WHAT WE BELIEVE
Statements of Faith
THE TRINITY
God has existed in relationship with Himself for all eternity. He exists as one substance in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Although each member of the Trinity serves different functions, they each possess equal power and authority.
Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 61:1, Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:9-11, Luke 1:35, John 5:21-23, 14:10, 16, Romans 8:9-11, 1 Corinthians 8:6, 2 Corinthians 13:14
JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is completely human but, at the same time, completely God. He is the only plan for bringing people who are far from God back into a right relationship with God. He lived a perfect life, so that He could be a substitution for us in satisfying God’s demands for perfection. He defeated death in His resurrection so that we can have life.
Isaiah 7:14; 53, Matthew 1:18-23, 3:17, 8:29, 14:33,
16:16; 28:5-6, Luke 22:70, 24:46-47, John 1:1, 14, 10:30, 11:25-27, 17:1-5, Acts 1:9; 2:22-24
THE BIBLE
The Bible is God’s Word to all people. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because it was inspired by God, the Bible is truth without any mixture of error and is completely relevant to our daily lives.
Deuteronomy 4:1-2; Psalms 119:11, 89, 105; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 22:29; John 5:39; 16:13
15; 17:17; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17
THE PURPOSE OF MAN
Man is made in the image of God and is the supreme object of His creation. Man was created to have fellowship with God but became separated in that relationship through sinful disobedience. As a result, man cannot attain a right relationship with God through his own effort. Every human personality is uniquely created, possesses dignity, and is worthy of respect and Christian love.
Genesis 1:26-30; 2:7, 18-22; 3; Psalms 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Acts 17:26-31
THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit, the "third person of the Trinity", is God with us and in us, an ever present help in all we do. It is the Holy Spirit who first speaks to our hearts and convinces us of our sinfulness and our need for salvation. It is the Holy Spirit who gives us new life when we call on God to save us. He leads us. He teaches us. He gives power to love and obey God. He opens our eyes to spiritual reality and eternal truth.
John 14:16-17, 26; John 16:7-15; Romans 5:5; 2 Timothy 1:7
WATER BAPTISM
Believers are commanded to follow Jesus our Lord by being baptized in water. Baptism by immersion is the privilege and witness of those who have turned away from their sins and have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. In baptism, we declare that we have died with Jesus, that our old life is buried, and that we have been raised with Jesus to walk in newness of life.
Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38, 8:36-38, 10:47-48, 16:14-15; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12
SALVATION
Salvation is found only in Jesus Christ. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost - and we are all lost in our sins without Him. Apart from Jesus, we are condemned to an eternity without God. It is in Christ alone that we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our sins, and adoption into the eternal family of God. Salvation was provided by the shed blood of Jesus, but it is entirely up to us to accept and receive this salvation.We do not deserve and cannot earn salvation - it is a free gift of God.
John 3:16-17, 10:9-10, 14:6; Luke 19:10; Acts 4:12; Romans 8:16, 29; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 4:5, 5:22-23; Ephesians 1:7, 2:8; Hebrews 2:11
BAPTISM OF SPIRIT
This experience is the promise of the Father, an in filling and overflowing of the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is an experience of empowerment, endowment, and impartation, in which the Spirit of God gives and releases supernatural gifts in our lives. It is sometimes accompanied by the gift of tongues or prophetic utterance. The baptism in the Holy Spirit produces boldness and releases power for life and service to the Body of Christ and to the world around us. This was a gift for all of us - both then and now.
Joel 2:28-29; Mark 16:17; Luke 24:49; John 7:37-39; Acts 1:4-8, 2:1-4, 10:44-46, 19:1-6; 1 Corinthians 12-14
LOVE
Love is the bottom line of our bottom line. Jesus said that if we love Him, we will obey His commandments. And His number one commandment is that we love one another. Love is the calling card of the Christian; our hallmark, our heritage, our badge, the proof of our sonship with God, and our strongest weapon against Satan and sin. Without love, all our words and works are worthless. But when we love, Jesus promises that the world will sit up and take notice.
Matthew 5:43-48, 19:19, 22:37-39; John 13:34-35, 14:15, 15:12-17; Romans 13:8-10; Galatians 5:22; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:10-18
GREAT COMMISSION
The last commandment that Jesus gave His followers before ascending into heaven was this: "Go everywhere in the whole world, and tell everybody the good news of salvation. Challenge people of every nation to follow me. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. And teach them everything I've taught you. Miracles will happen as you go, and I will be with you always, even to the very end."
ETERNITY
Heaven and Hell are real places that will last for eternity. Being that man was created to exist eternally, our final destination will either be united with God forever in Heaven or separated from God forever in Hell.
FALL OF HUMANITY
Adam and Eve were created good and holy, for God made them in His image and likeness. But when tempted by the devil to disobey God, they chose to believe the devil rather than their creator. Through their disobedience, sin entered the entire race and we are all born sinners and enemies of God. The only hope we now have of restored fellowship with God is in Jesus Christ.
Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-18; John 17:18; 1 Peter 3:15
Mark 16:16, John 14:2-3, John 14:6, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 2:9, 1 John 2:25, 1 John 5:11-13
Genesis 1:27, 3:1-19; Romans 5:12-21; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22; 2 Corinthians 5:17