WHAT WE BELIEVE
Statement of Faith
Simply speaking…
- God is more powerful, more loving, & much closer than we can imagine.
- The Bible is God’s perfect communication to humanity.
- Jesus is God expressing Himself to us.
- Through His Holy Spirit, God can dwell in & work through us here & now.
- Nothing in the natural world “just happened.” God made it all.
- Experiencing God’s grace by faith is the only way to have a relationship with Him.
- Evil exists because of sin. God can bring good, even out of evil events.
- God promises victory over sin & death to those who choose to trust in Jesus.
- Heaven & hell are real & eternal places.
- The Church is to serve & love people like Jesus served & loved people.
- Jesus is coming again to rule & reign.
In other words…
We believe in the eternal God, maker of heaven and earth. We believe He is expressed in the distinct personages of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We believe that God the Son lived a sinless life, willingly offered Himself as a sinless sacrifice and was supernaturally resurrected from the dead eternally. We believe in present and active work of God the Holy Spirit in both the regeneration of the soul and the operation of the gifts. We believe in accuracy and infallibility of the written Scriptures in regards to life, godliness and the knowledge of God, and we believe in the bodily resurrection from the dead as well as the eternal state of existence for all humanity (past and present), some to eternal life and others to eternal destruction.
* While there are many doctrinal issues that could be addressed in this document, we have chosen to address those issues which we believe are central to the message of the Gospel and central to the teachings of the historical Church and our local church.
DOCTRINE
Expanded Doctrinal Statement
ABOUT GOD
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe and all created things. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are distinct in personage yet co-equal in power, authority and eternal existence and yet are one God. - Gen 1:1,26, 27; 3:22; Ps 90:2; Mat 28:19; 1 Pet 1:2; II Cor 13:14
ABOUT THE FATHER
God the Father is eternal, transcendent and spirit. Many of His distinct characteristics are visible in the New Testament description of His relationship to God the Son, Jesus. While co-equal in their eternal relationship, Jesus in His earthly ministry and humanity lived in perfect submission to the will of the Father. God the Father is without fault and perfectly good. - Jn 8:28; 10:30-38; Rom 6:5; II Cor 1:3; Heb 12:9; Jas 1:17; I Jn 3:1;
ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is God the Son, co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. In His earthly ministry He is begotten of the Father, born of a virgin and lived a sinless life. He freely offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all humanity by dying on a cross. He rose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended back to the Father and will return again to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords forever.
- Mat 1:22, 23; Isa 9:6; Jn 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Heb 4:14, 15; 1 Cor 15:3, 4; Rom 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Tim 6:14, 15; Titus 2:13
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make humanity aware of their need for Jesus Christ. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we are spiritually “made alive” again. He resides in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, comfort in trials, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian is to live daily under the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit. - 2 Cor 3:17; Jn 14:16-17; 16:7-13; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor 2:12; 3:16; Eph 1:13; Gal 5:25
ABOUT THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS
The operation of all gifts of the Spirit as enumerated in 1 Corinthians 12-14 and Romans 12:6-8, and manifested in the early Church are ongoing today. They are intended to build up and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, are a sign to the unbeliever, and confirm the power of the Gospel in the world. The Scriptural lists of these gifts are not necessarily exhaustive, and the gifts may occur in various combinations. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of Biblical parameters. - Heb 2:4; Rom 1:11,12:4-8; Eph 4:16; II Tim 1:5-16; I Cor 12:1-31, 14:1-40; I Pet 4:10
ABOUT HUMANITY
Men and women were created in the “image” of God, to be like Him in character and nature. We are the supreme object of God's affection in creation. Although humanity has tremendous potential for good, we are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called sinful desire. When our desires lead us to sin, sin separates us from God. - Gen 1:27; Ps 8:3-6; Isa 53:6a; Rom 3:23; Isa 59:1, 2
ABOUT ETERNITY
Humanity was created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God through un-repentance, or in union with God through salvation. To be eternally separated from God is to be in Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life in Heaven. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence. - Jn 3:16; 2:25; I Jn 5:11-13; Rom 6:23; Rev 20:11-15
ABOUT SALVATION
Salvation is a free gift from God intended for and extended to all humanity. We could never make up for the penalty incurred by our sin through self-improvement or our good works. Only by trusting in the finished work of Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness can we be saved from sin's penalty. - Rom 5:1, 6:23; Eph 2:8, 9; Jn 1:12; 14:6; Titus 3:5; Gal 3:26
ABOUT BAPTISM
Water: Water baptism is an ordinance (commanded observance) through which the believer publicly confesses their faith in Jesus Christ by obedience to this command. The biblical illustration of this event involves full submersion, and is done in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. - Mat 3:11; Lk 3:16; Jn 1:26; Mat 28:20
Infilling Holy Spirit: Being “filled with” or “baptized in” the Holy Spirit is intended to be an ongoing experience in the life of the believer. It is necessary for the empowerment of the believer and for the work of the ministry. The primary indicators of the Spirit filled life are: a boldness to proclaim the Gospel, desire for fellowship with one another, the “fruit of the Spirit”, empowerment in the gifts of the Spirit, and the sanctification of the believer. - Acts 2:1-13; 4:8, 31; 9:17; 13:9; Eph 5:18
ABOUT COMMUNION
Communion, along with baptism, is one of two ordinances (commanded observances) given directly by Christ. (Matt 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26) When we join together for the “Lord’s Supper” we celebrate the willing sacrifice of Christ and anticipate His return. We believe that communion is a symbolic act that by faith calls to mind real events and embraces the ministry and presence of Christ in a unique way. It is intended for the believer and is to be taken in a “manner worthy” of Christ. - Mat 26:26-28; Mk 14:22-24; Lk 22:19-20; 1 Cor 11:23-25
ABOUT THE BIBLE
The Bible is God's Word to all humanity, written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of our understanding of God, truth for life, purpose and eternity. Inspired by God, the Bible is truth without any mixture of error in its intention or message. - 2 Tim 1:13; 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20, 21; Ps 12:6; 119:105,160; Prov 30:5
ABOUT THE CHURCH
The Bible tells us that the Church collectively is the physical representation of “the body of Christ” in the world today. The head of the Church is Jesus Christ. The Biblical purposes of the Church includes things such as: worship, evangelism, fellowship, discipleship, and compassionate care for others. The New Testament describes the local church as being comprised of “born again” followers of Christ, who regularly gather together for worship, encouragement and fellowship. Support for the ministry of the local church is to be accomplished through the joyful, sacrificial generosity of its people. - Mat 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41, 42, 47; 5:11-14; Rom 1:7; 1 Cor 1:2; 3:16; Eph 1:22, 23; 4:11-16; Phil 1:1; Col 1:18; 1 Tim 3:1-15; 4:14; 1 Pet 5:1-4; Mat 23:23
