What We Believe
In Essential Beliefs - We have unity
We are all one body, we have the same Spirit,
and we have all been called to the same glorious future. There is only one
Lord...and there is only one God and Father, who is over us and in us all..."
Ephesians 4:4-6 NLT
In All Our Beliefs - We show love
"If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I knew
all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn't
love others, what good would I be?"
Corinthians 13:2 NLT
In Non-Essential Beliefs - We have liberty
"Accept Christians who are weak in faith, and
don't argue with them about what they think is right or wrong...Who are you to
condemn God's servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let Him tell them
whether they are right or wrong. The Lord's power will help them to do as they
should...Yes, each of us will have to give personal account to God...You may
have the faith to believe that there is nothing wrong with what you are doing,
but keep it between yourself and God. "
Romans 14,1,4,12,22 NLT
The Essentials We Believe -
Our Statement of Faith
|
ABOUT GOD - God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God and possess equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality. |
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 the cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven's glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. |
Matthew 1:22, 23 Isaiah 9:6 John 1:1-5, 14:10-30 Hebrews 4:14,15 1 Corinthians 15:3,4 Romans 1:3,4 Acts 1:9-11 1 Timothy 6:14,15 Titus 2:13 |
|
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT - The Holy Spirit is co-equal to the Father and the
Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware if their need for
Jesus Christ. He also 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 a
spiritual gift when they are saved. As Christians, we seek to live under His
control daily. |
2 Corinthians 3:17 John 16:7-13, 14:16,17 Acts 1:8 1 Corinthians 2:12,3:16 Ephesians 1:13 Galatians 5:25 Ephesuans 5:18 |
|
ABOUT THE BIBLE - The Bible is God's Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Scripture thus at one and the same time speaks with the authority of God and reflects the backgrounds, styles, and vocabularies of the human authors. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. It is the written summary of God's attempts to reach humankind. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error. And because God cannot lie, this written Word is completely reliable, so we must let it judge us instead of us judge it. |
2 Timothy 3:16 2 Peter 1:20, 21 2 Timothy 1:13 Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6 Proverbs 30:5 |
|
ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS - People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God's creation. Although every person had tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called "sin." This attitude separates people from God and causes many problems in life. |
Genesis 1:27 Psalm 8:3-6 Isaiah 53:6a Romans 3:23 Isaiah 26:1,2 |
|
The common myth that humankind is basically good is not supported by the Bible. We were originally created good, but the first man and woman rebuffed God's rightful place in their lives, so we are all now infected with disease called 'sin' and are spiritually separated from God. This condition is without remedy through any human effort. If God had left us to ourselves, all of us would continue in disobedience and rejection of Him. The good news is that He has provided a way out of our dilemma through the death of Jesus Christ, which paid the penalty for our sins. Those who personally appropriate the forgiveness that God offers will be restored to a right relationship with Him. This new life is a gift; it cannot be earned by our activities nor revoked by our failures - What God begins, He finishes. We live secure in the knowledge that the Christian life we live is in gratitude to God for the salvation He has fully and completely provided; we neither think our obedience adds to His provision for us (as if we could add something to the death of Jesus Christ) or treat His grace in a cavalier manner (as an excuse to live sinfully). |
Romans 6:23 Ephesians 2:8,9 John 14:6, 1:12 Titus 3:5 Galatians 3:26 Romans 5:1 |
|
ABOUT HUMAN DESTINY AND ETERNITY - People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. Death seals the eternal destiny of each person. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with God is eternal life. For all humankind, there will be a resurrection of the body into the spiritual world and a judgment that will determine the fate of each individual. There are no 'second chances' after we die. Our relationship to God for eternity is set by how we respond to Him in this life. |
John 3:16 John 14:17 Romans 6:23 Romans 8:17-18 Revelation 20:15 1 Corinthians 2:7-9 |
|
Wherever God's people meet regularly in obedience to this command, there is the local expression of church. Under the watch care of elders and other supportive leadership, its members are to work together in love and unity. Scripture describes some of the activities of a church, but it is Christ in our midst that makes us His church, not anything we do. |