What We Believe

what we believe

ABOUT GOD: We believe there is one divine being who has existed eternally. He exists and reveals himself to man in three distinct, equally divine persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. While we cannot fully comprehend his divine nature, it is possible for people to know him. At the beginning of time, God created the entire universe 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 have a personal, eternal relationship with us. We believe that God loves us and wants what is best for us.

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. - Deuteronomy 6|4-5 See Also: Genesis 1:1,26,27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14

ABOUT JESUS: We believe that Jesus is the eternal divine son of God. He chose voluntarily to be made in human likeness and was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. Although he lived a sinless life, he allowed himself to be executed by crucifixion. His death paid the penalty for the offenses of mankind against God. However, as prophesied, he rose from the dead three days after his execution. After appearing to witnesses on a number of occasions for forty days, he ascended into heaven where he now serves as the mediator between God and man. We believe, that at the end of time, he will again visibly return to Earth to complete his eternal plan.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. - John 14|6 See also: Matthew 1:22,23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1;1-5, 14:6-30; John 10:30; Hebrews 4:14,15; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13

ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT: The third person of God is the Holy Spirit. We believe the Holy Spirit dwells in every Christ-follower. His indwelling presence gives spiritual life to believers and distinguishes them as children of God. The Holy Spirit guides Christ-followers in understanding and applying God’s principles and values. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, Christ-followers are empowered to live Christ-like lives. The Holy Spirit also equips Christ-followers with tal- ents and abilities for the purpose of the building up of God’s kingdom.

God poured out the Holy Spirit abundantly on us through Jesus Christ our Savior. - Titus 3|6 See also: 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:1

ABOUT HUMANITY: God created mankind to live in relationship with him. However, the first man and woman were deceived by Satan. They rebelled and chose to be wrongfully independent from God. Their decision alienated them from God. Every human being since that time has suffered the consequences of that rebellion. We all fail to please God and are open to Satan’s deception. Our failure to please God, unless a relationship is re-established with him, results in condemnation under God’s judgment and would cause us to spend eternity in hell. Furthermore, there is nothing we can do on our own to reestablish our relationship with God.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made - Psalm 139|14a See also: Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2

3 ABOUT THE BIBLE: God divinely inspired human authors to write the sixty-six books of the Bible. He communi- cated through these writers the values, principles, and ideals which please him and are in our best interests. We believe the Bible is entirely accurate, complete and reliable. We look to the Bible for the revelation of the character of God and the final authority on all matters of faith and conduct.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. - 2 Timothy 3|16-17 See also: Joshua 1:8-9; 2 Peter 1:20,21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5

ABOUT A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD: Our inability to re-establish our relationship with God leaves us de- pendent on God’s mercy. God graciously provided the means to reconcile this relationship through faith in Jesus Christ. Our relationship is re-established when we make a commitment to accept Jesus as God’s son and our savior and lord. Through faith in Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven and we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and eternal life. Practically speaking, this acceptance is demonstrated through both a private and public commitment. We demonstrate our commitment privately by faith (acting upon our belief that God has the power to save us) and repentance (turning back to God and depending on him to control our lives). We also publicly express our commitment by confessing our acceptance of God’s salvation and submitting ourselves in Christian baptism.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. - Romans 5|1-2 See also: Acts 2:38; 8:34f; 22:16; Romans 5:1-2; 6:1-7; Ephesians 2:8,9; Colossians 2:12; John 14:6; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26-27

ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE: Once our relationship is re-established with God, we naturally want to spend time with him and know him better. The Holy Spirit enlightens us as we read God’s word, the Bible, as we communicate with him in prayer, and as we enter into loving relationships, Biblical community, with other Christ-followers. In this way we begin to know God more intimately. As we become acquainted with God, we desire to be like him and please him. This process of spiritual development motivates us to seek ways to serve God and prepares us to spend eternity in fellowship with him.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus - Philippians 2|3-5a See also: Philippians 2:1-2; Romans 12:17-21; Ephesians 5:1-18

ABOUT THE CHURCH: We believe the church represents Jesus Christ to a needy world. The Bible speaks of the church as Christ’s body. It compares it to a living organism, where Jesus is the head. God arranges the parts of the body, (Christ-followers) just as he wants them to be. He gives each Christ-follower special functions to perform for the good of the body. To remain healthy, the body’s members must work together. Each part contributes to the growth and maturity of the body. God works through the church to reconcile a lost world to himself through Jesus Christ. For this reason it is important for Christ-followers to regularly gather together for the purpose of celebration. During celebration, Christ-followers are equipped, built up, and encouraged through teaching, fellowship, prayer and communion. Celebration in this way enables believers to serve one another and the unchurched people in their sphere of influence.

For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. - Romans 12|4-5 See also: Matthew 16:18; 22:34-40; 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 2:42-47; Eph. 4:11-16