WHAT WE BELIEVE
OUR STATEMENT OF FAITH
THE BIBLE
While human belief systems and teachings can have value, we believe only God's Word (The Bible) is absolute truth. That is why our faith (what we believe & trust) and practice (what we do) is based on what it teaches. We believe the Bible is divinely inspired and has preserved the critical truth God desires to reveal to humanity. In it we discover our Creator's heart and our reason for living.
1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; John17:17
GOD
Christianity alone presents God as ONE God forever in THREE persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. From all eternity God has existed in community. When we grasp this we can understand that God's entire existence is a life of LOVE. He created to share His overflowing life and love with all creation - especially humans. He relentlessly chases us to reclaim us for the life and love He intended!
Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-14, 8:58; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 4:16
JESUS
We believe Jesus Christ was God-in-the-Flesh. Jesus is fully God and can save us! Jesus is fully human and can represent us! Jesus was sinless and can cover all our sins with his righteousness! He paid the debt for our sins through His death! He was bodily raised from the grave and He is alive forevermore! He offers us eternal life and hope if we will put our trust and faith in Him.
John 1:1-14; Acts 4:12; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:1-3
THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe the Holy Spirit convicts the hearts of humankind concerning their lack of righteousness and their sin. He points us toward our need for Jesus. He is referred to as counselor in the Bible and offers wisdom, gifts, comfort, and help from God. God personally dwells in us by the Spirit so that He can transform us and show His glory through us! As the Holy Spirit lives in Christ followers He empowers them to overcome temptation, live according to God's will, and minister to others.
John 14:16- 17; 16:8-11; Romans 8:9-17; 12:6-8; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Galatians 5:22-26
HUMANITY
Every human is created in God's image and has incredible value! Sadly, though, every human has also sinned and is living with a shattered image. We are guilty of committing wrongs against an absolutely perfect God, against others and even against ourselves. And, as valuable as hard work is in many areas of life, there is no way for us or anyone to improve themselves enough to be justified or innocent before God. We cannot take care of our moral guilt or the debt we owe. Only God's grace can save us. God still loves us perfectly and sees us as worthy of the sacrifice and effort needed to reconnect us with Him. In that reconciled place we can find our glorious purpose of reflecting God's glory in the world.
Genesis 1:26-31; Acts 4:10-12; Ephesians 2:4-9; 1 Tim. 2:5; Titus 3:4-7
SALVATION
Jesus became a man without ceasing to be God. He lived without sin, suffered and died on a cross, was buried, rose from the dead three days later, and now He lives forever. He did this all on behalf of sinners in order to pay for the debt of their sins. His resurrection proves His divinity and that His sacrifice is effective to cover us. God has known from the beginning of time those who would believe in Him and has worked out their salvation. He overcame sin and death so that, if we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, we are made guiltless and His righteousness covers us before God.
Luke 1:26-35; Luke 2:1-7; John 20:24-29; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:19-20; 1 Peter 2:24
BAPTISM
Baptism comes from a Greek word that means "to be fully immersed." We believe that baptism by immersion in water is a command for all who place their faith in Jesus and seek to unite their lives with Him. We practice believers' baptism, meaning we baptize those who have come to a full understanding of the gospel. Therefore, we do not practice infant baptism, as we do not believe it aligns with biblical teaching.
Scripture leads us to understand that baptism by immersion is an important part of following Christ. Romans 6:3-5 illustrates how baptism symbolizes dying to our old selves through Christ's death, being buried with Him, and rising to new life through His resurrection. We specifically follow the example set forth in Acts, where baptism is described in passages such as Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16, Acts 10:48, and Acts 19:5.
We also recognize that various faith traditions have different views on baptism, such as trine immersion or baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. However, we hold to baptism as it is written, modeled, and found in Scripture through the Holy Apostles in the Book of Acts.
Key Scriptures: Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:35-38; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:9-15
THE 2ND COMING OF CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ will return to Earth a second and final time to resurrect both the wicked and the righteous. As the ultimate judge, He will reward those who have placed their trust in Him. Conversely, those who have not trusted in Him will face the consequences of their guilt and will be cut off from the Giver of life and all good gifts.
Christians eagerly await the return of Jesus, when we will be resurrected and our bodies transformed to be like His eternal body. We will be in the direct presence of God. This imminent return also motivates us to take seriously His command in Matthew 28:18-20 to make disciples. Our role until His return is akin to that of an ambassador, bringing hope and the message of reconciliation through Christ to all people.
Key Scriptures: Matthew 28:18-20; John 5:28-29; Acts 1:11; 17:31; 2 Corinthians 5:11-21; Philippians 3:21; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; Hebrews 9:28; Revelation 21 & 22