What We Believe
Because it’s often helpful to view doctrine in a topical format we’ve included a copy of our more formal statement. Below you’ll find topics and verses for beliefs that we deem essential.
The Bible – The Bible, Old and New Testament, is the inspired, perfect Word of God and our unchangeable source of truth, teaching what to believe concerning God, Salvation, and godly living. (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 119:9-11; Proverbs 30:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
God — There is one God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All three are equal in essence, power and glory and are worthy of our wor- ship and obedience. God is sovereign as creator and ruler over all creation, loving, righteous, just and perfect in all his actions. (Genesis 1:1; Exodus 20:1-7; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 90:2; Isaiah 6:1-3; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
Mankind’s Condition — Mankind was created in the image and likeness of God, however through Adam’s sin mankind inherited a sinful nature and became sepa- rated from God. Mankind is totally depraved having no power to deal with the sin- ful condition or to bridge the gap of separation and alienation between mankind and God. The punishment for sin is eternal, spiritual and physical death. (Psalm 51:5, Isaiah 53:6, 59:12; Romans 3:23, 5:12-19, 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Eph 2:1-3)
The Person and Work of Christ — The Lord Jesus Christ, while being completely God, humbled himself and became man, being conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Jesus was born without sin, lived without sin and became the perfect offering for our sin. Jesus, as our substitute, took our sin upon himself while on the cross, experienced the wrath of God in our place, and died the death we deserved, paying the penalty for sin once and for all. He was laid in a tomb but on the third day rose, showing sin and death conquered. Jesus as- cended into heaven and is now seated at the right hand of God interceding on our behalf. (Isaiah 53: Luke 1:26-35; John 1:1-5; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 8:34; 1 Cor 15:3-4; Titus 3:3-7)
The Person and Work of The Holy Spirit — The Holy Spirit, while being com- pletely equal with God, convinces people of their sin and calls them to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit lives in the Christian from the moment of salvation and gives understanding and guidance for the Christian life. (John 16:8-13; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 12:12-14, Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 1:13, 5:18)
Salvation — Salvation is a gift of God, by grace alone, for his people whom he chose before the creation of the world. Salvation can not be earned by good works but only by grace through faith. Salvation is received by all who believe and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who through his life, death and resurrection pro- vides forgiveness for our sin. (John 1:12; Romans 5:1-2, 6:23, 8:28-39; Eph 2:8-9; Gal 3:26; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 5:11-12)
Eternal Security — Salvation begins when the believer trusts in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Because salvation is a gift of God based on grace and faith, not on works, we believe that the true believer is eternally secure in their salvation. This salvation is preserved by the grace and power of God. The believer upon death will reside with God for all eternity. (John 5:24, 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Romans 8; 1 Cor 1:4-8; Gal 5:13, Heb 10:10-14; 1 Peter 1:5)
The Church Universal and Local — The church is the body and the bride of Christ made up of all Christians everywhere. On a local level Christians are joined to- gether, with the purpose of glorifying God, living in authentic, loving community and impacting their culture with the Gospel. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:42-47, 6:1-6; 1 Cor 11:23-26, 12:12-14, Eph 1:22-23; 4:11-16)
The Second Coming of Christ — We believe in the personal, imminent coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for his redeemed ones. We do not know when Jesus will re- turn, but we know he is coming again. So while we hope and long for that day, we seek to be about the Father’s business. (Zechariah 14:4-11; 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 4:13-18, 5:9, Revelation 3:10, 19:11-16, 20:1-6)
Baptism — Baptism is an act of obedience and a symbol of identification with Christ for those who evidence saving faith in Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, baptism occurred by the immersing of a person completely under water and then raising them up, showing that the believer is united with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection and that their sins have been “washed” away. While baptism is commanded, the act of baptism does not save anyone. We are justified by God’s grace and through faith alone. (Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:5-11; John 2:23; Acts 2:38-41, 16:25-34; Romans 6:1-7; Col 2:11-12)
Communion — Jesus instituted Communion at the Last Supper so that God’s people would continually remember and celebrate his body (symbolized in the bread) bro- ken and his blood (symbolized in the wine) shed for the forgiveness of sins. The church is to celebrate communion with a sober confession of sin and recognition of why Jesus died and rose. We should remember Christ’s love for his people, that our sins have been completely paid for through his life, death and resurrection, and that he alone offers us new life in him. It’s for these reasons we believe communion is intended to be observed by Christians. (Deuteronomy 14:22-26; Matthew 26:26-29; John 6:53-57; 1 Cor 10:16-17, 11:17-34; Rev 19:9)