The Bible

We believe that God inspired both the Bible’s composition and content – what was written and included in the Bible is what God wanted written and included. The Bible was given to show us who God is, where we came from and why we are here, what our relationship to God and to the world is meant to look like, and where we go when our physical life ends. We believe that the Bible is accurate and reliable, can be read by anyone, and is the final authority for all matters of faith and Christian living (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:19-21).

God
We believe that there is one God, the Creator of the universe including the Earth and all its creatures. He continues to exercise His supreme power to sustain His creation. Throughout history He has expressed His desire to be our God and to have a personal, eternal relationship with us. We believe that God loves us and wants what is best for us and that He eternally exists in three distinct personalities: God the Father, God the Son – Jesus Christ and God the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; John 1:1,14; John 14:26; 1 Peter 1:2).

Jesus
We believe that Jesus is ‘God the Son’ one of the three distinct personalities of God. At God’s appointed time, Jesus entered the realm of humanity being born of a virgin both fully human and fully divine. He lived a sinless life, voluntarily died on the cross for our sins, was physically raised from the dead and ascended into heaven. Jesus is the only means through which our sins can be forgiven enabling us to be declared acceptable to God and allowing us to experience the fullness of life here on earth that only God can provide. One day Jesus will return to earth and initiate the culmination of human history. (John 1:1-18 and 4:16; Acts 2:22-41 and 4:12; Philippians 2:1-11)

The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit lives within every Christian and provides power to overcome sin, insight into Scripture, and personal direction in life. Through the Holy Spirit’s presence and power all Christians are able to become more and more Christ-like in their actions, words and deeds as they continue on their Christian journey. Through the Holy Spirit every person in the body of Christ –His Church- is also given certain talents and abilities to use for the purpose of building up God’s kingdom (Luke 11:13; John 16:13; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:11).

Salvation
We believe that a human being’s central purpose for existence is to love and glorify God by both allowing His will to be done through them, and by loving others as they love themselves, thereby experiencing the fullness of God’s love for them. Originally created for that purpose, humans defied God, choosing to go their own independent way – to sin, and were thus alienated from God. This “fall” took place at the beginning of human history. (Matthew 6:10 and 22:34-40; Ephesians 2:10; Genesis 1-3).

Since then, all human beings have a nature that leads them to sin and thus, to be separated from God. Each of us reaches an age when we are able to recognize both right from wrong and, if we desire to restore our relationship with God, our need for His forgiveness and mercy. Restoring that relationship, and thereby finding the fullness of life God so much desires each of us to have involves a journey of faith in, trust of and obedience to God’s will and Word on our part. We can do nothing on our own to make this relationship right – we must rely upon the grace of God. (Romans 3:23, Ephesians 2:1-9)

God’s grace is given to us through the blood of Jesus Christ. Thus, our journey to be reunited with God now and forever begins when we believe that Jesus is God’s Son, Lord of our life. This journey of grace continues when we show a willingness to publicly proclaim Christ as our Lord and Savior -to confess; to acknowledge and turn from our sin – to repent; and to be immersed in water – to be baptized (see section below). Our Christian journey continues the rest of our earthly life as we strive to live our life more and more in accordance with God’s will, never becoming perfect but using the model of perfection demonstrated by Christ’s life as our goal. As we continue on this journey, we do not continue to do good works to be saved, but, rather, do them because we are saved (John 3:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9; 1 John 1:9, James 2).

Baptism
We believe that the book of Acts in the New Testament makes it clear that baptism is a part of the Christian journey that is taken by an individual after they have personally acknowledged Jesus Christ as the Son of God and their Lord and Savior. We also believe that examination of the definition of the word ‘baptize’ and the practice of baptism by the early Christians makes it clear that the mode of baptism is immersion. Thus, when someone is baptized, their body is submerged in water (Acts 2:41, 8:12, 10:47-48).

Human Destiny
All men sin by choosing to act independent from God and the way He has shown us to live through the Bible. Satan encourages this and works to convince us that living a life differently than God tells us to bring freedom and fulfillment. Doing so, however, does not leave us fulfilled and puts us in bondage. Unless we come to recognize this deception and re-establish a relationship with God, we will experience condemnation under God’s judgment and spend eternity separated from God in hell. There is nothing we can do on our own to reestablish our relationship with God. Christ reestablishes that relationship for us. Those who accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior become part of His Church while here on earth and will spend eternity with God in heaven.

The Church
The Church is therefore not a building but a living body comprised of many parts with Jesus as the head. To remain healthy, the body’s members must work together. Each part contributes to the growth and maturity of the body. It represents Jesus Christ to a needy world by living out the Great Commission and Great Commandment in action, word and deed through humility and service to all. God works through the church to reconcile the world to Himself through Jesus Christ. For this reason it is important for followers of Christ to regularly gather together in order to be equipped, built up, and encouraged through teaching, fellowship, prayer, and communion. This enables believers to serve one another and those who do not yet know, or who have not yet accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior within their sphere of influence. We believe it is the mandate of the whole Church to participate in fulfilling the Great Commission to go…preach…baptize…teach!