The Bible
While human belief systems and teachings can have value, we believe only God's Word (The Bible) is absolute truth. That is why our faith (what we believe & trust) and practice (what we do) is based on what it teaches. We believe the Bible is divinely inspired and has preserved the critical truth God desires to reveal to humanity. In it we discover our Creator's heart and our reason for living.
1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; John17:17
God
Christianity alone presents God as ONE God forever in THREE persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. From all eternity God has existed in community. When we grasp this we can understand that God's entire existence is a life of LOVE. He created to share His overflowing life and love with all creation - especially humans. He relentlessly chases us to reclaim us for the life and love He intended!
Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-14, 8:58; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 4:16
Jesus
We believe Jesus Christ was God-in-the-Flesh. Jesus is fully God and can save us! Jesus is fully human and can represent us! Jesus was sinless and can cover all our sins with his righteousness! He paid the debt for our sins through His death! He was bodily raised from the grave and He is alive forevermore! He offers us eternal life and hope if we will put our trust and faith in Him.
John 1:1-14; Acts 4:12; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:1-3
Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit convicts the hearts of humankind concerning their lack of righteousness and their sin. He points us toward our need for Jesus. He is referred to as counselor in the Bible and offers wisdom, gifts, comfort, and help from God. God personally dwells in us by the Spirit so that He can transform us and show His glory through us! As the Holy Spirit lives in Christ followers He empowers them to overcome temptation, live according to God's will, and minister to others.
John 14:16- 17; 16:8-11; Romans 8:9-17; 12:6-8; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Galatians 5:22-26
Humankind
Every human is created in God's image and has incredible value! Sadly, though, every human has also sinned and is living with a shattered image. We are guilty of committing wrongs against an absolutely perfect God, against others and even against ourselves. And, as valuable as hard work is in many areas of life, there is no way for us or anyone to improve themselves enough to be justified or innocent before God. We cannot take care of our moral guilt or the debt we owe. Only God's grace can save us. God still loves us perfectly and sees us as worthy of the sacrifice and effort needed to reconnect us with Him. In that reconciled place we can find our glorious purpose of reflecting God's glory in the world.
Genesis 1:26-31; Acts 4:10-12; Ephesians 2:4-9; 1 Tim. 2:5; Titus 3:4-7
Salvation
Jesus became a man without ceasing to be God. He lived without sin, suffered and died on a cross, was buried, rose from the dead three days later, and now He lives forever. He did this all on behalf of sinners in order to pay for the debt of their sins. His resurrection proves His divinity and that His sacrifice is effective to cover us. God has known from the beginning of time those who would believe in Him and has worked out their salvation. He overcame sin and death so that, if we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, we are made guiltless and His righteousness covers us before God.
Luke 1:26-35; Luke 2:1-7; John 20:24-29; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:19-20; 1 Peter 2:24
Baptism
Baptism comes from a Greek word that means to be immersed. Baptism by immersion in water is commanded of all people who put their faith in Jesus and want to unite their lives with Him. Scripture leads us to believe that baptism by immersion in water is an important part of following Christ. Romans 6:3-5 describes how baptism represents dying to our old selves through Christ’s death, being buried with Him, and joining Him in the new resurrected life.
Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38; 8:35-38; 22:16; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:9-15
The Return of Jesus
Jesus Christ will come to Earth a second and final time to resurrect the wicked and the righteous. He is the final judge. Those who have put their trust in Him will be rewarded. Those who have not, will not be saved from the consequences of their guilt. Sinners outside of the grace of God will be cut off from the Giver of life and every good gift. Christians long for the return of Jesus when we will be resurrected and our bodies will be transformed to be like His eternal body. We will be personally in the presence of God. The imminent return of Jesus Christ also encourages us to take His command, found in Matthew 28:18-20, to make disciples seriously. Our role until His return is like that of an ambassador who seeks to bring hope and an offer of reconciliation to all people through Christ.
Matthew 28:18-20; John 5:28-29; Acts 1:11; 17:31; 2 Corinthians 5:11-21; Philippians 3:21; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; Hebrews 9:28; Revelation 21 & 22