What We Believe
We believe God is the Creator and Ruler of all that exists. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
We believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary by miraculous conception, lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all by dying on a cross. He rose from the dead, demonstrating His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again to earth. He will reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
We believe the Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make people 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, cleansing from sin, understanding of spiritual truth, guidance for doing what is right, and the spiritual gifts to minister effectively in His Church. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily.
We believe we are made in the image of God, to be like Him in character. We are the supreme objects of God’s creation. Although we have tremendous potential for good, we have all been born with a sin nature that influences us away from God’s best. Sin separates people from God, and leads to spiritual death.
We believe when a believer in Jesus Christ is filled with the Holy Spirit, God begins a process of cleansing, where the sin nature is purged. Sanctification is being set free from the power of sin. This enables the believer to persevere in the Christian faith and to become more and more Christ-like.
We believe the Father is the Source of all that exists, whether of matter or spirit. With the Son and the Holy Spirit, He made man, male and female, in His image. By intention He relates to people as Father, thereby forever declaring His goodwill toward them. In love, He both seeks and receives penitent sinners.
We believe salvation is a gift from God to all people. Men and women can never make up for their sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can a person be saved from sin’s penalty. By trusting Christ for forgiveness and eternal life, and by walking with him day by day, we live lives of service to God and discover the greatest purpose and meaning life can offer.
We believe the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is God’s word to all. The Scriptures are inspired by God and are the unique, full and final authority on all matters of faith and practice. Human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit, wrote the very truth of God.
Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. This church recognizes that it cannot bind the conscience of individual members in areas where Scripture is silent. Rather each believer is to be led in those areas by the Lord, to whom he or she alone is ultimately responsible.
We believe people are created to exist forever. Every person will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally in union with Him is heaven.