WHAT WE BELIEVE

         “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.”

Rupertus Meldeniu 

There will always be peripheral beliefs upon which Biblically rooted and committed Christ followers disagree, and we welcome dialogue, even vigorous debate, on many issues related to Christianity.  Our convictions must also include a passion for unity as our Lord Jesus Christ prayed.

With this in mind, we recognize the importance of having a framework around which we grow in maturity and relate to one another as a community of believers, and we hold the following essentials to be at the core of who we are and what we believe:

About the Bible

The Bible is the authoritative and inspired Word of God.  It was written by men under supernatural guidance.  They were inspired by God and therefore the Bible expresses the will and intent of God.  The Bible is infallible and thus “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”                                  

– 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Psalms 119:105, Proverbs 30:5

About God

God is the creator of the universe and is Triune in His nature—meaning that He is one in essence and has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.                                                    

– Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; 1 Peter 1:2, Psalms 90:2

ABOUT THE FATHER

We believe in one God who exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is infinite, which does not always make sense to our finite understanding. He is not limited by time or space. He is creator, eternal, all-knowing, ever-present, and all-powerful. His character is multi-dimensional, but no facet of His character diminishes another. In other words, His grace and wrath, mercy and justice, love and jealousy all work together for good.                                                                                                                                     

– Psalm 103:19; 145:8-9; Romans 11:36; Ephesians 3:9

About JesuS

Jesus Christ is the one and only Son of God. He lived a perfect, sinless life on earth. He offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all mankind when He died upon the cross. He was buried in a tomb for three days, and then to demonstrate His power over sin and death, He arose from the dead, and now sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for Christians.                                                                                      

– Matthew 1:22-23, 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, John 14:6, John 3:16

About the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is given to every follower of Christ to guide, comfort, convict, and adopt us into the family of God. He helps us grow into Christ-likeness by producing the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, and He gives us spiritual gifts to empower us to meet the needs of God’s people and a hurting world.                                    

– John 14:16-17; 16:7-13; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12-14; Ephesians 5:1

About mankind

Every person has priceless value and worth as a creation of God, but all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. The great news is that the forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life are available to those who trust Christ as their personal Savior and Lord.                                                              

– Romans 3:23 & John 3:16

About Salvation

Salvation is the supernatural work of God.  We believe that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ.  God calls us to exercise our faith in Christ as Savior through repentance of sin, confession of faith, being baptized, and living our life according to His Word.                                                                                                  

– Mark 16:15-16, Matthew 28:18-20, Romans 10:9, Romans 6:23, Acts 2:38, Ephesians 2:8-9, Galatians 3:26

Baptism

Water Baptism is by immersion and an act of obedient faith. Baptism in the New Testament was carried out one way: the person being baptized was immersed under water and then brought back up again. The Greek word baptizō, translated baptism, means to immerse and it is a picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ as well as a picture of the new birth. 

1 Peter 3:21, Romans 6:1-5, Colossians 2:12 Matthew 28:19

About the church

The church is the Body of Christ and Jesus is the Head of the Body. The church is not a building or an event but the community of individuals who have put their trust in Jesus Christ. The purpose of the church is to glorify God, make disciples, make Jesus known to a lost world, and meet the needs of those in our communities and around the world.

– Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 2:38-47; Ephesians 4:1-16; 5:23-32

About unity

Unity is the prized possession of the Holy Spirit and peace is its scale of authenticity.  This is why the letter to the Ephesians calls us to be, “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”  In all of our convictions, unity must be one of our core convictions as we have no right to take from the Holy Spirit what never belonged to us.  This is why our Lord prayed that we might be one.  In that prayer, Jesus said, “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”  Unity is one of God’s primary ways of revealing Himself to the world.                      

– Ephesians 4:1-16, John 17

About the future

In the end of all things, Jesus will reign eternally. He will judge His creation according to the character that has been revealed to us through His word with justice and mercy. Those who have found salvation through Jesus Christ will enjoy His presence forever; those who have not will be separated from God for eternity.    

– John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; 4:16; Revelation 19-20