What We Believe:

 

THE BIBLE- God Wrote a Book

The Bible is God’s Word to all people. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because it was inspired by God, the Bible is truth without any mixture of error and is completely relevant to our daily lives.

(Deuteronomy 4:1-2; Psalms 119:11, 89, 105; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 22:29; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 3:16)

 

TRINITY – God in Three Persons

We believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit. These three are coequal and co-eternal.

(Genesis 1:26; Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 3:16-17; Luke 1:35; Hebrews 3:7-11; 1 John 5:7)

 

THE FATHER – God is Great, God is Good

God is great: He is all powerful, all knowing, ever present, unchanging, completely worthy of our trust, and above all, holy. It is in Him that we live, move and exist. God is good: He is our Father. He is loving, compassionate, and faithful to His people and His promises.

(Exodus 3:14; Numbers 23:19; Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; Psalm 11:4-6; Malachi 3:6 John 3:16; 4:24; 5:26; 14:1; Acts 17:28; Romans 3:3-4)

 

THE SON – God Became Man

Jesus Christ is completely human but, at the same time, completely God. He is the only plan for bringing people who are far from God back into a right relationship with God. He lived a perfect life, so that He could be a substitution for us in satisfying God’s demands for perfection. He defeated death in His resurrection so that we could have life.

(Isaiah 7:14; 53; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 14:33; 16:16; 28:5-6; Luke 22:70; 24:46-47; John 1:1, 14; 10:30; 11:25-27; 17:1-5; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 8:1-3; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Gal 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15; 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16)

 

THE HOLY SPIRIT-God is Always Present

The Holy Spirit is a divine person, sent to dwell, guide, teach, empower the believer, and convict the world of sin, of righteousness,

and of judgement.

(John 14:15-18, John 16:13; Acts 1:8, John 16:7-11)

ETERNITY – Somewhere Forever

Man was created to exist forever. He will exist either eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is Heaven. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence.

(John 3:16, 36; Romans 6:23; 1 John 2:25; 5:11-13;Revelation 20:15)

 

MAN – God’s Image Bearers

Man is made in the image of God and is the supreme object of His creation. Man was created to have fellowship with God but became separated in that relationship through sinful disobedience. As a result, man cannot attain a right relationship with God through his own effort. Every human personality is uniquely created, possesses dignity, and is worthy of respect and Christian love.

(Genesis 1:26-30; 2:7, 18-22; 3; Psalms 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18, 23; 5:6; 6:6; 7:14-25; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19, 21-22; Ephesians 2; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11)

SALVATION – God’s Way

We believe man is saved by grace alone, through personal faith in Jesus Christ.  Salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our good works or of any human effort.  Through repentance of our sins, we receive forgiveness of our sins.  Salvation occurs when people place their faith in the death and resurrection of Christ as sufficient payment for their sin. 

(Isaiah 1:18; 53:5-6; 55:7; Matthew 1:21; 27:22-28:6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:12; 3:16, 36; 5:24;Acts 2:21; 4:12; 16:30-31; Romans 1:16-18;3:23-25; 5:8-10; 6; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; Ephesians 2:8-10;Philippians 2:12-13; Hebrews 9:24-28; Revelation 3:20)

 

JESUS’ BLOOD – Atonement

The blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross of Calvary was sinless and is 100% sufficient to cleanse mankind of all sin.  Jesus allowed Himself to be punished for both our sinfulness and sins, enabling all those who believe to be free from the penalty of sin, which is death.

(1 John 1:7, Revelation 1:5, 5:9; Colossians 1:20; Romans 3:10-13, 23, 5:9; John 1:29)

INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – Power for Service

While all believers are in-dwelt by the Spirit of God, we believe the baptism in The Holy Spirit is a definite endowment of power for service.  This can occur at the point of salvation or subsequent to salvation.

(Joel 2:28-29; Matthew 3:11; Mark 16-17; Acts 1:5, 2:1-4, 17, 38-39, 8:14-17, 10:38, 44-47, 11:15-17, 19:1-6; Romans 8)

THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – Given not Earned

We believe the Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, and confirm the power of the Gospel.  The lists of these gifts are not necessarily exhaustive and may occur in various combinations. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Word of God and should never be used in violation of Biblical parameters.

(Romans 8:29, 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 3:18, 6:14-18; 1 Thessalonians 4:3. 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3; Hebrews 2:11)

SANCTIFICATION – Purification

We believe in sanctification, the on-going process of yielding to God’s word and the Holy Spirit in order to complete the development of Christ’s character in us.  It is through the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life.

(Romans 8:29, 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 3:18, 6:14-18; 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3; Hebrews 2:11)

HEALING – By His Stripes

We believe that Christ is the Healer.

(Psalm 103:2-3; Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 16:16-18; Acts 10:38; James 5:14-16 Isaiah 53:5)

 

WATER BAPTISM – Becoming New

We believe that as we enter the waters of baptism, by faith, a very real transaction takes place in the realm of the Spirit.  Baptism buries our old sinful nature, clothes us with Christ, and is the New Testament circumcision.

(Matthew 28:19; Col. 2:8-15; Col. 2:9-12; Romans 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-27)

COMMUNION – Remembering Him

A unique time of communion in the presence of God when the elements of bread and grape juice ( representing the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ) are taken in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross.

(Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-26)

SECOND COMING – He’s Coming Back

We believe Jesus Christ will physically, visibly, and gloriously return to Earth for the second time to establish His Kingdom.  This will occur at an undisclosed date that no man or woman knows.

(Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelation 1:7)