Beliefs

In essentials, Unity; In non-essentials, Liberty;
In all things, Love.

What We Believe

What follows are some essential beliefs - things we need to agree or have unity on:

God

God is the eternal and true God who exists in three persons: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  He has revealed Himself as the Creator, as Righteous in all things and Perfection in all things.

(Genesis 1:1; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2)  As a loving Father, He desires all people to be reconciled to Him (2 Peter 3:9); but His righteous nature makes it impossible for Him to tolerate or overlook unrepented sin in us. (Isaiah 59:2)

Jesus

Jesus is God, the Son.  He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and was crucified as a sacrifice for our sins.  He was bodily resurrected from the dead (which was witnessed by more than 500 people) and returned (ascended) to heaven to prepare a place for those who accept Him as Savior and Lord.  He will come again to receive His Church unto Himself.

(Matthew 1:22-23; John 3:16-17; Isaiah 9:6; Hebrews 4:14,15; I Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Titus 2:13; Acts 1-9-11; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30)

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, who convicts us of sin, righteousness and judgment. After our baptism into Christ, He resides in the believer and is our teacher.  He provides the power to live the Christ-like, sinless life; and is our guarantee of our salvation.

(Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Galatians 5:22-25)

The Bible

The Bible is the inspired Word of God and the final authority for Christian faith and practice.

(2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21; Psalm 119:105)

People

Men and women were created in God’s image.  We are all sinners by choice and thus condemned by our own sin against God.  At the same time, we are the most valuable thing in all of God’s Creation.  There has never been a human being that God did not greatly love and care about.  By acceptance of Jesus as God’s Son, Savior, and Lord, we can be saved, have our sins forgiven, and become reconciled to God as His children.

(Genesis 1:27; Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9-10; Acts 2:36-39)

God's Solution

God offered a solution to man’s dilemma — the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The relationship with God is restored when man accepts that solution and puts his trust in God. Trust is demonstrated through man’s repentance, confession, and baptism (by immersion), resulting in a changed life.

(Ephesians 2:8-9; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9)

The Church

The Church is the body of Christ on earth.  Christ is the head of His Church.  The Church, as a Body, is made up of many parts (people) who have become Christians through faith, repentance, confession and baptism into Him. We not only belong to God, we belong to and have responsibility to each other

(Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4)

Eternal Life

Some day Jesus will return to take His Church (Bride) home.   He, at that time, will raise the dead and judge the world.  Every person who is a Christian (a committed, obedient believer in Jesus) will live with Him forever.

(John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 24:36-51; John 3:36)