Statement of Belief
WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT...
God
We believe in one God. He has eternally existed in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal, eternal, fully God and are one God. God is the sovereign Creator and Ruler of the universe.
Genesis 1:1,26,27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; John 14:26; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14
God the Father
We believe in God the Father. He is co-equal with the Son and the Holy Spirit. He spoke the words to create heaven and earth. He is sovereign Lord over all. He sent God the Son into the world to accomplish redemption. He (and God the Son) sent God the Holy Spirit to apply redemption to God’s people.
Genesis 1:1, 26, 27, 3:22; John 3:16; Galatians 4:4; Ephesians 1:9-10
God the son
We believe in God the Son, Jesus the Christ. He is co-equal with the Father and the Spirit. He is God from God, eternally begotten but not made. Jesus in history assumed to Himself a human nature for the sake of our salvation. He is fully God and fully man. Through him, all things were created. He is before all things, and in Him, all things hold together by the word of His power. Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He rose 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 1:3; 4:14,15; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; Colossians 1:15-20; 1 Timothy 6:14, 15; Titus 2:13
God the Holy Spirit
We believe in God the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He eternally proceeds from the Father and the Son and is sent by the Father and the Son to give new life. He unites believers to Jesus Christ in faith, brings about new birth, and lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation though there may be subsequent “fillings.” 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(s) when he or she is saved. We believe that the Holy Spirit still works in the same power today as He did in Acts through signs, wonders, healings, speaking in tongues, words of knowledge, etc. We do not believe, however, that speaking in tongues is the sign of being filled with the Holy Spirit. Though it may be a sign, the evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit is a transformed life demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit. As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily.
2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; Acts 4:31; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18
Revelation
We believe God has made himself known to the world in Jesus, the Bible, and creation.
Romans 1:20; Hebrews 1:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:16
Jesus
We believe that Jesus is the perfect revelation of who God is. Jesus is the “image of the invisible God,” “the radiance of God’s glory,” and “the exact representation of his being.”
Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:1-3
The Bible
We believe the Bible, consisting of 66 books, 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 is the truth without any mixture of error in its original manuscripts.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5
Creation
We believe creation displays God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature. God’s glory is evident in all of creation. The order and intricate design of the universe points to the existence and power of our Creator. God created the world from nothing and governs all things at all times. God holds the universe together by the word of His power. God is before all things, and all things were created through Him and for Him.
Genesis 1:1-2, Romans 1:20, Colossians 1:15-17
Human Beings
We believe God made human beings – male and female – in His own image from the first two people: Adam and Eve set apart as God’s image bearers. As such, any racial discrimination is wrong as we all come from the same family. Gender is appointed by God at conception and is binary; either male or female, and is supported biblically, biologically, and historically. Men and women are absolutely equal in essence, dignity, and value but are distinct by divine design having different yet complementary roles and responsibilities in the home and church. God intended human beings to create families through His design of marriage; the union of one man and one woman for life. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred through original sin and by our attitudes and actions of disobedience toward God called “sin.” This sin separates people from God and causes many problems in life, affecting individuals, marriage, family, and society.
Gen. 1:27, 5:2, 2:24, 1 Tim. 2:13-3:13; Titus 1, Eph. 5, Mat. 19:4-6; Gal. 3:28
Salvation
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 realizing our need through repentance and trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his or her life by faith.
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8, 9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5
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. To be eternally separated from God’s love and mercy 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 Cor. 2:7-9