What We Believe
About the Bible
The Bible is God’s word for all humanity. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the only source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. It is inspired by God and without error in the original texts.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 12:6, 119:105,160; Proverbs 30:5
About God
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
Genesis 1:1,26,27,3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; I Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14
About the Father
Scripture reveals the first person of the trinity as the Father. The created world testifies to Him in both the external order of nature and the internal working of conscience. He sent His beloved Son into the world in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. The Father makes a new creation and adopts as His children, all who confess Jesus as Lord.
Psalm 19:1; Rom. 1:20-21; Rom. 2:14-16; Isaiah 63:15-16; Isaiah 64:8; Ps. 78:1-72; Ps. 105:1-45; Ps. 106:1-48; Deut. 7:6-16; Matt. 3:16-17; John 6:57; John 8:42; John 17:8; John 1:12; Rom. 8:12-17; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 4:4-7
About Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is God the Son. He is the second person of the trinity. He is fully God and Fully man. He is the living Word, the revelation and revealer of the unseen Father. Jesus was born of a virgin and lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to heaven and will return again to earth to reign as King of kings, and Lord of lords.
Matthew 1:22,23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14,15; I Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:1-9; I Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13
About the Holy Spirit
The third person of the triune God is the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit was active in creation, the history of Israel, the inspiration of Scripture, the ministry of Jesus, and the birth of the church. He is present in the world to make men 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, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right, and giving the desire and ability to grow in Christlikeness. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily.
2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8, I Corinthians 2:12, 3:16, Ephesians 1:13, Galatians 5:25
About Man
Man is made in the image of God, to be like Him in character. God created 2 genders, male and female Man is the supreme object of God’s creation. God designed marriage to be the union between a man and a woman until separated by death. This is the testimony at creation and repeated by Jesus. Any sexual expression outside of a marriage between a man and a woman is sin. Although man had tremendous potential for good, he is marred by sin. Sin is a disposition of disobedience toward God. Sin separates man from God.
Genesis 1:27, 2:24; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a, Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1,2; Matthew 19:5; Hebrews 13:4
About Eternity
Man was created to live forever. He 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 eternal life. Heaven and Hell are literal places of eternal existence.
John 3:16; John 2:25; I John 5:11-13; Romans 6:23, Revelation 20:15; Matthew 25:31-46
About Salvation
Salvation is a gift from God to man. Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer for forgiveness can man be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 1:12, 14:6; Titus 3:5; Romans 5:1
About Eternal Security
Because God gives man eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in salvation for eternity. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives this security.
John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25, 10:10,14; I Peter 1:3-5
About the Church
The church is the body of Christ of which Jesus is the head. The members are those who have by faith trusted Christ in His finished work on the cross. The purpose of the church is to glorify God by loving Him and by making Him known to a lost world.
Ephesians 1:22; I Corinthians 12:27; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:42-47