What We Believe

There is only one God, creator of heaven and earth, ruler of the universe. He exists eternally as three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each fully God yet each personally distinct from the other. These three are co-equal, co-eternal, co-essential, and are one God. The words Christians use to describe this reality are “the Trinity”. God is the first Person of the Trinity. Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2, Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14

All people are created in God’s image and matter deeply to Him. Central to the message of the Bible is that God loves people, and invites them to live in communion with Himself and in community with each other. We are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although we have tremendous potential for good, we are marred by the attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin.” This attitude separates people from God. God loves us so much that he has made a way to restore our relationship to Him and to give us purpose in this life. Genesis 1:26-27; John 2:25; Romans 3:23

Jesus Christ is the Son of God the second Person of the Trinity. He was born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on the cross. He rose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father as our advocate and mediator. Someday, He will return to earth to fulfill the eternal plan of God to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4, Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13

Apart from Jesus Christ, all people are spiritually lost and, because of sin, deserve the judgment of God. However, God loves us so much that He has offered the greatest gift of all to to humanity – salvation and eternal life to anyone who trusts in Jesus Christ and in Christs sacrifice made on their behalf. Salvation can never be earned through personal goodness or human effort. It is a gift that must be received by humble repentance and faith in Christ and His finished work on the cross. Only by God’s offer of forgiveness and grace, that are received by trusting in Jesus Christ, can men and women be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life with God begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ by faith. Romans 5:1, 6:23; Ephesians 1:8-9; John 1:12; 14:6; Titus 3:5, Galatians 3:26

Human beings were created to exist forever. God’s desire is for all people to come to Him through faith in Jesus. Those who receive God’s grace through Jesus will exist eternally in union with God … this is called heaven. Those who do not receive the free gift of Jesus in this life will remain eternally separated from God because of their sin … this is called hell. Heaven and hell are places of eternal existence. Because God gives people eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in salvation for eternity. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by any Christians human efforts or works. John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 20:15; John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 10:10; 1 Peter 1:3-5

The Holy Spirit, third Person of the Trinity, is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the believer with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian person seeks to live under His control daily and to use His guidance to serve the church and reach out to a lost and needy world. 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13; 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; 5:1; Galatians 5:25

The Bible is God’s unique revelation to all people. It is the inspired, infallible Word of God written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the only supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. It is the final authority, without error, on all matters upon which it teaches. No other writings are vested with such divine authority. 2 Timothy 1:13; 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 12:6, 119:105; Proverbs 30:5

In the Old Testament we read that people came to God through a priest. People went to the temple to give their sacrifice and had access to God through a human priest. In the New Testament we are taught that Jesus Christ is our access to the Father and none of us needs to go through anyone except Jesus (not a priest, a rabbi, a pastor, or any other “religious leader”) to reach God. We come to the Father through Jesus Christ by the leading of the Holy Spirit. Because of this we are invited to come confidently to God in the name of Jesus Christ. John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5

All believers are members of the body of Christ, the one true church universal. Spiritual unity is to be expressed among Christians by acceptance and love of one another across ethnic, cultural, socioeconomic, national, generational, gender, and denominational lines. The local church is a congregation of believers who gather for worship, prayer, instruction, encouragement, mutual accountability, and community with each other. Believers invest time, energy, and resources to fulfill the Great Commission – to reach lost people and grow them into fully devoted followers of Christ.