What We Believe
1. About God
We believe 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.
Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; 3:22; Jeremiah 10:10; 1 Timothy 1:17, John 1:1,2; 4:24; 5:18; 10:30
2. About Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is God’s only Son, who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin. Christ was both fully man and fully God. He walked our earth, suffered at the hands of men, was crucified, died, and buried as a sacrifice for the sins of all men and women everywhere. The purpose was to restore our relationship to God which is broken by sin. Christ rose from the dead and ascended into heaven in full victory over Satan and sin. He now intercedes for the body of believers to God the Father.
Luke 1:27; 31:35; John 3:16; Romans 5:10; Ephesians 5:2; Matthew 28:5-9; Luke 24:4-7
3. About the Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit as the person of the Holy Trinity who lives within us, giving us the power to live a holy life and guiding us to the truth.
Romans 8:9; Galatians 4:6
4. About the Bible
We believe that the Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it contains all truth necessary to faith and how to live the Christian life.
Psalm 19:7; 119:105, 160; John 17:17; Romans 15:4; 1 Thessalonians 2:13: 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21
5. About Human Beings
We believe that mankind was created by God in His own image, but because of Adam’s sin (disobedience) man inherits a corrupt nature that inclines him to do wrong. Man is not capable of achieving a life without sin on his own. Because man is created in God’s own image, we have a “God-likeness” which includes knowledge between right and wrong, the ability to choose which course we will take, and the responsibility of our actions, or our choices.
Genesis 1:27; 3:6; 6:5; Romans 5:12; Proverbs 20:9; Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16; Joshua 24:1, 5; 1 Kings 20:40; John 7:17
6. About Salvation
We believe salvation is God’s free gift to us, but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty – which is death. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith, we are saved from the dominion of sin. New life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1
7. About Sanctification
We believe that sanctification is the work of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, making the believer pure in heart and totally committed and dedicated to God. This work is both instantaneous and gradual (or progressive). It begins when a person is saved and continues throughout life. In this process of sanctification there is a time when the believer is convicted of a “Lukewarm” Christian life and looks to Christ with a total commitment and dedication to “Christ-life” living.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Deuteronomy 30:6; Luke 1:74-75; Acts 15:8-9; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 4:13-34; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7; James 4:8
8. About the Gifts of the Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit has given spiritual gifts to all believers for the purpose of building up the body of Christ and bringing glory to God. The gifts are to be exercised in love and emphasize the need for unity.
1 Corinthians 12:4, 11, 18, 21-25; Ephesians 4:11-16
9. About the Second Coming of Christ
We believe in the personal return of Jesus Christ to receive his believers into heaven and eternal life. The time of His return is unknown, but may be at any moment. This is the glorious hope of all God’s children.
John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; James 5:7-8; Revelation 22:12, 20
10. About Eternity
We believe that people were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.
John 3:16; John 14:17; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:17-18; Revelation 20:15; 1 Corinthians 2:7-9
We believe 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.
Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; 3:22; Jeremiah 10:10; 1 Timothy 1:17, John 1:1,2; 4:24; 5:18; 10:30
2. About Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is God’s only Son, who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin. Christ was both fully man and fully God. He walked our earth, suffered at the hands of men, was crucified, died, and buried as a sacrifice for the sins of all men and women everywhere. The purpose was to restore our relationship to God which is broken by sin. Christ rose from the dead and ascended into heaven in full victory over Satan and sin. He now intercedes for the body of believers to God the Father.
Luke 1:27; 31:35; John 3:16; Romans 5:10; Ephesians 5:2; Matthew 28:5-9; Luke 24:4-7
3. About the Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit as the person of the Holy Trinity who lives within us, giving us the power to live a holy life and guiding us to the truth.
Romans 8:9; Galatians 4:6
4. About the Bible
We believe that the Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it contains all truth necessary to faith and how to live the Christian life.
Psalm 19:7; 119:105, 160; John 17:17; Romans 15:4; 1 Thessalonians 2:13: 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21
5. About Human Beings
We believe that mankind was created by God in His own image, but because of Adam’s sin (disobedience) man inherits a corrupt nature that inclines him to do wrong. Man is not capable of achieving a life without sin on his own. Because man is created in God’s own image, we have a “God-likeness” which includes knowledge between right and wrong, the ability to choose which course we will take, and the responsibility of our actions, or our choices.
Genesis 1:27; 3:6; 6:5; Romans 5:12; Proverbs 20:9; Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16; Joshua 24:1, 5; 1 Kings 20:40; John 7:17
6. About Salvation
We believe salvation is God’s free gift to us, but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty – which is death. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith, we are saved from the dominion of sin. New life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1
7. About Sanctification
We believe that sanctification is the work of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, making the believer pure in heart and totally committed and dedicated to God. This work is both instantaneous and gradual (or progressive). It begins when a person is saved and continues throughout life. In this process of sanctification there is a time when the believer is convicted of a “Lukewarm” Christian life and looks to Christ with a total commitment and dedication to “Christ-life” living.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Deuteronomy 30:6; Luke 1:74-75; Acts 15:8-9; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 4:13-34; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7; James 4:8
8. About the Gifts of the Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit has given spiritual gifts to all believers for the purpose of building up the body of Christ and bringing glory to God. The gifts are to be exercised in love and emphasize the need for unity.
1 Corinthians 12:4, 11, 18, 21-25; Ephesians 4:11-16
9. About the Second Coming of Christ
We believe in the personal return of Jesus Christ to receive his believers into heaven and eternal life. The time of His return is unknown, but may be at any moment. This is the glorious hope of all God’s children.
John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; James 5:7-8; Revelation 22:12, 20
10. About Eternity
We believe that people were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.
John 3:16; John 14:17; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:17-18; Revelation 20:15; 1 Corinthians 2:7-9