what We Believe

OUR BELIEFS ARE ROOTED IN SCRIPTURE AND DESCRIBE HOW WE VIEW GOD, 

JESUS, HUMANITY, THE BIBLE, AND GOD’S REDEMPTIVE WORK IN THE WORLD.


About God

God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.

 

(Genesis 1:1, 26-27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

 


About Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He physically resurrected from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to the right hand of the Father and will physically and visibly return again in power and glory to establish His Kingdom on earth.

 

(Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30, 20:28; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 2:5; 3:16, 6:14-15; Titus 2:13; Philippians 2:5-6; 2 Thessalonians 4:15-17)


 

About the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make us aware of our need for Jesus Christ. He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer spiritual gifts as He wills to build and empower the Church. As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily. Baptism in the Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost. It is the promise of the Father, sent by Jesus after His Ascension, to empower the Church to preach the Gospel throughout the whole earth.

 

(Joel 2:28-29; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Matthew 3:11; Mark 16:17-18; John 14:16-17, 16:7-15; Acts 1:8, 2:1-4, 17, 38-39 8:14-17, 10:38, 44-47, 19:1-6; 1 Corinthians 2:10-13, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25)


About the Bible

The Bible is the authoritative Word of God to us. It alone is the final authority in determining all doctrinal truths. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. In its original writing, it is the truth without any mixture of error.

 

(Psalm 12:6; 119:104-05, 89, 160; Proverbs 3:5-6; Isaiah 40:8, Luke 1:37; 2 Timothy 1:13, 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Hebrews 4:12)


About Human Beings

Human beings are the supreme object of God’s creation, made in His own image. In the beginning, humanity was innocent and endowed by God with freedom of choice. Through the temptation of Satan, humanity transgressed the command of God and fell from innocence, ushering an irrevocable sin nature into the human race and all creation. This nature separates people from God and causes many problems in life, including death. Only the grace of God can restore human beings to their creative purpose and relationship with Him. All people are uniquely created, loved by God, and worthy of dignity, holy love, and respect.

 

(Genesis 1:27-30, 2:5; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6, 59:1-2; Jeremiah 17:5; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:1-3)



About Salvation

We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ:  His death, burial, and resurrection. Salvation is God’s free gift to us, but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty, which is death. When we turn to Jesus in faith, we receive forgiveness of sins and salvation.

 

(Psalms 32:1-5; Isaiah 53:6-12; John 3:16-17, 14:6; Acts 2:21; Romans 5:1-2, 6:23, 10:10-13; Ephesians 1:7-12, 2:4-10; Titus 3:4-7; Galatians 3:26-28; 1 John 1:7-9)

 

About Eternal Security

Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot “lose” it. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives us this security.


(John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25, 10:10, 14: 1 Peter 1:1-5)


About Eternity

People, as image-bearers of God, were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence. Heaven is the eternal dwelling place for all believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

(Matthew 5:12, 20, 25:34; Mark 9:43-48; John 3:16, 14:17, 17:24; Romans 6:23, 8:17-18; Revelation 20:11-15; 1 Corinthians 2:7-9;  2 Corinthians 5:1; Hebrews 9:27, 11:16; 1 Peter 1:4)