BELIEFS

WHAT WE BELIEVE

Biblical truths we stand on:

God

In one God, creator of all things, perfect in love and holiness who exists as three persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14; I Peter 1:2)

Jesus

That Jesus Christ is fully God and entered human form by the miracle of the virgin birth, that he lived a sinless life, and died for our sins.  We believe that He rose again on the third day and now sits at the right hand of God as our advocate. (Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1 & 14, 3:16; I Corinthians 15:3-7; Hebrews 1:3; I John 2:1)

The Holy Spirit

That the Holy Spirit is God.  His ministry is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment.  We believe that He brings about the new birth, indwells, baptizes, seals, anoints, and endows all who are regenerated with spiritual gifts.  The Holy Spirit also leads believers who daily surrender their life to Him by guiding, teaching, sanctifying and filling them. (John 15:26, 16:8, 3:3-6, 14:16-17, 14:26)

The Bible

The Bible is God’s inspired Word and is the sole authority for all Christian faith and life.  We believe that God has preserved His Word and that by His power it has been kept from being lost, destroyed, or diluted with error. (II Timothy 3:16; Psalm 119:89; I Peter 1:23 & 25)

Man

That all people are created in the image of God.  At the same time because of Adam’s sin, all people are sinful by nature and choice.  Apart from forgiveness in Jesus Christ, all are lost and alienated from God. (Genesis 1:27, 3:1-6; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:1-3)

Salvation

That salvation is by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  His death is the only payment for our sins that God will accept.  All who truly believe in Christ are born again and become the children of God. (John 1:12; Ephesians 2:8-9)

The Church

That the Church consists of all who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior.  We believe that every local church is free to govern its own affairs under Christ and should seek to support the unity of all Christ honoring churches and ministries. (Colossians 1:28; Ephesians 4:3-6)

Priesthood

That the Church consists of all who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior.  We believe that every local church is free to govern its own affairs under Christ and should seek to support the unity of all Christ honoring churches and ministries. (Colossians 1:28; Ephesians 4:3-6)

Spiritual Gifts

The Holy Spirit gives to every true believer spiritual gift(s).  The purpose of spiritual gifts is to enable the Church to fulfill its mission of exalting Christ, empowering believers, and evangelizing the world. (I Corinthians 12:12)

Prayer

That God hears and answers prayer today, performs miracles, and does heal for His own glory.  However, we believe that the gift of healing and the gift of miracles do not reside in any one person as they did in the Age of the Apostles. (I Corinthians 13:8; Ephesians 4:11-12)

Baptism & Communion

That believers are to uniquely demonstrate their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ through baptism and communion.  Baptism is the outward demonstration of a believer’s inward faith that Christ has died for his/her sins, was buried, and that He has risen from the grave.  We practice baptism by immersion.  Communion is a physical reminder that Christ died for our sins and a memorial to Him until He comes again.  As important as these are, they are not to be regarded as essential for salvation. (Matthew 28:18-20; I Corinthians 11:23-24)

Marriage

That marriage is a sacred vow between one man and one woman and that the Bible offers guidance for married couples, husbands, wives, newlyweds and engagement. (Genesis 2:22-24, Matthew 19:4-6, Mark 10:6-9,  I Corinthians 7:1-16, Ephesians 5:22-33, Hebrews 13:4-7)

Moral Authority

That the Church of Jesus Christ is to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.  The Church is responsible for addressing the specific issues of each generation based upon the authority and conviction of God’s Word; it is a grave failure for the Church to be silent on the moral issues of the day.(Matthew 5:13-16; James 4:17)

Statement of Faith
  1. Statement of Faith 
    1. We believe in one God, creator of all things, perfect in love and holiness who exists as three persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14; I Peter 1:2)
    2. We believe that Jesus Christ is fully God and entered human form by the miracle of the virgin birth, that he lived a sinless life, and died for our sins.  We believe that He rose again on the third day and now sits at the right hand of God as our advocate. (Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1 & 14, 3:16; I Corinthians 15:3-7; Hebrews 1:3; I John 2:1)
    3. We believe that the Holy Spirit is God.  His ministry is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment.  We believe that He brings about the new birth, indwells, baptizes, seals, anoints, and endows all who are regenerated with spiritual gifts.  The Holy Spirit also leads believers who daily surrender their life to Him by guiding, teaching, sanctifying and filling them. (John 15:26, 16:8, 3:3-6, 14:16-17, 14:26)
    4. We believe the Bible is God’s inspired Word and is the sole authority for all Christian faith and life.  We believe that God has preserved His Word and that by His power it has been kept from being lost, destroyed, or diluted with error. (II Timothy 3:16; Psalm 119:89; I Peter 1:23 & 25)
    5. We believe that all people are created in the image of God.  At the same time because of Adam’s sin, all people are sinful by nature and choice.  Apart from forgiveness in Jesus Christ, all are lost and alienated from God. (Genesis 1:27, 3:1-6; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:1-3)
    6. We believe that salvation is by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  His death is the only payment for our sins that God will accept.  All who truly believe in Christ are born again and become the children of God. (John 1:12; Ephesians 2:8-9)
    7. We believe that the Church consists of all who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior.  We believe that every local church is free to govern its own affairs under Christ and should seek to support the unity of all Christ honoring churches and ministries. (Colossians 1:28; Ephesians 4:3-6)
    8. We believe in the priesthood of all believers, and that every born again person has direct access to God and has the responsibility for his growth in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. (I Timothy 2:5; I Peter 2:2, 5, and 9)
    9. We believe the Holy Spirit gives to every true believer spiritual gift(s).  The purpose of spiritual gifts is to enable the Church to fulfill its mission of exalting Christ, empowering believers, and evangelizing the world. (I Corinthians 12:12)
    10. We believe that God hears and answers prayer today, performs miracles, and does heal for His own glory.  However, we believe that the gift of healing and the gift of miracles do not reside in any one person as they did in the Age of the Apostles. (I Corinthians 13:8; Ephesians 4:11-12)
    11. We believe that believers are to uniquely demonstrate their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ through baptism and communion.  Baptism is the outward demonstration of a believer’s inward faith that Christ has died for his/her sins, was buried, and that He has risen from the grave.  We practice baptism by immersion.  Communion is a physical reminder that Christ died for our sins and a memorial to Him until He comes again.  As important as these are, they are not to be regarded as essential for salvation. (Matthew 28:18-20; I Corinthians 11:23-24)
    12. We believe that the Church of Jesus Christ is to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.  The Church is responsible for addressing the specific issues of each generation based upon the authority and conviction of God’s Word; it is a grave failure for the Church to be silent on the moral issues of the day. (Matthew 5:13-16; James 4:17)
    13. We believe in the sanctity of marriage being between one man and one woman. (Genesis 2:18-25; Ephesians 5:21-33)
    14. We believe in the sanctity of life from conception to natural death. The right to life is the belief that a being has the right to live and, in particular, should not be killed by another entity including government. The concept of a right to life arises in debates on issues of capital punishment, war, abortion, euthanasia, police brutality, justifiable homicide, and animal rights. (Genesis 2:18-25; Ephesians 5:21-33; Genesis 1:27; Job 33:4; Psalm 119:73; Psalm 139:13-16; Job 10:11-12; Psalm 100:3; Isaiah 44:24; Psalm 127:3-5; Jeremiah 1:5; Isaiah 49:1, 5; Galatians 1:15; Exodus 20:13; Exodus 23:7)

Stronger Together

Come and see what God is doing!