STATEMENT OF FAITH
The following topics are short overviews of the core beliefs of our church.
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. These three are of one divine nature or being.
Genesis 1:1, 26-27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; Romans 8:9-17; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2
God, the Father, is all-powerful and all-wise. He loves all people and longs for them to become a part of his eternal family through faith in Jesus Christ. Those who have placed their faith in Christ have been born again as God’s true children.
Genesis 2:7; Matthew 6:9ff; John 1:12-13; 14:6-13; 17:1-8; Acts 17:24-31; Colossians 1:15; 1 John 3:1-2; 5:1
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a 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 someday to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:22-23; John 1:1-5, 14; 10:30; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 1:3-4; I Corinthians 15:3-4; I Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 4:14-15
The Holy Spirit is the eternal Spirit of the living God. He inspired men long ago to write the holy Scriptures. He is present in the world to make men aware of 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 at least one spiritual gift when they are saved. As Christians we seek to live daily under His control.
Genesis 1:2; John 14:16-17; 16:7-13, Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; II Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 1:13, 5:18
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 is truth without any mixture of error.
Psalm 12:6; 119:105, 160; Proverbs 30:5; II Timothy 1:13; 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21
People are made in the image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme achievement of God’s creation. Although every person has potential for good, all people are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin.” Sin separates people from God and is the source of much evil in the world.
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 3:23
Salvation is God’s free gift to us but must be received by personal response. We can never be saved from our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s provision for forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment a person invites Jesus into his life by faith. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the symbols of our salvation.
John 1:12; John 14:6; Romans 5:1; 6:23; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:8-9;
II Corinthians 5:17; Titus 3:5
Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. Someone who has genuinely been saved cannot “lose” his salvation. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian.
John 10:27-30; II Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 10:10,14; I Peter 1:3-5
God, in his own time and in his own way, will bring this world to its end. According to his promise, Jesus Christ will return in glory to the earth to judge the living and the dead in righteousness. People were created to exist forever. Each person will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Hell is a place of eternal separation from God. Heaven is a place of eternal fellowship and union with God. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.
John 3:16; John 14:17; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:17-23; I Corinthians 2:7-9;
II Thessalonians 1:6-10; 1 Peter 4:5; Revelation 20:15
Every believer has direct access to God through Jesus Christ. It is the privilege of every believer to pray and make confession of sins directly to God through Jesus Christ who Himself prays for us. Believers are directly accountable to God through Christ for the activities of their lives and mutually accountable to one another. Every believer has the freedom and responsibility to read and interpret the Bible under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
John 17:16-19; 1 Corinthians 10:23; 1 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 4:15-16; 1 John 1:9;
1 Peter 2:9; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Revelation 1:6
We believe that all persons have been created in the image of God as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. Rejection of one’s biological gender is a rejection of an essential aspect of the image of God within that person, and any attempt to change one’s biological sex or act in disagreement with one’s biological sex constitutes sinful behavior.
Marriage is a biblical institution established by God as described by Scripture. We believe that biblical marriage can only occur between one man and one woman. This church recognizes that marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment. As such, marriage is a gift of God in which the union of husband and wife reflects the union of Christ and his Church. Accordingly, this church’s pastors and staff will not officiate in same-sex unions or same-sex marriages, nor shall its property or resources be used for such purposes.
The Bible teaches that God-honoring sexual relations are exercised solely within marriage between a man and a woman as defined above. We believe that any forms of sexual immorality, including premarital sex, adultery, homosexual behavior, and pornography are sinful and offensive to God.
We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, including sexual sin, and that mercy and forgiveness is available through Jesus Christ.
We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any persons are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture or the doctrines of this church.
Genesis 1:27; 2:18-24; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Malachi 2:16; Matthew 19:1-6; Romans 1:18-32; 7:1-3; 1 Corinthians 6:9-20; 7:10-17; Ephesians 5:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; Hebrews 13:4.
God is the source of all blessings; everything we have, including life itself, comes from Him. God has entrusted mankind to rule responsibly over His creation, and God has entrusted Christians to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with all people. We are therefore under obligation to share our time, talents, and material possessions in advancing the work of God’s kingdom in the world. We have a responsibility to minister to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of people. God’s Word declares that Christians should contribute regularly, generously, and cheerfully to the work of God’s church in proportion to God’s blessings in our lives. Ten percent of one’s income is the basic biblical standard of giving.
Leviticus 27:30; Malachi 3:8-12; 2 Corinthians 8:1-24; 9:1-15; 12:15; Romans 12:1-2; James 1:17; 1 Peter 1:18-19
God loved the people of this world so much that he sent His only Son as the perfect sacrifice for sin. Jesus has commanded believers to share his message of forgiveness and salvation with all people everywhere. Being motivated therefore by the love of God and the command of Christ, Christians should make every effort to use all available means (in harmony with the teachings of Scripture) to win people to personal faith in Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 49:6; Matthew 28:19-20 John 3:16; Acts 1:8, 2:39; Hebrews 2:1-3; Revelation 22:17