What we Believe

The Bible is absolutely true from beginning to end. From Genesis to Revelation, every person, place, time, and meaning mentioned within the Bible is completely real and without error. The Scriptures were given to men to write down by God Himself, and therefore are as complete, unchangeable, and eternal as He is. Through the Bible, God reveals Himself and His plan for His world and His people, and in so doing gives us the foundation and source for life and faith. (II Timothy 3:16-17, II Peter 1:20-21)

God represents Himself to us in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three have different functions, but are completely unified, fully divine, and make up one God, not three. (Matthew 28:19, Luke 3:22, John 14:9,16, John 17:3)

God the Father is in complete control of everything. He created and sustains all things, and the universe exists solely to bring Him glory. By His grace, He involves Himself in our lives and in our world, and He hears and answers our prayers, which we are able to bring to Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. (Genesis 1:1, Isaiah 46:9-10, John 16:23-24, Galatians 2:4-8)

Jesus is God. Jesus has no beginning and no end. He was there when the universe was created and will be there when it ends. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. When He came into this earth He was born to a virgin named Mary and lived a sinless life, though He was tempted in all the same ways we are. As both completely God and completely man, He willingly took the sin of the entire human race on Himself and died on a cross to free us from that sin. He was raised to life on the third day, and later ascended into Heaven where He now sits at the right hand of the Father supporting us. (Psalm 90:2, Isaiah 43:10, Matthew 1:23, John 1:14, Acts 1:9-11, I Corinthians 15:3-4, Philippians 2:13, Hebrews 7:26, Hebrews 9:18)

The Holy Spirit is God as Spirit. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit spoken of throughout the New Testament, beginning in Acts chapter 2, is a gift for every Christian, and the initial evidence of receiving this baptism is speaking in tongues. In addition to this gift, the Holy Spirit works through believers in several other supernatural ways described in the Bible and called the “gifts of the Spirit.” (Joel 2:28, Matthew 28:19, Luke 24:49, John 14:16, Acts 1:4-8, Acts 2:4, Acts 13:1-2, Romans 8:14-16, 26-28, I Corinthians 12:1-11, I Corinthians 14:26-40, I Corinthians 14:2,4,5,39)

We have all sinned, and as sinners we all deserve a sentence of death and eternity separated from God in Hell. But because of His love for us, Jesus came and took our punishment upon Himself, and now offers us salvation as a free gift! There is nothing we can do to earn this gift, but anyone can be saved by confessing their sins and believing in Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross and His resurrection. (Isaiah 53:1-10, Luke 8:6, John 3:16, John 10:10, Acts 4:12, Romans 3:23, Ephesians 2:8-10, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, I John 1:9)

The church is the family of God. All Christians throughout the world are His sons and daughters, and together we serve as the body of Christ, both globally and locally. With Jesus leading His church, we will glorify Him through our love for God, one another, and the world. (Luke 6:27-28, John 1:12-13, John 13:34-35, Romans 12:4-8, I Corinthians 12:27)

Being baptized in water is a celebration of the salvation we have received from our Savior, Jesus, and a public acknowledgment of our commitment to serve Him with our lives. Baptism is practiced by being immersed in water, which symbolizes the death and burial of our selfish nature and our resurrection as a new creation in Christ. (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Romans 6:4-5, Colossians 2:12)

God’s desire is for all of us to be completely whole, in spirit, soul, and body. In Jesus death on the cross, God defeated sin and death and made healing available to all believers. (Isaiah 53:4-5, Matthew 8:17, Acts 10:38, I Peter 2:24)

In His last meal before His death, Jesus commanded us to remember His sacrifice by joining in the “Lord’s Supper.” We fulfill this command by taking the bread and the cup of communion, representing Christ’s body and His blood, which He gave up for us. All Christians should share in communion as a time of reflection on the great love of our Lord Jesus. (Luke 22:19; I Corinthians 11:17-30, II Peter 1:4)

In His faithfulness God gives each of us both finances and certain talents and abilities. In the Bible God commands us to give Him the first and best of all we have. The tithe, or first ten percent, is the Biblical way to allow the believer to give and to provide for the local church financially. In addition to giving financially, we are also called to use our strengths and our talents to support the work of God in the church. God promises that when we are faithful to give, He will always be faithful to provide for all our needs and to bless us in ways we could not even imagine. (Proverbs 3:9-10, Malachi 3:10-11, Matthew 23:23, Luke 11:42, Romans 12:4-8, Colossians 3:23-24, I Corinthians 14:12)