WHAT WE BELIEVE

God's Word

WE BELIEVE...the Scriptures are inspired by God and declare His design and plan for mankind. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the ultimate source of truth for Christians, giving testimonies of God’s character, stories of Jesus Christ’s life and ministry, as well as instruction and wisdom for daily life. The principles in the Bible are timeless and apply to our modern-day culture.

1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Psalm 119:105, Psalm 119:160, Proverbs 30:5

God's Person

WE BELIEVE... God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe and exists eternally as three co-equal persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (commonly known as the Trinity). He is all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present, never-changing, completely trustworthy, and holy. His very essence is good. He is loving and faithful to His people and His promises. 

Genesis 1:1; Genesis 1:26; Psalm 90:2; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10-11; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2.

WE BELIEVE...in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. As God's Son, Jesus was both fully human and fully God. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, died in our place for sin, rose from the dead, and was exalted to God’s right hand. 

Matthew 1:23; Hebrews 7:26; Acts 2:22; 1 Corinthians 15:3; Matthew 28:6; Acts 1:9.

God's Plan for Man

WE BELIEVE...humankind was originally good, made in the image of God, created to be in a perfect relationship with Him. We became alienated from God through our own disobedience, which the Bible calls sin. Our fall ushered evil and death, both physical and spiritual, into the world. We are incapable of regaining a right relationship with God through our own efforts, which is why God sent His Son Jesus to take the penalty for our sin so that we may be reconciled with God.

Genesis 1:26-27, 2:17, 3:1-6; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; Colossians 1:21; Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 5:12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22; Isaiah 64:6; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-6

WE BELIEVE...every person can have restored fellowship with God through salvation (1 Timothy 2:3-6; 2 Peter 3:9). Salvation comes by trusting Christ, through faith and repentance, to be our personal Forgiver and Leader (Matthew 4:17; Acts 3:19; Acts 20:21; Romans 10:9-13). When we put our faith in Christ’s atoning work on the cross, it triggers a spiritual chain reaction:

• Our sins are forgiven and forgotten (Hebrews 8:12).

• We become the Temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).

• Our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life (Revelation 3:5).

• We become citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20-21).

• We are given eternal life (John 3:16).

• We are adopted and become children of God (Galatians 4:4-7; John 1:12).

• We are credited with the righteousness of Christ (Romans 4:4-5).

• We are born-again (John 3:3).

• We become a new creation. We have a new nature, the nature of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Peter 1:4).

• God takes ownership of us (1 Corinthians 6:20).

• We receive an eternal inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14 & 1 Peter 1:3-5).

WE BELIEVE...in the abiding presence and work of the Holy Spirit. When a person is saved, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of him (Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians. 6:19). The nine fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) are the by-product of yielding one’s life to Him and evidence of spiritual maturity. The nine gifts of the Spirit are different manifestations of the Spirit to build up the body (1 Corinthians 12:1-11). We are instructed to diligently seek the gifts (1 Corinthians 12:31, 14:1), but they must be exercised in an orderly way (1 Corinthians 14:26-33) in the context of love (1 Corinthians 13:1-13).

WE BELIEVE...the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a special experience following salvation (John 20:1-2, 19-22, & Acts 1:3-5; Acts 8:12-17; Acts 9:1-17). It empowers believers for witnessing and effective service, just as it did in New Testament times (Acts 1:8). It is the gateway to a greater life in the Spirit (John 7:38-39; Ephesians 5:18). Every believer should seek this as God wants to pour out His Spirit upon all flesh (Acts 2:16-18, 38-39). However, the Holy Spirit baptism is not a requirement to get into heaven.

WE BELIEVE...the initial physical evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is ‘Speaking in Tongues,’ as experienced on the Day of Pentecost and referenced throughout Acts and the Epistles.

Acts 2:4; Acts 10:45-46; Acts 19:3-6; 1 Corinthians 14:4-5, 14-15; Jude 1:20

WE BELIEVE...sanctification initially occurs at salvation and is not only a declaration that a believer is holy, but also a progressive lifelong process of separating from evil as believers continually draw closer to God and become more Christlike. We are dead to sin, and alive and empowered to live a life for God.

(Romans 4:2-5; Romans 6:1-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 2:12-13 ).

WE BELIEVE...Divine Healing of the Sick is a Privilege for Christians Today and is provided for in Christ's atonement- His sacrificial death on the cross for our sins.

Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17; 1 Peter 2:24; James 4:14-15

God's Plan for the Church

WE BELIEVE...The Church has a Mission to seek and save all who are lost in sin. We believe 'the Church' is the Body of Christ and consists of the people who, throughout time, have accepted God's offer of redemption (regardless of religious denomination) through the sacrificial death of His son Jesus Christ. As a body, we care for and minister to each other.

Matthew 16:18-19; Matthew 28:19-20; Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12; Galatians 6:1-2, 10.

WE BELIEVE...A Divinely Called and Scripturally Ordained Leadership Ministry Serves the Church. The Bible teaches that each of us under leadership must commit ourselves to reach others for Christ, to worship Him with other believers, to build up or edify the body of believers–the Church and to meet human need with ministries of love and compassion.

Ephesians 4:11-16; Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 9:13-14; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:1-4

WE BELIEVE...and practice two ordinances—(1) Water baptism by immersion after repenting of one's sins and receiving Christ's gift of salvation, and (2) Holy Communion (the Lord's Supper) as a symbolic remembrance of Christ's suffering and death for our salvation.

Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:4; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:46; 1 Corinthians 11:23-31

God's Plan for the End Times

WE BELIEVE...in The Blessed Hope—When Jesus Raptures His Church Prior to His Return to Earth (the second coming). At this future moment in time all believers who have died will rise from their graves and will meet the Lord in the air, and Christians who are alive will be caught up with them, to be with the Lord forever

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10

WE BELIEVE...in The Millennial Reign of Christ when Jesus returns with His saints at His second coming and begins His benevolent rule over earth for 1,000 years. This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel and the establishment of universal peace.

Revelation 20:1-6; Ezekiel 37:21-28; Romans 11:25-27; Isaiah 11:6-9; Psalm 72:3-8; Micah 4:3-4

WE BELIEVE...a final judgment will take place for those who have rejected Christ. They will be judged for their sin and consigned to eternal punishment in a punishing lake of fire.

(Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21:8).

WE BELIEVE...and look forward to the perfect New Heavens and a New Earth that Christ is preparing for all people, of all time, who have accepted Him. We will live and dwell with Him there forever following His millennial reign on Earth. 'And so shall we forever be with the Lord.'

2 Peter 3:7-13; Isaiah 65:17, 66:22; Revelation 21-22