What We Believe

Bible

WE BELIEVE THE ENTIRE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD WRITTEN DOWN BY MEN UNDER THE DIVINE GUIDANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. BECAUSE ITS GOD’S WORD, THE BIBLE IS TRUE AND WITHOUT ERROR. THE BIBLE POINTS TO JESUS CHRIST ALONE FOR SALVATION AND PROVIDES EVERYTHING WE NEED TO KNOW FOR LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. OUR RESPONSE IS TO HUMBLY SUBMIT TO GOD BY USING HIS WORD AS THE STANDARD FOR MAKING ALL OF LIFE’S DECISIONS. 

God

WE BELIEVE THERE IS ONE GOD, ETERNALLY EXISTING IN THREE PERSONS: FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT. ALL THREE PERSONS ARE EQUAL IN DIVINITY AND AUTHORITY, BUT HAVE DISTINCT ROLES IN THE WAY THEY RELATE TO ONE ANOTHER AND TO CREATION. OUR RESPONSE ISN’T TO TRY TO COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND GOD, BUT TO WORSHIP HIM AS HE IS REVEALED TO US IN THE BIBLE AND TO ALLOW THE MYSTERY OF GOD TO INCREASE OUR HUMILITY AND RESPECT FOR HIM. 

Humanity

WE BELIEVE GOD CREATED MAN AND WOMAN IN HIS IMAGE TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM AND TO LIVE A LIFE OF WORSHIP FOR HIM. BECAUSE OF ONE MAN’S SIN ALL PEOPLE ARE BORN WITH A SINFUL NATURE. AS A RESULT, PEOPLE ARE SEPARATED FROM GOD, UNABLE TO PLEASE HIM AND CONDEMNED TO DEATH. OUR RESPONSE IS TO LIVE WITH A DEEP AWARENESS THAT ABOVE ALL ELSE, HUMANITY NEEDS A SAVIOR. 

Jesus Christ

WE BELIEVE JESUS CHRIST IS FULLY GOD AND FULLY MAN. HE WAS SUPERNATURALLY CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT AND BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY. HE LIVED A PERFECT LIFE, DIED AS A SACRIFICE FOR SIN AND WAS RAISED TO LIFE. HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN AND WILL RETURN AGAIN. OUR RESPONSE IS TO POINT EVERYONE TO JESUS CHRIST ALONE AS GOD AND SAVIOR. 

Salvation

WE BELIEVE SALVATION IS A GIFT FROM GOD, AND CANNOT BE EARNED BY ANYONE. PEOPLE ARE SAVED WHEN THEY PLACE THEIR FAITH IN THE LIFE, DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST ALONE.AT THE MOMENT OF SALVATION PEOPLE ARE FORGIVEN OF SIN, BROUGHT BACK INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. OUR RESPONSE IS TO WORSHIP JESUS WITH GRATITUDE AND TO PROCLAIM HIS GOSPEL TO ALL PEOPLE. 

Christian Life

WE BELIEVE THAT TO BE A CHRISTIAN IS TO FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST WITH OUR WHOLE LIVES BY SEEKING HIM DAILY THROUGH SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES AND WALKING IN RESPONSIVE OBEDIENCE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVES INSIDE, TRANSFORMS, TEACHES, GUIDES, EQUIPS AND EMPOWERS ALL BELIEVERS FOR LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. AS PEOPLE FOLLOW JESUS THEY GROW IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, BECOME MORE LIKE HIM AND LEARN TO REPRESENT HIM IN THEIR DAILY LIVES. OUR RESPONSE IS TO FOLLOW JESUS BY DEPENDING ON THE HOLY SPIRIT’S WORK IN US EACH DAY. 

Church

WE BELIEVE THE CHURCH IS THE FAMILY OF GOD, MADE UP OF ALL CHRISTIANS FROM EVERY GENERATION.WHEN PEOPLE BECOME CHRISTIANS THEY BECOME MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH. THE CHURCH ALSO EXISTS AS LOCAL COMMUNITIES FOR SPECIFIC PLACES AND TIMES. THE PURPOSE OF THE LOCAL CHURCH IS TO GLORIFY GOD BY OBEYING THE GREAT COMMAND TO LOVE GOD AND PEOPLE AND THE GREAT COMMISSION TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST. OUR RESPONSE IS TO COMMIT OURSELVES TO ONE ANOTHER TO FORM A LOCAL CHURCH COMMUNITY AND TO WORK TOGETHER IN LOVE AND UNITY, WITH EACH OF OUR GIFTS TO GLORIFY JESUS CHRIST. 

Eternity

WE BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE WILL SPEND ETERNITY SOMEWHERE. THOSE WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE GIFT OF SALVATION THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST WILL SPEND ETERNITY SEPARATED FROM GOD IN HELL. THOSE WHO HAVE PLACED THEIR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST ALONE ARE SAVED FROM HELL AND WILL SPEND ETERNITY WITH GOD IN HEAVEN. HELL IS A PLACE OF ETERNAL PUNISHMENT AND SUFFERING. HEAVEN IS A PLACE OF ETERNAL JOY AND PEACE. OUR RESPONSE IS TO ALLOW THE SOBERING REALITY OF HELL TO MOTIVATE US TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL FREQUENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY.