What We Believe

we believe it is vital that God’s people be joined together by mutual love for Christ and full submission to His Lordship, but not uniformity or agreement on all doctrinal issues.

We allow for, and value, diversity. We see it as an essential element of true unity. We strive to honor the Apostle Paul’s instruction to avoid foolish arguments that produce quarrels (2 Timothy 2:23).

However, we recognize that there are essential biblical doctrines upon which faith itself must be grounded. These such doctrines are evident in the Apostles Creed and other historical confessions of Christianity. We believe the following to be such doctrines; therefore, we stand firm on this declaration of our beliefs.

Scripture:

We believe the Bible to be the fully inspired, infallible, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God. (Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21)

Trinity:

We believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 1:3-6; 1 Peter 1:1-3; John 14:7-11; Hebrews 1:1-3; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-5; 14-17)

Jesus:

We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ: (John 8:58; John 10:30)

His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:27-35)
His sinless life (1 Peter 2:22; Matthew 4:1-11)
His miracles (Matthew 14:25-33; John 20:30-31)
His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood (Hebrews 2:17; Romans 5:8; 1 John 2:2)
His bodily resurrection (Acts 2:22-24; Luke 24:5, 6, 36-43; John 20:27-29)
His ascension to the right hand of Father (Luke 24:50-51)
His personal return in power in glory (Revelation 19:11-16)

Salvation:

We believe that salvation is totally dependent on God and his grace. That the new birth of the believer comes through faith in Christ alone, and that repentance is a vital part of saving faith in Jesus Christ and not a separate work. We do not believe that any actions—such as baptism, prayer, a reformed lifestyle, or faithful service—can be added to repentant faith as a condition for eternal salvation. (Ephesians 2:8-9, Acts 20:21; Hebrews 6:1; 2 Peter 3:9)

We believe it is the privilege of all who are born again by the Spirit, through faith in Christ, to be assured of their salvation from the very day they take him to be their Savior as revealed in Scripture. All true believers everywhere, once saved, shall be kept saved forever. (Luke 10:20; 2 Corinthians 5:1, 6–8; 2 Timothy 1:12; 1 John 5:13; John 5:24, John 5:24; Ephesians 1:3-14; John 10:29)

Law & Grace:

We believe that Christians are free from law and that the Christian life is to be lived by God’s grace through the Holy Spirit’s power. We believe, however, that God is a holy and righteous Father and cannot overlook the sin of his children. When they persistently sin, he will chasten them and correct them in his infinite love. (Romans 6:14; John 1:17; John 14:16-17; 2 Corinthians 3:8; Galatians 5:24-25, Proverbs 3:11-12; Isaiah 6:1-5; Romans 3:25-26; Hebrews 12:9-11; 1 John 2:1-2; Revelation 3:19)

Holy Spirit:

We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit—who indwells and enables every Christian to live a godly life and minister to others in divine power. (John 14:16-17; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7; Galatians 5:22-25)

Judgment:

We believe in the bodily resurrection and judgment of all men. Believers will be resurrected to enjoy eternal life with God, and unbelievers will be resurrected to suffer eternal judgment and separation from God. (Luke 16:19-26; Luke 23:39-43; Philippians 1:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; Jude 6-7; Revelation 20:11-15)

The Church:

We believe all who are united to the risen and ascended Son of God are members of Christ’s universal church. (Matthew 16:16-18; Acts 2:42-47; Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 1:19b-23; 2:19-21, 4:3-6; Colossians 3:14-15)

We believe that the local expressions of the church, as the body of Christ, are essential in the plan and purpose of God. (Acts 14:23; Ephesians 2:15b-16; Ephesians 4:15-16; Colossians 1:6; 1 Timothy 3:14-15; 1 Peter 2:5)

Great Commission:

We believe the primary responsibility of all who are saved is to work toward the fulfillment of the Great Commission. All worldly and personal ambitions should be lower in priority than the supreme command of making disciples. (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 17:18, 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20)

Social Justice:

We believe that human betterment and social justice are essential products of the gospel. (Isaiah 1:17; Micah 6:8; Galatians 6:10; Hebrews 13:3; James 1:27; 1 John 3:17-18)