WHAT WE BELIEVE
THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD.
We believe the Bible was faithfully and accurately written down by the writers and prophets as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Bible is infallible in its teachings, is inerrant as recorded by the original authors, and has been supernaturally preserved in its accuracy by the Holy Spirit. It is our standard for knowing who God is and verifying what He says to us today.
(2 Timothy 3:16; John 21:24-25; Luke 1:1-4; Psalm 19:7-11)
GOD IS THE CREATOR AND RULER OF ALL THINGS.
We believe there is only one God, who is the creator and ruler of all things, and who exists in three persons (the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) who are coequal in power and nature. God the Father is generally the one referred to as Lord or God in the Old Testament. According to the scriptures, He sent Jesus to live as a man and die on the cross, and He sends the Holy Spirit to all believers.
(Genesis 1:1; Exodus 3:14-15; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:16-17)
JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD.
He is coequal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the second member of the Trinity, who was born from a virgin, fully man and fully God, lived a sinless life, and was crucified to pay for our sins. He rose from the dead after three days. He ascended to heaven where He sits on the throne and is preparing a place for those who put faith in Him for eternal life. One day, He will return and take us all to be with Him where He will rule forever as king.
(Matthew 3:17; Luke 1:35; John 1:1; John 14:3; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE SPIRIT OF GOD.
He is coequal with the Father and the Son. We believe the Holy Spirit is sent by the Father to indwell and empower those who believe in Jesus. He instructs us, leads us, guides us, and gives us gifts to serve within the church and power to spread the gospel to the world, and to live God-honoring lives.
(Genesis 1:2; John 14:16-17, 26; John 16:8-11; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Romans 8:9-11; Joel 2:28-32)
HUMANS ARE CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.
We believe God created man and woman in His image; because of this, all people inherently deserve love and respect and reflect his image. All people are created equally, having equal value regardless of gender, ethnicity, background, or any other human labels.
(Genesis 1:27; Galatians 3:28; Matthew 22:39)
HUMANITY IS SINFUL AND IN NEED OF SALVATION.
We believe all people are sinners. The eternal result of sin is death, or an eternity without God. Because of our sin, the world contains brokenness and death. There is nothing we can do for ourselves to earn salvation or to pay the penalty of our sin.
(Genesis 3; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-10)
SALVATION IS THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS AS LORD AND SAVIOR.
We believe that salvation is through faith in Christ alone. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).
(Acts 2:36; Romans 10:9; Romans 10:13; Romans 8:1; Romans 5:8; Romans 5:1; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Ephesians 2:8-9)
THE CHURCH IS THE GATHERED BODY OF BELIEVERS.
We believe “the church” is not just a building, but exists wherever there is a gathering of Christ-followers for teaching, fellowship, prayer, and worship.
(Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 12)
We believe in the priesthood of all believers. All Christians have direct access to God through Christ, the one true high priest and mediator.
(Acts 1:8; Ephesians 2:20-22; Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 Timothy 2:5)
THE SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH ARE:
BAPTISM
We believe that baptism is a public declaration of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Baptism by full immersion was modeled by Jesus, and is an expectation of those who put their faith in Jesus. Baptism in and of itself does not save a person, but is commanded by Jesus for believers. It is therefore a spiritual act of obedience to Christ identifying with His death, burial, and resurrection. And finally, it is a communal act welcoming the believer into the church.
(Matthew 3:13-16; Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38)
COMMUNION
We believe that communion is a symbolic act of remembering the atoning sacrifice of Christ. It was modeled by Christ at the Last Supper, and He commanded that His followers take communion in remembrance of Him.
(Luke 22:14-19; Acts 2:42 & 46; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)