What We Believe

Our doctrinal statements are beliefs and theological positions drawn from the Bible. These beliefs are nonnegotiable.

GOD

We believe that God is the Creator and Ruler of all things. He eternally exists in three persons: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit – each with distinct attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being. God is eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing and ever-present. He is perfect in love, justice, and holiness, and worthy to receive all glory, honor, and praise.

Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:1-2

JESUS

God the Son is Jesus Christ. While eternal in nature, His incarnation was conceived of the Holy Spirit and He was born of the virgin Mary. Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, God in human form, and both fully God and fully man. Jesus perfectly revealed and lived out the will of God, taking upon Himself human nature without sin. He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin and through His death made provision for the redemption of humanity from sin. He died for our sins, was buried, was raised from the dead, and appeared to His disciples proving His power over death and His ability to raise us up from death. He ascended into Heaven to the right hand of God the Father where He mediates reconciliation between God and humanity. He will physically return in power and glory to judge the world and consummate His redemptive mission.

John 1:1, 14, 8:58, 14:9; Colossians 2:9; Philippians 2:5-7 3.

We believe in the literal, bodily resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 4.

We believe in the literal return of Jesus as promised.

John 14:1-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; 2 Peter 3:3-4, 10, 13

THE HOLY SPIRIT

God the Holy Spirit is fully divine. He inspired the writers of the Scriptures. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He enables Christians to understand truth. He dwells in the hearts of every Christian from the moment of salvation. He bestows spiritual gifts on believers through which they serve His church. He comforts and intercedes for them. He seals the believer for the day of redemption. He enlightens and empowers the believer in the church in worship, evangelism, and service.

Acts 2:38; Romans 8:26-27; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 1:13-14

THE BIBLE

We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, the written record of His supernatural revelation of Himself to man, absolute in its authority, complete in its revelation, final in its content, and without any error in its teaching.

2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21 Updated September 2018

HUMANITY

We believe that all humanity is born with a sin nature.

Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:23 8.

We believe in the substitutionary death of Jesus on the cross to atone for the sins of humanity.

Isaiah 53:3-6; Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21

SALVATION

We believe that the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life are promised to those who trust Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

John 3:16-17; Ephesians 2:8-9 10.

We believe that those putting their trust in Jesus should repent of their sins, confess their faith, and be baptized into Him.

Acts 2:38-39; Romans 6:3-4, 10:9 11.

We believe that those who receive Jesus also receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. He marks them as the possession of God, manifests the fruit of righteousness in their character, and endows them with spiritual gifts for ministry.

1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Galatians 5:22-23 12.

We believe that a spiritual gift is a special ability, given by the Holy Spirit to every believer, to be used to minister to others and thereby build up the body of Christ.

Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; 1 Peter 4:10

THE CHURCH

We believe the Church is a body of Christ-followers who should live in intentional community as modeled by the first century church.

Acts 2:42-47 14.

We believe love is to be shown to all people as the central trait of the Christian faith.

John 13:35; 1 Corinthians 13:13; 1 Peter 4:8 15.

We believe the mission of the Church is to reach the spiritually lost for Jesus, to teach with the goal of

forming Christ in them, and then to mobilize believers to accomplish God’s purposes in the world.

Matthew 28:18-20 16.

We believe that unity is necessary for the church to accomplish the mission given by Jesus.

Matthew 28:18-20; John 17:20-21; 1 Corinthians 1:10; Ephesians 4:1-5

ETERNITY

We believe that Heaven and Hell are real places and each of us will spend eternity in one place or the other.

2 Corinthians 5:6-10; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:15