Our Essential Beliefs
THE BIBLE
We believe The Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, is the authoritative Word of God. It alone is the final authority for determining all doctrinal truths. In its original writing, the Bible is inspired, infallible and inerrant.
(Proverbs 30:5; Romans 16:25-26; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
GOD
We believe there is one God, eternally existent in three distinct persons: Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit. These three are coequal and coeternal.
(Genesis 1:26; Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; Luke 1:35; Hebrews 3:7-11; I John 5:7)
JESUS CHRIST
We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. On earth, Jesus was 100% divine and 100% man. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, died on the cross for humanity and thus, atoned for our sins through the shedding of His blood. He rose from the dead on the third day according to scriptures, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return again in power and glory.
(Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1,14, 20:28; Philippians 2:5-6; 1 Timothy 2:5, 3:16)
VIRGIN BIRTH
We believe Jesus Christ was conceived by God the Father, through the Holy Spirit, in the virgin Mary’s womb; therefore, He is the Son of God.
(Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18, 23-25; Luke 1:27-35)
RESURRECTION
We believe Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after His death on the cross and ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father.
(Luke 24:16, 36, 39; John 2:19-21, 20:26-28, 21:4; Romans 8:34, Colossians 3:1)
REDEMPTION
We believe man was created in the image of God but through voluntary disobedience sinned and fell. Consequently, all of humanity shares in man’s lost and sinful nature, and humanity’s only hope for redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
(Genesis 1:26-31, 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21)
REGENERATION
For anyone to know God, regeneration (experiencing new spiritual birth) by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
(John 6:44, 65)
SALVATION
We believe man is saved by grace alone, through personal faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our good works or of any human effort. Through repentance of our sins, we receive forgiveness of our sins. Repentance is the commitment to turn away from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Jesus Christ, thus allowing us to be redeemed.
(Romans 10:9-10; Acts 3:19, 16:31; Galatians 2:16, 3:8; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 9:22)
SANCTIFICATION
We believe in sanctification, the on-going process of yielding to God’s Word and the Holy Spirit in order to complete the development of Christ’s character in us. It is through the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
(Romans 8:29, 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 3:18, 6:14-18; 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3; Hebrews 2:11)
JESUS’ BLOOD
The Blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross of Calvary was sinless and is 100% sufficient to cleanse mankind of all sin. Jesus allowed Himself to be punished for both our sinfulness and sins, enabling all those who believe to be free from the penalty of sin, which is death.
(1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5, 5:9; Colossians 1:20; Romans 3:10-12, 23, 5:9; John 1:29)
JESUS CHRIST DWELLS IN ALL BELIEVERS
Christians are people who have invited the Lord Jesus Christ to come and live inside of them by His Holy Spirit. They relinquish the authority of their lives over to Him thus making Jesus the Lord of their lives accomplished for them when He died, was buried, and rose again from the dead.
(John 1:12, 14:17, 15:4; Romans 8:11; Revelation 3:20)
BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit, given at Pentecost, is the promise of the Father for all believers as a definite endowment of power for service and can occur at the point of salvation or subsequent to salvation.
(Joel 2:28-29; Matthew 3:11; Mark 16:17; Acts 1:5, 2:1-4, 17, 38-39, 8:14-17, 10:38, 44-47, 11:15-17, 19:1-6)
GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for today and are displayed through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the Church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection and confirm the power of the Gospel. The lists of these gifts in the Bible are not necessarily exhaustive and may occur in various combinations. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Word of God and should never be used in violation of Biblical parameters.
(Romans 1-11, 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31, 14:1-40; Ephesians 4:16; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:5-16; Hebrews 2:4; 1 Peter 4:10)
THE CHURCH
Every person who is born of the Spirit is part of the universal church as a member of the body of believers and is encouraged by scripture to be planted in the local church. The Church is the representative of Jesus on earth and is to carry out the Great Commission.
(Psalm 92:12-15; Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23; John 17:11, 20-23)
TWO SACRAMENTS
We believe that Jesus gave the church two sacraments as outward signs of an inward and spiritual grace. These means of grace are baptism and Holy Communion. Our belief is that baptism should be administered in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as following after the command of our Lord Jesus. Our practice of Holy Communion is an open table to all who are repentant of their sins and profess their need of Jesus Christ as Lord and savior.
(Matthew 26:26-29, 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38, 8:12, 36-38, 10:47-48; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-26)
MARRIAGE AND SEXUALITY
The testimony of the God-breathed Holy Scriptures is that the marriage covenant shall be reserved only for one man with one woman.
(Matthew 19:4-6, 1 Corinthians 6:18, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, Romans 1:26-27, Deuteronomy 23:1
HEAVEN AND HELL
Heaven is the eternal dwelling place for all believers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After living on earth, the unbelievers will be judged by God and sent to Hell where they will be eternally with the Devil and the Fallen Angels. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence.
(Matthew 5:3,12,20, 6:20, 19:21, 25:34, 25:41; Mark 9:43-48; John 5:11-13, 17:24; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Hebrews 9:27, 11:16; 1 Peter 1:4; Revelation 14:9-11, 20:12-15, 21:8)
SECOND COMING
We believe Jesus Christ will physically, visibly, and gloriously return to earth for the second time to establish His kingdom. This will occur at an undisclosed date.
(Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelation 1:7)
GOD'S WILL FOR THE BELIEVER
It is the Father's will for believers to become whole, healthy and successful in all areas of life. God wants to bless us to bless others, but because of the fall, many may not receive the full benefits of God’s will while on Earth. That fact, though, should never prevent all believers from seeking the full benefits of Christ’s provision in order to better serve others.
We believe The Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, is the authoritative Word of God. It alone is the final authority for determining all doctrinal truths. In its original writing, the Bible is inspired, infallible and inerrant.
(Proverbs 30:5; Romans 16:25-26; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
GOD
We believe there is one God, eternally existent in three distinct persons: Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit. These three are coequal and coeternal.
(Genesis 1:26; Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; Luke 1:35; Hebrews 3:7-11; I John 5:7)
JESUS CHRIST
We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. On earth, Jesus was 100% divine and 100% man. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, died on the cross for humanity and thus, atoned for our sins through the shedding of His blood. He rose from the dead on the third day according to scriptures, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return again in power and glory.
(Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1,14, 20:28; Philippians 2:5-6; 1 Timothy 2:5, 3:16)
VIRGIN BIRTH
We believe Jesus Christ was conceived by God the Father, through the Holy Spirit, in the virgin Mary’s womb; therefore, He is the Son of God.
(Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18, 23-25; Luke 1:27-35)
RESURRECTION
We believe Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after His death on the cross and ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father.
(Luke 24:16, 36, 39; John 2:19-21, 20:26-28, 21:4; Romans 8:34, Colossians 3:1)
REDEMPTION
We believe man was created in the image of God but through voluntary disobedience sinned and fell. Consequently, all of humanity shares in man’s lost and sinful nature, and humanity’s only hope for redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
(Genesis 1:26-31, 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21)
REGENERATION
For anyone to know God, regeneration (experiencing new spiritual birth) by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
(John 6:44, 65)
SALVATION
We believe man is saved by grace alone, through personal faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our good works or of any human effort. Through repentance of our sins, we receive forgiveness of our sins. Repentance is the commitment to turn away from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Jesus Christ, thus allowing us to be redeemed.
(Romans 10:9-10; Acts 3:19, 16:31; Galatians 2:16, 3:8; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 9:22)
SANCTIFICATION
We believe in sanctification, the on-going process of yielding to God’s Word and the Holy Spirit in order to complete the development of Christ’s character in us. It is through the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
(Romans 8:29, 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 3:18, 6:14-18; 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3; Hebrews 2:11)
JESUS’ BLOOD
The Blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross of Calvary was sinless and is 100% sufficient to cleanse mankind of all sin. Jesus allowed Himself to be punished for both our sinfulness and sins, enabling all those who believe to be free from the penalty of sin, which is death.
(1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5, 5:9; Colossians 1:20; Romans 3:10-12, 23, 5:9; John 1:29)
JESUS CHRIST DWELLS IN ALL BELIEVERS
Christians are people who have invited the Lord Jesus Christ to come and live inside of them by His Holy Spirit. They relinquish the authority of their lives over to Him thus making Jesus the Lord of their lives accomplished for them when He died, was buried, and rose again from the dead.
(John 1:12, 14:17, 15:4; Romans 8:11; Revelation 3:20)
BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit, given at Pentecost, is the promise of the Father for all believers as a definite endowment of power for service and can occur at the point of salvation or subsequent to salvation.
(Joel 2:28-29; Matthew 3:11; Mark 16:17; Acts 1:5, 2:1-4, 17, 38-39, 8:14-17, 10:38, 44-47, 11:15-17, 19:1-6)
GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for today and are displayed through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the Church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection and confirm the power of the Gospel. The lists of these gifts in the Bible are not necessarily exhaustive and may occur in various combinations. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Word of God and should never be used in violation of Biblical parameters.
(Romans 1-11, 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31, 14:1-40; Ephesians 4:16; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:5-16; Hebrews 2:4; 1 Peter 4:10)
THE CHURCH
Every person who is born of the Spirit is part of the universal church as a member of the body of believers and is encouraged by scripture to be planted in the local church. The Church is the representative of Jesus on earth and is to carry out the Great Commission.
(Psalm 92:12-15; Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23; John 17:11, 20-23)
TWO SACRAMENTS
We believe that Jesus gave the church two sacraments as outward signs of an inward and spiritual grace. These means of grace are baptism and Holy Communion. Our belief is that baptism should be administered in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as following after the command of our Lord Jesus. Our practice of Holy Communion is an open table to all who are repentant of their sins and profess their need of Jesus Christ as Lord and savior.
(Matthew 26:26-29, 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38, 8:12, 36-38, 10:47-48; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-26)
MARRIAGE AND SEXUALITY
The testimony of the God-breathed Holy Scriptures is that the marriage covenant shall be reserved only for one man with one woman.
(Matthew 19:4-6, 1 Corinthians 6:18, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, Romans 1:26-27, Deuteronomy 23:1
HEAVEN AND HELL
Heaven is the eternal dwelling place for all believers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After living on earth, the unbelievers will be judged by God and sent to Hell where they will be eternally with the Devil and the Fallen Angels. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence.
(Matthew 5:3,12,20, 6:20, 19:21, 25:34, 25:41; Mark 9:43-48; John 5:11-13, 17:24; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Hebrews 9:27, 11:16; 1 Peter 1:4; Revelation 14:9-11, 20:12-15, 21:8)
SECOND COMING
We believe Jesus Christ will physically, visibly, and gloriously return to earth for the second time to establish His kingdom. This will occur at an undisclosed date.
(Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelation 1:7)
GOD'S WILL FOR THE BELIEVER
It is the Father's will for believers to become whole, healthy and successful in all areas of life. God wants to bless us to bless others, but because of the fall, many may not receive the full benefits of God’s will while on Earth. That fact, though, should never prevent all believers from seeking the full benefits of Christ’s provision in order to better serve others.
- Spiritual
(John 3:3-11; II Corinthians 5:17-21; Romans 10:9-10) - Mental and Emotional
(II Timothy 1:7, 2:11; Philippians 4:7-8; Romans 12:2; Isaiah 26:3). - Physical
(Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 8:17; I Peter 2:24). - Financial
(Joshua 1:8; Malachi 3:10-11; Luke 6:38; II Corinthians 9:6-10; Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Psalm 34:10, 84:11; Philippians 4:19).