WHAT WE BELIEVE
About God
We
believe in one God 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 co-equal and are one God.
Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2;
Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 Corinthians 13:14
About The Father
We
believe the Father is the Source of all that exists, whether of matter or
spirit. With the Son and the Holy Spirit, He made man, male and female, in His
image. By intention He relates to people as Father, thereby forever declaring
His goodwill toward them. In love, He both seeks and receives penitent sinners.
Ps. 68:5; Isa. 64:8; Matt. 7:11; John 3:17; Rom. 8:15; 1 Peter
1:17
About Jesus Christ
We
believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus
lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the
sins of all men 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 again 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 4:14, 15; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; Romans 1:3, 4; Acts 1:9-11;
1 Timothy 6:14, 15; Titus 2:13
About The Holy Spirit
We
believe in the Holy Spirit equal with the Father and the Son as God. 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. The Christian seeks to live under his control daily.
2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,
17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25
About The Bible
We
believe the Bible is God’s word to all humankind. 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.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2
Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5
About Man
We
believe that Man is created in the
spiritual image of God, to be like God in character. He is the supreme object
of God’s creation. Although man has tremendous potential for good, he is marred
by an attitude of disobedience toward God called "sin." This attitude
separates man from God.
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a;
Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1, 2
About Salvation
We
believe that Salvation is a gift from God to man. Man can never make up for his
sin by self-improvement or good works – only by trusting in Jesus Christ as
God’s offer of forgiveness can man be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal 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
About Holiness
We
believe God, who is holy, calls us to a life of holiness and righteousness.
This holiness in the life of believers is most clearly understood as
Christlikeness. Holiness should not be more complicated than Jesus.
1 Thess. 3:10, 12-13; 4:3, 7, 8; 5:23-24;
2 Thess. 2:13; Titus 2:11-14; Heb. 10:14; 12:14; 13:12; James 3:17-18; 4:8; 1
Peter 1:2; 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 1:7, 9; 3:8-9; 4:17-18; Jude 24.
About The Church
We
believe that the Christian Church is the entire body of believers in Jesus
Christ, who is the founder and only Head of the Church. The Church on earth is
to preach the pure Word of God, properly administer the sacraments according to
Christ's instructions, and live in obedience to all that Christ commands. A
local church is a body of believers formally organized on gospel principles,
meeting regularly for the purposes of evangelism, nurture, fellowship and
worship.
Matt. 16:18; 18:17; Acts 2:41-47; 9:31; 11:22; 12:5; 14:23;
15:22; 20:28; 1 Cor. 1:2; 12:28; 16:1; 2 Cor. 1:1; Gal. 1:2; Eph. 1:22-23;
2:19-22; 3:9-10, 21; 5:22-33; Col. 1:18, 24; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1; 1 Tim.
3:15; Heb. 12:23; James 5:14.
About Baptism
We
believe in water baptism by immersion symbolizes the death, burial, and
resurrection of Jesus and is your public declaration that you have accepted
Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Baptism does not save us, but shows the
world that we have already been saved. And while baptism is not required for
salvation, it is a biblical command and demonstrates our love and obedience to
Christ.
Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:41; Ephesians 2:
8-9; Matthew 28:19-20
About Communion
We
believe in Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, an ordinance given to all believers
by Jesus Christ to remember his sacrifice for us and to symbolize the new
covenant. The elements of bread and wine or juice are symbols of Christ’s
broken body and shed blood. Communion is not a means of salvation. Rather, it
is a testament of a believer’s faith in the atoning work of the cross.
Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke
22:19,20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29
About The Second Coming of Christ
We
believe that the certainty of the personal and imminent return of Christ
inspires holy living and zeal for the evangelization of the world.
Job 19:25-27; Isa. 11:1-12; Zech. 14:1-11; Matt. 24:1-51; 25;
26:64; Mark 13:1-37; Luke 17:22-37; 21:5-36; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:6-11; 1 Cor.
1:7-8; 1 Thess. 1:10; 2:19; 3:13; 4:13-18; 5:1-11, 23; 2 Thess. 1:6-10; 2:1-12;
Titus 2:11-14; Heb. 9:27, 28; James 5:7-8; 2 Peter 3:1-14; 1 John 3:2-3; Rev.
1:7; 19:11, 16; 22:6-7, 12, 20.
About Eternity
We
believe that man is created to exist forever. He will either exist 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 eternal life. Heaven and hell are places of eternal existence.
John 3:16; John 5:11-13; Romans 6:23;
Revelation 20:15; 1 John 5:11-12; Matthew 25:31-46
