Our Beliefs

What we believe is central to who we are. As a church we hold the historically orthodox teachings of the Bible relative to the central truths of the Christian faith. We believe that individual followers of Christ have the freedom and capacity to read, understand and interpret the Bible under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, who inspired its writing.

• In essential beliefs... we believe there should be unity. (Ephesians 4:4-6) 
• In non-essential belief... we believe their should be liberty. (Romans 14:1, 4, 12) 
• In all beliefs... we believe that we must maintain love. (1 Corinthians 13:2) 

There is one true God who is the creator and ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities; the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. These are co-equal and are one God. He has progressively revealed Himself to humanity as such since the beginning of time.

He is the God of the Old Testament, known as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. His essential nature is love and goodness, and as His creation we are the objects of His special love.

Genesis 1:1,26, 27; Matthew 28:19; Psalms 90:2; John 1:3,4:24; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 1:20; Ephesians 4:5-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; John 3:16; I John 4:8,16

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. He was born of a virgin in fulfillment of the Old Testament's teaching, lived a sinless life and died on a cross giving Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all peoples. He rose from the dead after three days demonstrating God's power and His victory over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven, where He intercedes for those who, through personal trust, have received Him as the Savior and follow Him as Lord. He will return to earth to reign above all other earthly or spiritual powers.

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

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God, Jesus. He was sent into the world as the fulfillment of Jesus' promise to His followers that they would never be alone. 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 has given every believer one or more spiritual gifts through which we can serve God in and through the Body of Christ, the Church.

As Christians, we seek to live under His control each day.

John 14:15-18, 26; 16:7-13; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18

The Bible is God's Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is absolutely true and the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living.

2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20; 21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalms 119:105; 12:6; Proverbs 30:5

Humanity began as a creative act of God. We are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. We are the supreme object of God's creation and love. While every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin.” This attitude separates people from God, causes many problems in life, and ultimately causes a person to be finally and completely separated from God forever.

Genesis 1:26-31; Romans 3:23-25; 5:12-18; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 43:6a; Isaiah 59:1,2

People were created to last forever. They are a special creation sharing in the “image” or qualities of their creator. We will exist in eternity either separated from God by sin; or with God through the forgiveness and salvation He Himself gives us through Jesus Christ. The two destinies for our existence are called Hell and Heaven. They are real places in which human beings will live out an eternal existence.

John 3:16-21; 14:17; Romans 6:23; 8:17-18; Revelation 20:15; 1 Corinthians 2:7-9

Salvation is the experience and process through which we are brought into a right relationship with God which had been broken through our personal rebellion or sin. It is a free gift from God, given to anyone who accepts Jesus Christ, God's sacrifice for us. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ can anyone be saved from the penalty of sin. 

When we turn from our self-ruled life, believing in Jesus Christ, we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment we receive Christ into our lives. We are made right with God “justified,” the moment we receive Christ. 

Romans 6:23; 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-9, John 14:6; 1:12

Salvation begins the process through which we become like Christ. This is called “sanctification.” Through this process of growth and spiritual development we are conformed to the image of Christ. 

1 John 3:1-2; Romans 12:1-2; 8:29

Once we have received Christ, we belong to God. Because of that, we are secure in that relationship for eternity. A genuinely saved person cannot “lose” it. Our salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by our self-effort. It is the grace and power of God which protects our salvation.

John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 7:25; 10:10, 14; 1 Peter 1:3-5

(spiritual) - Every person who receives Jesus Christ is baptized (immersed) in the Holy Spirit at the moment they believe. Through this spiritual baptism we are joined with all other believers of every age, race, time, and culture to form the universal, invisible body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12)

(physical) - Every person who receives Jesus Christ is called up to be baptized (immersed) in water as a symbol of their death and burial to the old life they were living and the resurrection to the new life they would live in Christ. Through physical baptism a person publicly professes he is a believer in Christ and has been saved. Baptism does not bring salvation, but announces that a person has been saved.

Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:22-41; 8:36-40; 10:47-48; 18:8 Romans 6:3-4

The Lord's Supper is a symbolic sharing of the last meal Jesus shared with His disciples. It is a time in which we are called upon to “remember” the sacrifice Jesus gave to make it possible for us to be forgiven for our sin and become children of God forever. It is symbolic only, and neither brings nor adds to our salvation.

Matthew 26:26-28; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 1:23-32