Truths
“What We Believe”-Truths
ABOUT THE BIBLE…
We BELIEVE that the Bible is the one and only, inspired word of God. The sixty-six books of the Bible make up God’s complete, final, reliable, and authoritative revelation to humankind. While other traditions, creeds, and writings may be useful for understanding, nothing is elevated to the level of Scripture.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21
ABOUT GOD…
WE BELIEVE that there is only one true, eternal God who is the creator of all life that co-exists equally in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. God in his very nature is love and created us for relationship. To foster this relationship, God has revealed himself to humankind through many means. However, his most direct and intimate means was through sending part of Himself to this earth to take on flesh.
Genesis 1:26,27; Job 38:1-41; John 3:16; Romans 1:19,20; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:6; Isaiah 44:6; John 1:1,14
ABOUT JESUS…
WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is the one and only Son of God equal with God the Father and God the Spirit. He became flesh (incarnate), as part of God’s redemptive plan, was crucified and rose bodily from the grave three days later. He ascended back into heaven to be our mediating High Priest. He will return in final judgment and final redemption of his people.
Colossians 2:9; Romans 8, Ephesians 1:13,14, Galatians 5:16-26
ABOUT HUMANKIND…
WE BELIEVE that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female, and that these two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. Rejection of one’s biological gender is a rejection of the image of God in that person.
Psalm 139; Genesis 1:26,27
ABOUT LIFE…
WE BELIEVE that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, and the physically or mentally challenged and every other state or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect and value all human life.
Psalm 139
ABOUT SIN…
WE BELIEVE that all humankind that has reached an age of awareness, have sinned and fallen short of God’s demand for holiness. Because of our sin, the consequence is death. There had to be a sacrifice for the sin to meet the demands of the law. God, in his infinite love and mercy sent His Son.
Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:21
ABOUT SALVATION…
WE BELIEVE that salvation is by grace through faith in the gospel. God showed us His grace through Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. It is that message that calls people to believe the gospel and its power to save, turn from their sins, confess Jesus as Lord, and be immersed in water, reenacting the death, burial and resurrection. This is the message that was preached in the first century beginning with Acts 1 and how the people responded to this message.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 6:1-6; Acts 2; Galatians 3:26,27
ABOUT THE CHURCH…
WE BELIEVE that the saved make up God’s universal family called the church. While on earth, Jesus predicted He would build His church. The church is simply those individuals who by faith are saved. When one is born again one becomes part of this unique “called out” group of people.
Matthew 16:16; Ephesians 3:14-21
ABOUT ETERNITY…
WE BELIEVE that Jesus will return some day. In the meantime we wait eagerly for Jesus’ triumphal return. When Jesus returns, all of God’s people, both alive and dead, will be gloriously transformed.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54