Beliefs

STATEMENT OF FAITH: 

"There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."  Ephesians 4:4-6

"Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters… Who are you to judge someone else's servant?  To his own master he stands or falls…So then each of us will give an account of himself to God… So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God."  Romans 14:1, 4, 12, 22

 
"…if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing."  1 Corinthians 13:2 (NLB)

ESSENTIAL BELIEFS:

God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe, eternally existed in three personalities:  the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Love plus holiness constitutes the essential being of God. 

Genesis 1:1, 26, 27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Isaiah 6:3; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14

Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  Jesus lived a sinless human life.  His life of servant-leadership is the model for all who follow.  He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for all the sins of all people 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 come again to judge the living and the dead, and to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

Matthew 1:22; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14, 15; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14, 15; Titus 2:13

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father, and the Son of God.  The Holy Spirit is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ.  At the moment of salvation the Holy Spirit lives in every Christian giving them the power for living, maturing them in understanding spiritual truth, and providing guidance in doing what is right.  The Holy Spirit also gives every believer a spiritual gift for the common good of the body (to serve and build up Christ's Church unto maturity).  As Christians we come to maturity as we are filled by the Spirit and live under the Spirit's control daily (the fruit of the Spirit is an evidence of this). 

2  Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16, 12:7; Ephesians 1:13, 4:11-13, 5:18; Galatians 5:22-24, 25; 1 Peter 4:10

The Bible is God's Word to us.  It was written by human authors under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  It is the source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. 

2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Timothy1:13; Psalm 119:105; 160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5

People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character.  Unfortunately, that image has been marred in all of us by an attitude of disobedience we call "sin."  This attitude separates us from God and prevents us from reaching our full potential as human beings. 

Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6. Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1,2

Salvation is God's free gift that God offers us to end our separation from Him and to help us reach our full potential.  To experience God's free gift of salvation we must accept it.  We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works.  By trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness anyone can be saved from his or her sin.  When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved.  (We become new creatures in Christ).  Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his or her life in faith. 

Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1; 2 Corinthians 5:17

Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice.  In areas where Scripture is silent individual believers seek godly council from other believers, but ultimately are to be led in these areas by the Lord, to whom he or she is alone ultimately responsible.