As the family of God, we believe we are to joyfully submit to God’s leading. We find our identity in Him and He has given us His Word to lead and teach us. We, with unified hearts seeking to glorify God, affirm the following beliefs which guide our new identity as children of God, Citizens of God’s Kingdom, and the Bride of Christ. Below are some essential beliefs we hold to and scriptures to read to look further into each topic.
God- We believe in God the Father creator and ruler of heaven and earth, God the Son Jesus Christ His only begotten Son the only sinless man to walk the earth, fully God and fully man, the one whom holds the world together, the agent of our atonement for sin, justification of our lives, and salvation, and God the Holy Spirit our comforter and counselor, the one who enables us to rightly understand His truth and work in His power. The trinity exists in three persons subordinate to one another with distinct roles, but in complete unity with one another as one God harmonious in the great work of redemption. God, in His triune nature, displays the greatest form of unity which is patterned and yearned for in all life and sought in the Church. God, the subject of all Scripture, the object of our affections, the standard of Holiness and truth in our lives; is the only one deserving of complete worship in our lives. (Genesis 1:1, John 1:1-4; Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Jeremiah 10:10; Psalm 19; John 14:26; Ephesians 4:1-6)
Bible- We believe that the Bible is the inerrant, authoritative revelation of God and is the final authority for the belief and practice of the believer and the church. The Bible is the standard of truth written by men divinely inspired by God; who is the ultimate author of all truth and will judge all according to His Word. (Psalm 19:7-11; John 17:17; Acts 1:16; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
Humanity’s Purpose- Man and woman were created equally in the image of God, with complementary roles, to give God glory through a life in relationship with and devotion toward God. Man and woman were created and placed in the garden, under God’s authority, to be stewards of the world and multiply His image. Man’s goal in this life is to bring glory to God through living a life according to His word and standards through a complete dependence upon Him and His Spirit. (Genesis 1:27-28, 2:15-16, 22-23; Psalm 148; Romans 11:33-36; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 2 Corinthians 5:15; Ephesians 1:3-14)
Humanity’s Problem (The Fall)- Man chose to turn from God and toward sin, rebelling against God, and falling from the happy and holy relationship they once shared with God. The fall resulted in death and the brokenness in the world which finds at its root a broken relationship between God and man. All of humanity is now fallen in sin, all are inclined toward evil, and deserve the just punishment and wages of sin which is death and eternal ruin. (Genesis 6:5; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:23; 5:8, 12-21; 7:18; Ephesians 2:1-3; Colossians 1:21)
God’s Solution (Salvation)- Salvation is the work of God’s grace, who has sent His son to live, die, and rise again, offering the free gift of forgiveness, justification, and redemption of our souls. Salvation is made possible through God the Son, Jesus Christ, who lived a sinless life, was crucified, shedding His blood for the forgiveness of sin, bore the full wrath of God on behalf of sinners, rose again to life, and has ascended; sending the Holy Spirit to indwell the hearts of those who believe. When one repents, and believes (turning from sin and toward God) in Jesus Christ they are justified by faith through the gracious free gift of God’s love and mercy. (John 3:16-17; Romans 1:3-6, 3:26, 5:8-9, 8:28-30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Colossians 1:19-20)
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Life of Believers- Through the power of the Holy Spirit believer’s grants sinners new and eternal life in order to live lives of obedience toward Christ. God, who started this work, is faithful to complete the work which He began, and as believers we are to pursue Christ every day in their lives. The process of becoming more Christ-like is a life-long process which through prayer, study of the word, and participation in intentional community in the church is to be joyfully and persistently pursued. We glorify God by following Him and living His Gospel of reconciliation in all areas of life. (Romans 6; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21; Philippians 1:6, 27-28; 1 Peter 2:21-25)
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Church- We believe the church is what a believer is saved into, Christ’s bride for whom He died, and a source of guidance, encouragement, correction, accountability, confirmation, and support for each and every believer; where the Word of God is taught, the ordinances (below) are administered, and believers commit themselves to live in a community of grace and redemption. Believers are to use their spiritual gifts primarily for the maturity and flourishing of the local church and so be a beacon of life in the world. The local church is the visible reality of and primary way in which believers participate in the universal Church made up of all believers of all time. (John 17:20-23; Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:16, 5:18-27; Colossians 1:24-29, 3:16; Hebrews 12:1)
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Baptism and Lord’s Supper- We believe that Baptism is the first step of obedience toward Christ in the life of a believer; it displays our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its effect, in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life, and is required for membership in the local church. Those who profess Christ as Lord and Savior are baptized by full immersion baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Communion, the Lord’s Supper, is the commemoration of the body broken and blood shed for the forgiveness of our sins, symbolized by the bread and the cup. The Lord’s Supper and the waters of baptism is for born again believers who have examined their need of forgiveness and accepted Christ’s love, life, and death for them. (Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32)
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Hope of Resurrection and the life to come- We believe that Jesus will return literally, the dead will be raised from the grave, and the judgement of the living and the dead will take place. The judgement will be the final separation of those who are still in their sins who will spend eternity in a literal Hell, and those who have a relationship with Christ and declared righteous will enjoy His presence forever. All things will be remade and made right and new, satisfying the greatest longing of our hearts and all of creation. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:9-13)
