God
We believe in one God, the Creator of the heavens and the Earth. He is not distant or unknowable, but has revealed Himself through His work in the world, through Jesus Christ, and through His written word, the Bible. This revelation from God demonstrates that He is sovereign, perfect, holy, and just, knows all, is ever present, and all powerful. He is the one true God and has revealed Himself in three eternally distinct persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
__________________________________
Genesis 1:1; 26-27 / Deuteronomy 4:39; 6:4 / Job 11:7-9 / Psalms 90:2 / Psalms 104 / Romans 1:19-20 / Hebrews 1:1-2/ Psalms 139 / Matthew 28:19 / 2 Corinthians 13:14 / 1 Peter 1:15-16
God the Father is sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption. He has decreed all things that come to pass for His own glory. Because of His amazing love for us, He sent His Son to redeem those that would believe. He graciously involves Himself in the affairs of men, hears and answers prayer, and saves those who come to Him in faith, through Jesus, from sin and death.
__________________________________
Matthew 6:9 / John 3:16 / John 5:19-24 / Acts 1:7 / 1 Corinthians 8:6 / Ephesians 1:2-6
Jesus Christ is Immanuel, God with us, the only begotten Son of the Father. He has existed
eternally, but at a particular point in history, humbled himself and took on the nature of a man. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a life without sin, and was crucified by the very people he came to save, but rose again to life on the third day. Jesus ascended into heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God the Father where He acts as our intercessor and advocate.
__________________________________
Matthew 1:22-23 / John 1:1-5, 14; 3:16 / Romans 8:34 / 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 / Philippians 2:6-8 / 1 Peter 2:22 / 1 John 2:1-2; 3:5 / Hebrews 7:25; 9:24
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son. Holy Spirit inspired men to write the Bible, is the Divine Counselor, convicts mankind of sin, righteousness and judgment, and calls mankind to the Savior, Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit seals every believer as a guarantee of salvation and works within believers to illuminate Scripture, transform life, and empower them to serve and glorify God with spiritual gifts and abilities. He is our guide to truth and as believers we are to live under His control every day.
__________________________________
John 14:16-17; 16:7-13/ Acts 1:8/ Ephesians 1:13/ 1 Corinthians 2:12; 3:16 / Galatians 5:25 / 2 Peter 1:21
__________________________________
Genesis 1:1; 26-27 / Deuteronomy 4:39; 6:4 / Job 11:7-9 / Psalms 90:2 / Psalms 104 / Romans 1:19-20 / Hebrews 1:1-2/ Psalms 139 / Matthew 28:19 / 2 Corinthians 13:14 / 1 Peter 1:15-16
God the Father is sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption. He has decreed all things that come to pass for His own glory. Because of His amazing love for us, He sent His Son to redeem those that would believe. He graciously involves Himself in the affairs of men, hears and answers prayer, and saves those who come to Him in faith, through Jesus, from sin and death.
__________________________________
Matthew 6:9 / John 3:16 / John 5:19-24 / Acts 1:7 / 1 Corinthians 8:6 / Ephesians 1:2-6
Jesus Christ is Immanuel, God with us, the only begotten Son of the Father. He has existed
eternally, but at a particular point in history, humbled himself and took on the nature of a man. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a life without sin, and was crucified by the very people he came to save, but rose again to life on the third day. Jesus ascended into heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God the Father where He acts as our intercessor and advocate.
__________________________________
Matthew 1:22-23 / John 1:1-5, 14; 3:16 / Romans 8:34 / 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 / Philippians 2:6-8 / 1 Peter 2:22 / 1 John 2:1-2; 3:5 / Hebrews 7:25; 9:24
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son. Holy Spirit inspired men to write the Bible, is the Divine Counselor, convicts mankind of sin, righteousness and judgment, and calls mankind to the Savior, Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit seals every believer as a guarantee of salvation and works within believers to illuminate Scripture, transform life, and empower them to serve and glorify God with spiritual gifts and abilities. He is our guide to truth and as believers we are to live under His control every day.
__________________________________
John 14:16-17; 16:7-13/ Acts 1:8/ Ephesians 1:13/ 1 Corinthians 2:12; 3:16 / Galatians 5:25 / 2 Peter 1:21
Men and Women
Men and Women were originally created by God and for God, in His image and without flaw, but freely chose to disobey God, in effect cursing all generations that followed to be born in sin and separated from God. Though humanity holds a design to know God, the sinful nature rebels against God, does not seek God and is antagonistic toward the things of God. Without a Savior, humanity is hopeless and helpless to know God and is doomed to an eternity separated from Him.
__________________________________
Genesis 1:27; 3:1-8 / Psalms 8:3-6; 51:5/ Isaiah 59:1-2 / Romans 1:21; 3:23; 5:12
__________________________________
Genesis 1:27; 3:1-8 / Psalms 8:3-6; 51:5/ Isaiah 59:1-2 / Romans 1:21; 3:23; 5:12
The Bible
The Bible is God’s holy Word written by men under divine inspiration. It is God’s revelation to man for salvation in Jesus Christ. It is truth without error and holds authority for life, faith and practice. As God’s Word, scripture is useful for teaching truth, rebuking sin, correcting error, and training believers, so that we are made complete, and equipped for the good works that God has for us.
__________________________________
Psalms 12:6; 119:105, 160 / Proverbs 30:5 / 2 Timothy 3:16 / 2 Peter 1:20-2
__________________________________
Psalms 12:6; 119:105, 160 / Proverbs 30:5 / 2 Timothy 3:16 / 2 Peter 1:20-2
salvation
Salvation is a gift given only by God’s kindness, mercy and grace through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Mankind’s sin had doomed them to Hell. Jesus took that sin upon Himself, and died in our place on a cross. We believe that this gift is not deserved and cannot be earned, but can only be accepted by faith. We believe salvation ultimately results in eternal life in God’s presence. However, salvation also marks the beginning of a journey in which God adopts us as His children, decrees that we are free from sin, and begins a process of making us into the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ.
__________________________________
John 1:12; 5:24; 14:6; / Acts 13:38-39 / Romans 3:25; 5:1; 6:23/ Ephesians 2:8-10 / Galatians 3:26 / Titus 2:11-15; 3:5
__________________________________
John 1:12; 5:24; 14:6; / Acts 13:38-39 / Romans 3:25; 5:1; 6:23/ Ephesians 2:8-10 / Galatians 3:26 / Titus 2:11-15; 3:5
The Church
The Church is composed of all such persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the Body of Christ, of which Jesus Christ is the Head. The Church spans generations, cultural divides, denominational beliefs, genders, and all other socio- economic divisions. However, we believe that the universal church finds its greatest expression in and through a local body of believers. It is within this local body that God places and enables His people to
minister to one another with spiritual gifts and abilities, demonstrating His grace and love for each one. In addition to ministering to one another, God has called His Church to be a light in the darkness, bringing the message of salvation to the world in which we live.
__________________________________
Matthew 28:18-20 / Acts 1:8; 13:1–4; 20:28 / Romans 12:5; 16:1, 4 / 1 Corinthians 3:9, 16; 12:27 / Ephesians 1:23; 4:1-12; 5:23 / Colossians 1:18 / 1 Peter 4:10; 5:1–4
minister to one another with spiritual gifts and abilities, demonstrating His grace and love for each one. In addition to ministering to one another, God has called His Church to be a light in the darkness, bringing the message of salvation to the world in which we live.
__________________________________
Matthew 28:18-20 / Acts 1:8; 13:1–4; 20:28 / Romans 12:5; 16:1, 4 / 1 Corinthians 3:9, 16; 12:27 / Ephesians 1:23; 4:1-12; 5:23 / Colossians 1:18 / 1 Peter 4:10; 5:1–4
Ordinances
We recognize that there have been several views in regards to the sacraments or ordinances of the church as instituted by Jesus Christ. While we would not consider these teachings to be essential doctrines of salvation, for the purposes of unity within this community of believers, we feel it necessary to specify our view of these traditions.
__________________________________
Baptism by water is one of two ordinances given by Christ to His church. We believe this baptism is commanded to all believers, not as a means of salvation, but is a symbol of the internal transformation that has taken place in our hearts and a representation of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is an external symbol to demonstrate our allegiance with Christ, in His death, burial, and resurrection. Baptism is to occur upon a profession of faith, and is once for all, therefore it is not necessary that believers be baptized repeatedly.
__________________________________
Matthew 3:16; 28:19 / Mark 1:9 / Acts 8:38; 18:8 / Colossians 2:12
Communion or The Lord’s Supper is the second ordinance of the church, prescribed by Christ. We are to partake of the meal regularly, as a means of remembering the sacrifice Jesus made for our sin on the cross. The elements are symbols that represent his body, by the bread, and his blood, by the cup, yet as symbols hold no power for salvation.
__________________________________
Matthew 26:26-30 / Mark 14:22-26 / Luke 22:19-20 / 1 Corinthians 11:23-25
__________________________________
Baptism by water is one of two ordinances given by Christ to His church. We believe this baptism is commanded to all believers, not as a means of salvation, but is a symbol of the internal transformation that has taken place in our hearts and a representation of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is an external symbol to demonstrate our allegiance with Christ, in His death, burial, and resurrection. Baptism is to occur upon a profession of faith, and is once for all, therefore it is not necessary that believers be baptized repeatedly.
__________________________________
Matthew 3:16; 28:19 / Mark 1:9 / Acts 8:38; 18:8 / Colossians 2:12
Communion or The Lord’s Supper is the second ordinance of the church, prescribed by Christ. We are to partake of the meal regularly, as a means of remembering the sacrifice Jesus made for our sin on the cross. The elements are symbols that represent his body, by the bread, and his blood, by the cup, yet as symbols hold no power for salvation.
__________________________________
Matthew 26:26-30 / Mark 14:22-26 / Luke 22:19-20 / 1 Corinthians 11:23-25
Our Hope
Our Hope is in Jesus Christ. We live expectantly and confidently looking forward to His bodily return to gather His people, alive and dead, to bring them into the presence of God and life everlasting. We believe that at His return all people will be resurrected and exist eternally. Those that belong to Christ will be raised and brought into His presence and those that do not will be raised and be separated from Him forever. We do not know, nor is it our place to set times and dates, but live in such a way that we are ready today, and actively strive to leave a legacy for the generations to come.
Matthew 24-25 / Mark 13 / John 5:28-30 / Acts 1:7-11 / Philippians 3:20 / 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 / Revelation 20:11-15; 21:3-27
Matthew 24-25 / Mark 13 / John 5:28-30 / Acts 1:7-11 / Philippians 3:20 / 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 / Revelation 20:11-15; 21:3-27
The Gospel
The beauty of God’s creation has been thrown into chaos and hopelessness by mankind’s sin. This sin separates us from God and one another and condemns us to that fate forever.
The Gospel (Good News) is this; God has made a way for men and women to have a right standing before Him. We cannot attain this right standing by following the rules of religion or tradition, but only through trusting in the work of God through His son, Jesus Christ.
Jesus died on the cross in our place and for our sin. On the third day, Jesus rose from the grave providing eternal life in His presence to all who believe. Trusting in this work is the only hope we have to experience reconciliation in our relationship with our Creator.
And for those who trust in Christ’s work, we now wait with confident expectation for our Savior’s return, looking forward to when God will restore His creation and remove the effects of sin.
The Gospel (Good News) is this; God has made a way for men and women to have a right standing before Him. We cannot attain this right standing by following the rules of religion or tradition, but only through trusting in the work of God through His son, Jesus Christ.
Jesus died on the cross in our place and for our sin. On the third day, Jesus rose from the grave providing eternal life in His presence to all who believe. Trusting in this work is the only hope we have to experience reconciliation in our relationship with our Creator.
And for those who trust in Christ’s work, we now wait with confident expectation for our Savior’s return, looking forward to when God will restore His creation and remove the effects of sin.