WHAT WE BELIEVE

THE BIBLE

The Bible is the Word of God. Both Old and New Testaments are fully inspired by God and without error in the original manuscripts. The Bible was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. (2 Timothy 1:13, 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 119:105, 160 and 12:6; Proverbs 30:5)

GOD

There is one true and perfect God and He is the Creator, Ruler and Sustainer of the universe. God is of one substance, power and eternal purpose, yet He eternally co-exists in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1, 26, 27, 3:22; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2; Matthew 28:19; Psalm 90:2)

JESUS CHRIST

Jesus Christ is God’s Son. He is fully God and fully man. He was born of a virgin and lived a sinless, perfect life. He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. After three days, he rose from the dead to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven and His return to earth will be personal and visible. He will reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Matthew 1:22-23; Romans 1:3-4, Hebrews 4:14-15; Isaiah 9:6; Acts 1:9-11; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30 and 14:16-17)

HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with God the Father and God the Son. He is the agent of new birth and renewal for believers in Jesus Christ. He is the divine helper, assistant, counselor and instructor and He makes the presence of Jesus Christ real in believers and enables them to live in ways that honor Christ. The Holy Spirit comforts, guides and convicts. He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation and He empowers spiritual gifts as God wills to every believer. (2 Corinthians 3:17; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 1:13, 5:18; John 16:7-13, 14:16-27; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Galatians 5:25)

CREATION

God is the creator of all things – visible and invisible. He created all things for the manifestation of His glory. Both Adam, the first male human being, and Eve, the first female human being, were created equally in the image of God and without sin. (Genesis 1; 2:7; Ecclesiastes 7:29; 12:7; Job 26:13; 33:4; Psalm 24:1-2; 33:5-6; 104:24; Jeremiah 10:12; John 1:1-3; Acts 17:24; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2; 11:3)

HUMAN BEINGS

Human beings are made in the image of God. They were created perfect; however, Adam’s sin plunged them and all his descendants into a fallen state of depravity – a state of sin, guilt, suffering and death. Thus, all of us are marred by rebellion and disobedience toward God. Sin separates all human beings from God. (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 53:6a and 59:1-2)

ETERNITY

God created human beings to exist forever and they will either be separated from God by sin or with God forever through forgiveness and salvation. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence. Heaven is a place of eternal blessedness prepared by God for those who have been saved by grace. Hell is a place of eternal suffering for those whose names are not written in the book of life. (John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15)

SALVATION

Salvation is a free gift to everyone from God. Anyone can receive the gift of salvation by repenting (turning away from sin and toward Christ) and placing their faith in only Jesus Christ. The substitutionary death of Christ and His bodily resurrection provide the only ground for justification, forgiveness and salvation for all who believe. Christ’s perfect obedience is credited to those who believe and God then sees them as the righteousness of Christ. Salvation is eternally secure for every person who is truly saved. Those that are truly saved will spend eternity with Christ in heaven, while those who die in their sins will spend eternity in Hell. (Romans 6:23; Titus 3:5; John 14:6 and 1:12; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:8-9 and Romans 5:1)