What We Believe

In essential beliefs - we have unity.

"There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all…" Eph. 4:4-6

In non-essential beliefs - we have liberty.

"Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters…Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls…So then each of us will give an account of himself to God…So whatever you believe about theses things keep between yourself and God."

Romans 14:1,4,12,22

In all our beliefs - we show charity.

"If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have no love, I am nothing." 1 Cor. 13:2

STATEMENT OF FAITH

ABOUT GOD

Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14

God is the Creator and Ruler of everyone and everything. He is one God and reveals Himself many ways through out scripture: He is a loving Father, He is the submissive Son, He is Spirit, He is the Husband to the widow, He is our provider, healer, wisdom.......... God is infinite (1 Timothy 1:17), incomparable (2 Samuel 7:22), and unchanging (Malachi 3:6). God exists everywhere (Psalm 139:7-12), knows everything (Psalm 147:5; Isaiah 40:28), and has all power and authority (Ephesians 1; Revelation 19:6).

ABOUT JESUS CHRIST

Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is equal with the Father, He is God; Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to heaven's glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT

2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13; 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18

The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son of God, He is God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer spiritual gifts when they are saved to do God's work. As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily.

ABOUT THE BIBLE

2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5

The Bible, both the Old and New Testament, is God’s Word to all men. Human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit recorded the words of Scripture. The Bible is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. It is the authoritative guide for our lives, and there is no other book that is equal (Book of Mormon, Qur’an, etc).

ABOUT MANKIND

Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2

People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God's creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by a fallen nature of disobedience toward God called "sin." This fallen nature separates people from God and causes many problems in life.

ABOUT SALVATION

Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1; Matthew 13:13; John 15:4–8; John 10:29; I Corinthians 1:9; 2 Corinthians 1:21–22; 2 Thessalonians 1:4; 1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 1:12, 2:10–13; Hebrews 7:25, 10:10,14; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 1 John 4:13; 2 John 9

Salvation is God's free gift to those who accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. No one can be saved from the penalty of sin apart from trusting in the finished work of Jesus Christ as God's only acceptable sacrifice. When we turn from our self-ruled life to a Christ-centered life in Jesus by faith, we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his or her life by faith. This life is secure and eternal and is evidenced by a persistent, consistent and perseverant walk through faith in Christ by whom the believer is sealed to the day of redemption. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives us this security. However, this is not a license to sin and live in disobedience. Those who are born of God’s Spirit through Jesus Christ persevere in the faith; they will not fall away because God is faithful to His people and has promised them the necessary grace and strength to persevere in the faith.

ABOUT ETERNAL JUDGEMENT

Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 25:31-46

We believe that those who have not accepted Christ as their personal Savior and who remain unrepentant will be judged by God in His perfect justice and doomed to eternal punishment / hell (separation from God).

ABOUT CHRIST'S RETURN

John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 22:12 & 20

We believe in the personal return of Jesus Christ to receive His believers into heaven and eternal life. The time is unknown, but will happen in God's time. This is the glorious hope of all God's children.

ABOUT SPIRITUAL GIFTS

1 Corinthians 12-14; Romans 12:3-8; Ephesians 4:7-16;1 Peter 4:10-11

The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit gives gifts to the Church for the building up of the body of Christ. We believe that all of the gifts are in operation today but must be operated in accordance with scriptures and under the oversight of the leadership of the local church. We believe that all things should be done in an orderly way.

ABOUT CHURCH DISCIPLINE

Matthew 18:15-20; Galatians 6:1-2; 1 Corinthians 5:1-5

The Bible teaches that we are to follow the steps of Jesus in Matthew 18:15-20 in the case of a brother or sister who is guilty of sin. Believers are instructed in scripture to judge the behavior of other believers, but sin is to be dealt with lovingly and precisely. All church discipline should be redemptive and restorative in nature. We are also taught to be obedient and submissive to the spiritual leaders God has placed in the church (Hebrews 13:17).

ABOUT WORSHIP AND PRAISE

Psalm 22:3; Psalm 150; 1 Peter 2:9

The Bible teaches that God inhabits the praise of His people. We are even commanded to praise the Lord and to worship Him. Our worship and praise of Him may express itself in many forms: clapping and shouting (Psalm 47:1), dancing (Psalm 149:3), singing (Psalm 95:1-2), bowing and kneeling (Psalm 95:6), lifting hands (Psalm 63:4), or even by playing musical instruments (Psalm 150:3-5). There are many ways to express ourselves to God in worship, therefore we are not to judge others if they express themselves differently from us and in Biblical fashion.