What We Believe
What We Believe
“For Two Millennia the church has been hammering out the details of core Christian beliefs. Beginning with the apostles, and then the early church fathers, Christian thinkers have sought to articulate our understandings about God, humanity, sin, salvation, and even the church itself.” – Charles R. Swindoll –
Jesus Christ
We believe in the full deity and full humanity of Jesus Christ; His preexistence before His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit; His virgin birth; His sinless life; His substitutionary death on a cross; His bodily resurrection; His ascension to the right hand of the Father; and His personal, imminent return. (John 1:1, 18, 20:28; Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8; II Peter 1:1; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1; 20:28; Romans 9:5; 8:46; II Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 2:21-23; John 20:30, 31; Matthew 20:28; Ephesians 1:4; Acts 1:11; Romans 5:6-8; 6:9,10; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:28; I Timothy 3:16)
Holy Spirit
We believe
in the Holy Spirit who proceeded from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. He indwells all believers, baptizes and seals them at the moment of salvation. He fills them in response to confession of sin and surrender to Him. (John 14:16,17,26; 15:26,27; John 16:9-14; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; Galatians 5:22-26)
Salvation
We believe
that it is by God's grace alone that one is saved and is received through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit who calls and equips believers to good works and love for others. (John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 10:10,14; 1 Peter 1:3-5 Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1)
God & Man
We believe
that humanity was made in the image of God and was created by God to serve over all of His creation. However, humanity became rebellious and disobedient to God’s desires and fell short of His glory causing humanity to fall out of right relationship with the Creator. Yet, because of God’s love for His creation, He sent His only begotten Son into this fallen world that humanity would once again come into right relationship with the Creator and receive the gift of eternal life for all who believe. God desires a relationship with His creation, not because He is in need of such company, rather that He purposes us to be in right relationship with Him as made in His image and likeness. (Genesis 1:27-28; 3:16-19; Romans 3:23; John 3:16)
Baptism & The Lord's Supper
We believe that
the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church,
baptism and the Lord's Supper. Baptism symbolizes the death, burial and
resurrection of Jesus Christ and the new life we have in Him. The
Lord’s Supper is a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice and anticipates His
Second Coming. (Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 6:3-5; I Corinthians 11:23-26)
Marriage
We believe
in the sanctity of marriage as a lifelong monogamous relationship between a man and woman. That this marital relationship is exclusive, permanent, intimate, safe,
and holy. That marriage is a union set apart to reflect God's saving love for us in Christ and to create a stable human community for the birth and nurture of children. (Genesis 1:27; 2:22-25; Matthew 19:1-12; Mark 10:1-12; 1 Corinthians 6:16; 7:2-5; Ephesians 5:25-27 )
