WHAT WE BELIEVE
The Bible. We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are given by God's inspiration, and are truth
without any mixture of error. We believe the Scriptures originated with God but were written down as God used
people as His instruments; thus, they speak with the authority of God while reflecting the backgrounds, styles, and
vocabularies of the human authors. They are the unique and final authority on all matters of Christian faith and
practice.
God. We believe in one God, creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons, Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ. We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and
born of the Virgin Mary. He died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. We believe he
was raised from the dead, ascended into heaven, and now acts as the only mediator between God and people.
The Holy Spirit. We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit, as the third person of the Trinity, is to apply to people
the saving work of Christ. He does this by bringing conviction of a person's need for the forgiveness of Christ. He
creates spiritual life within their core person and then permanently indwells them when they believe. His ongoing work
is to guide, instruct, and empower the believer for godly living and service.
Humanity. We believe that people were created in the image of God for a loving relationship with God. However,
people have rebelled against God, actively or passively choosing to go their own independent way. Thus we are
alienated from God and suffer the corruption of our nature because of our sin. The effects of this fall from our
intended relationship with God can be reversed through faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins.
Salvation. We believe that Jesus Christ died as the substitution for the death penalty we owed. No amount of good
works or human effort can restore us from our state of eternal alienation from God. It is only by God's free grace that
we are saved from this state of alienation, and this grace is appropriated by a change of heart toward God's
leadership in our lives and by faith in Jesus to forgive our sins.
The Church. We believe that there is only one true Church universal composed of all people who have asked Jesus
Christ for forgiveness and made Him leader of their lives. The diversity of all believers working together using their
gifts to build up one-another, form the parts of the body of Christ, the Church. The scripture commands believers to
gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, the teaching of God's Word, using our gifts to build up one
another, outreach, communion, and baptism. Wherever God's people meet in obedience to this command, there is
the local expression of the church. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church, and that every
local church has the right under Christ to decide and govern its own affairs.
The Bible. We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are given by God's inspiration, and are truth
without any mixture of error. We believe the Scriptures originated with God but were written down as God used
people as His instruments; thus, they speak with the authority of God while reflecting the backgrounds, styles, and
vocabularies of the human authors. They are the unique and final authority on all matters of Christian faith and
practice.
God. We believe in one God, creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons, Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ. We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and
born of the Virgin Mary. He died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. We believe he
was raised from the dead, ascended into heaven, and now acts as the only mediator between God and people.
The Holy Spirit. We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit, as the third person of the Trinity, is to apply to people
the saving work of Christ. He does this by bringing conviction of a person's need for the forgiveness of Christ. He
creates spiritual life within their core person and then permanently indwells them when they believe. His ongoing work
is to guide, instruct, and empower the believer for godly living and service.
Humanity. We believe that people were created in the image of God for a loving relationship with God. However,
people have rebelled against God, actively or passively choosing to go their own independent way. Thus we are
alienated from God and suffer the corruption of our nature because of our sin. The effects of this fall from our
intended relationship with God can be reversed through faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins.
Salvation. We believe that Jesus Christ died as the substitution for the death penalty we owed. No amount of good
works or human effort can restore us from our state of eternal alienation from God. It is only by God's free grace that
we are saved from this state of alienation, and this grace is appropriated by a change of heart toward God's
leadership in our lives and by faith in Jesus to forgive our sins.
The Church. We believe that there is only one true Church universal composed of all people who have asked Jesus
Christ for forgiveness and made Him leader of their lives. The diversity of all believers working together using their
gifts to build up one-another, form the parts of the body of Christ, the Church. The scripture commands believers to
gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, the teaching of God's Word, using our gifts to build up one
another, outreach, communion, and baptism. Wherever God's people meet in obedience to this command, there is
the local expression of the church. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church, and that every
local church has the right under Christ to decide and govern its own affairs.
