What We Believe

The Bible

We believe the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has final authority in all matters of faith and conduct (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Matthew 4:4, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Peter 1:20-21).

The Father

We believe in God the Father, who created all things out of nothing, continues to sustain, provide, garden, and rule all things to accomplish his purposes in perfect love.  (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4-5, 33:27; Psalms 90:2; Matthew 5:48; I Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 1:2-3, 11:3, 1 John 4)

Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, who added full humanity to His perfect deity, was born of a virgin, filled with the Spirit, obeyed God perfectly, died for the sins of humanity, arose to life from death, and ascended to the Father.  That Jesus is 100% God and 100% human (John 14:7-11; John 1:1,14; 2:1-2, Luke 1:26-28, Thes. 4:14, Acts 1:9-12) 

Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit came from the Father and Son to complete and perfect in us all the works Jesus began, convict of sin, lead and guide in all truth, form Christ-like character, and gifts us for ministry. We believe in all the gifts of the Spirit. (Jn 16:13-15; Acts 2:38; 1 Cor. 6:19, 12:4)

The Trinity

We believe there is one true and living God, existing in three co-equal and co-eternal persons, who we refer to as the Trinity, made up of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Math. 12:18; John 14:26; 1 John 5:6-7)

Creation

We believe that God created the world and called it “very good”.  He created humankind in His own image and without sin, male and female he created them.  In this sinless state, humanity did not experience pain, death, sickness, suffering, etc.  (Genesis 1-2)

The Fall 

We believe that Adam and Eve chose to sin against God.  This act of rebellion brought a curse on the world (death, pain, sickness, suffering, etc.) and alienated people from God with no ability for people to restore themselves to a right relationship with God apart from the finished work of Jesus Christ.  (Gen. 3; Rom. 5:12)

Sin

We believe that sin is an attitude of the heart that originated with Adam and Eve and is an action where people are in rebellion against God. It separates humanity from God and causes rippling effects throughout the universe. Anything that does not proceed from faith is sin. It is a human plight with no exceptions, crying out for a remedy. (Rom 3:23, 5:12-14, 6:15-23)

Salvation

We believe that for us today, the only way to be made right with God, to go to Heaven, and to enter God’s Kingdom is to put our faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. 

 We believe that Jesus was sinless and took the punishment on the cross that we deserve for our sins. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

 We believe that Jesus physically and literally rose from the dead 3 days after being physically and literally dead from the cross.  This resurrection from the dead conquered sin and death once and for all, allowing us the opportunity to share in this victory. (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)

We believe for a person to receive Jesus’ salvation, they must repent of their sins: asking Jesus to forgive their sins, committing to turn away from a life of sin, putting their faith in Jesus as the Lord of their life.  (Romans 6:23; Acts 2:38; 10:43)

We believe no religious act or amount of right-living can earn someone right-standing before God.  We are all sinners and without Jesus are eternally separated from God.  (Ephesians 2:8-9)

We believe God desires intimacy with each of His children. That the Holy Spirit dwells in and with His people and God's design and desire is that we would know Him, speak with Him, listen to and obey Him, be aware of His work of redemption in the world, and be participants abiding in Him. (Rom. 7:4-6, John 5:39-40, Matt. 7:21-23, John 10:4, John 15)

The Church 

We believe the church, universally and locally, is a new people of God over which Christ has ultimate authority and is called together as Christ’s followers, the bride of Christ, to share the truth and love of Jesus with the world. (Math 16:18, Acts 20:28, Eph 2:20-22)

Holiness

We believe that after being born anew, God calls us and enables us to grow in maturity which entails holy living. When God calls us to be holy, he also enables us to live in such a way with victory over sin. This holy calling involves cleansing our spirit, filling us with His perfect love, and giving us the power to live victoriously through the Holy Spirit. (2 Tim 1:9; Matt 3:11, 22:37-40; Phil 3:12-16; 2 Pet 3:11; 1 John 4:16-18)

Christ’s Return and Final Judgment 

We believe that Jesus will personally and visibly return in a way that will be obvious, resurrect all people for final judgment leading to eternal joy in God's presence or eternal punishment in hell apart from Him.

We believe that for all true believers, our ultimate destination is with Jesus on the New Earth, where sin, suffering, death, and pain will be no more.  (Revelation 21; John 14:2-3)