BELIEFS

WHAT WE BELIEVE

THE BIBLE

God wrote a book – The Bible, composed of the Old and New Testaments, is the divinely inspired Word of God, the final and trustworthy authority for faith and practice. The Bible is a direct connection with God in which He reveals Who He is and what His expectations are for our lives. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because it was inspired by God, the Bible is truth without error and is found today exactly as God intended it to be. It is to be interpreted responsibly under the guidance of the Holy Spirit within the community of faith. The Bible clearly reveals the essentials necessary for Salvation and the basics of how to conduct our lives. It is the supreme standard by which human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.

(Deut. 4:1-2; II Timothy 2:15, 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21)

TRINITY

God: Three in One – God has existed in relationship with Himself for all eternity. He exists as one God in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Although each member of the Trinity serves different functions, they each possess equal power and authority.

(Gen. 1:1; Deut. 6:4; John 4:24, 14; Gal. 4:6; 2 Pet. 1:17; Psalm 2:7ff; Isaiah 7:14; John 1:1-18; Hebrews 1:8; Psalm 51:11; 1 John 4:13; Acts 5:3-4)

THE FATHER

God is great, God is good – God is great: He is all powerful, all knowing, ever present, unchanging, completely worthy of our trust, and above all, holy. Because He is righteous, we can trust Him as the ultimate judge of moral authority and He deserves our reverence. It is in Him that we live, move, and exist. God is good: He is our Father. He is loving, compassionate, and faithful to His people and His promises. He genuinely cares and is concerned with each of His creations.

(Exodus 3:14; Numbers 23:19; Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; Psalm 11:4-6; Malachi 3:6; John 3:16, 4:24, 5:26, 14:1; Acts 17:28; Romans 3:3-4)

THE SON

God became human – Jesus Christ is the Son of God, begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, fully divine and fully human, the eternal and pre-existent Word. By His death Christ made full atonement for our sins, and by His resurrection He showed Himself to be the Lord and giver of life to all who believe. He is the only plan for bringing people who are enemies of God back into a right relationship with God. He lived a perfect life, so that He could be a substitution for us in reconciling us with God, Who is perfect. He received punishment for our sins when He died on the cross to satisfy God’s wrath. He defeated death in His resurrection so that we could have life. He overcame sin, death, and evil to set the world right. He ushered in the Kingdom of God here and now and for eternity.

(Isaiah 7:14; 53; Matthew 1:18-23, 3:17, 8:29, 14:33, 16:16, 28:5-6; Luke 1:34-35; 22:70; 24:46-47; John 1:1-3, 14; 10:30; 11:25-27; 17:1-5; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 8; 10:4, 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15; 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16; Hebrews 1:1-3, Hebrews 4:14-15, 12:2, 13:8; 1 John 4:14-15)

THE HOLY SPIRIT

God is always present – His presence assures us of our relationship with Christ. He guides believers into all truth, and exalts Christ. He convicts people of their sin, God’s righteousness, and the coming judgment. He comforts us, gives us spiritual gifts, and makes us more like Christ.

(Genesis 1:2; Psalms 51:11, 139:7 ff.; Isaiah 6:1:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Mark 1:10; Luke 1:35, 4:1, 11:13, 12:12; John 15:26, 16:7-14; Acts 1:8, 2:1-4, 13:2; Romans 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Peter 1:21; Revelation 22:17)

ETERNITY

Somewhere forever – Humans were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God and given over to Satan for eternity is Hell. To be eternally in union with God is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence. Jesus Christ will return visibly, at which time He will raise the dead and judge all people. Believers will enjoy eternal fellowship with God as they participate in the fullness of His eternal reign, while unbelievers will suffer eternal separation from God in Hell.

(Matthew 24:29-31; Matthew 25:31-46; John 3:16, 36; Romans 6:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1 John 2:25, 5:11-13; Rev. 20:4-6, 11-15)

HUMANITY

God’s image bearers – Humans are made in the image of God and are the supreme object of God’s creation. Humanity was created to have fellowship with God, but became separated in that relationship through sinful disobedience. As a result, human beings cannot attain a right relationship with God through our own effort. Every human personality is uniquely created, possesses dignity, and is worthy of respect and Godly love.

(Genesis 1:26-30; 2:7, 18-19; 3; Psalms 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18, 23; 5:6, 12-21; 6:6; 7:14-25; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19, 21-22; Ephesians 2; Colossians 1:21; 3:9-11)

SALVATION

God’s only way – The blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, provides the only way of salvation through the forgiveness of sin. Salvation occurs when people place their faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus as sufficient payment for their sin and as a redeeming of the created order of God. Salvation is a gift from God and it cannot be earned through our own efforts. Through Christ the believer becomes a new creation whose mind and will are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit from loving sin, to loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind, and loving all people as we love ourselves.

(Isaiah 1:18; 53:5-6; 55:7; Matthew 1:21; 22:37-38; 27:22-28:6; 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 2:21; 4:12; 16:30-31; 17:30-31; Romans 1:16-18; 3:23-25; 5:8-10; 6; 8; 10:9-10; 13; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; Ephesians 2:8-22; Philippians 2:12-13; Hebrews 9:24-28; 1 John 1:6-2:11; Revelation 3:20)

THE CHURCH

God’s design for community – The church is a local community of regenerated believers unified through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. It is committed to the teachings of Christ, to obeying all of His commands, and it seeks to bring the gospel to the world. The Church works together in love and unity, intent on the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ. Such believers claim a personal relationship to God through Jesus Christ, are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, follow the Lord in believer’s baptism by immersion, share in the Lord’s Supper, gather regularly for worship, and covenant for mutual edification and care-giving. That the Church is called to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ and God’s reconciling grace in the power of the Holy Spirit, inviting persons to receive salvation and follow Christ as His disciples. As disciples, we seek justice for all persons and the reform of society.

(Matthew 16:15-19; 28:18-20 Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 1:8; 16:30-33; I Corinthians 6:19; 11:23-26; Galatians 3:26-28; Eph. 1:22-23; Hebrews 10:23-25; James 1:27; 2:8)