4:14-15; 7:25; 1 John 2:1-2)

God The Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is equal in deity and person with the Father and the Son. As the living Spirit, He moved the human authors of the Bible to write God’s Word. He makes people aware of their need for Jesus Christ, performs the miracle of new birth, and comes to live in every believer the moment they trust in Jesus Christ. He unites all believers into the one Body of Christ, providing each of them with power for service, understanding of spiritual truths, and comfort in life’s trials. (John 3:3-8; 14:16-17; 16:7-11; Acts 5:3-4; Rom. 8:9-11; 1 Cor. 2:13; 12:11-13; 2 Pet. 1:20-21)

The Bible

We believe the Bible, composed of the Old and New Testaments, is God’s revelation to us, written by human authors who were supernaturally guided by the Holy Spirit. As the very word of God, it is without error in the original manuscripts and serves as our supreme and final authority in all matters about which it speaks. (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21)

Human Beings

We believe all people are created in the image of God. However, we are all marred by sin, which alienates us from God, makes us liable for His judgment, and results in eternal death apart from God’s salvation. (Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 1:18-23; 3:23; 5:12; 6:23; Eph. 2:1-3; 4:18-19; 1 Pet. 1:15-16)

Salvation

We believe salvation is God’s gracious gift, offered to all people, which we must accept. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ alone can we be forgiven for our sin, overcome our alienation from God and be saved from God’s judgment. The moment we turn from our self-ruled lives to Jesus Christ in faith, we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one places his faith in Christ, and it can never be lost or taken away. At salvation, we are justified by God, meaning that we are declared positionally righteous before God because of our identification with Jesus Christ. (Jn. 1:12-13; 6:37-40; 10:28-29; Acts 16:31; 2 Cor. 5:18-19; Eph. 1:7, 13; 2:8-9)

The Christian Life

At salvation, the dominant power of sin in our lives is broken, and God begins to progressively work within believers to free us from sin and to become more like Christ in our lives. The Christian life is a process of cooperating with God’s sanctifying work in our lives by being obedient to Christ and deepening our relationship with Him. It is God’s will that we continually grow throughout our lives until we get to Heaven, where we will be made perfect in Christ. (1 Cor. 6:11; Rom. 6:1-8:39; 1 Thess. 5:23; Phil. 1:6, 2:13)

Eternity

We believe people were created to exist forever and in the bodily resurrection of all people. Unbelievers will be raised to exist eternally separated from God 
by sin in Hell, and believers will be raised to exist eternally with God in Heaven through forgiveness of sin and salvation. (Dan. 12:2; Matt. 25:46; John 5:28-29; 1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1 Thess. 4:13-14) 

Baptism

Since Christ modeled and commanded it in His ministry, we believe that baptism is an important part of the Christian walk and is an act of obedience to Jesus Christ. We believe baptism is a picture of salvation but is not necessary for salvation, and therefore, is merely an outward sign of an inward reality. Because of its significance, we believe that baptism is an important event for the community to witness. We practice baptism by total immersion because it clearly shows its meaning as identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. We do not practice infant baptism. Since water baptism pictures a spiritual relationship with Christ beginning at salvation and since salvation can only happen through a personal confession of faith in Jesus Christ, no person should be baptized until he/she is able to personally understand and respond to the Gospel. (Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:12; 1 John 2:6; Matt. 28:19-20a)

The Church

We believe the Church is the family of God, the Body of Christ, and the temple of the Holy Spirit. It is expressed in local churches and was created by God to display His glory on the earth by reaching out to people who do not know Him, lifting up worship to Him, loving one another as His family, growing in maturity to be like Christ, and serving others in His name. We believe the Church is God’s primary instrument to work in the world today. The Church celebrates baptism and the Lord’s Supper until Christ returns. (Matt. 26:26-29; 28:18-20; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Cor. 3:16-17; 12:27; 2 Cor. 6:18; Eph. 1:22-23; 3:10; Col. 1:18; 1 John 3:14-18)