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What We Believe (Summarized) pdf

·         God is bigger than the universe, yet is personally involved in each of our lives.

·         The Bible is God's words to us about Him, His Son, and His perfect plan for our lives.

·         Jesus is God entering the world in which we live, to give us eternal life and to show us how to live in this world.

·         God lives in us and directs our lives through His Holy Spirit.

·         Nothing in the universe "just happened".  The living God made it and sustains it all.

·         God loves us and wants us to have an exciting relationship with Him.

·         God wants to give us liberty and freedom in this life and the next.

·         God will take away evil from this world, but in the meantime has a purpose for allowing it.  God can and does bring good even out of evil events and God promises victory over evil to those that choose and trust Him.

·         Jesus is coming again.

What We Believe (Doctrinal Statement)

What is the Bible?

The Holy Spirit of God breathed through human authors to write the books of the Bible. The entire Bible is without any errors in the original writings.  It does not simply contain God's revelation to mankind - it is God's revelation to mankind. Therefore the teachings and principles of the Bible are superior to human reason, emotions, and/or intuition. The Bible is our trustworthy and final authority in all matters regarding truth, life, and eternity. The Lord Jesus Christ in His person and work, including both His first and second coming, is at the center of all Scripture, and hence no portion is properly read, or understood, until it leads to Him. (Mark 12:26, 36; 13:11; Luke 24:27, 44; John 5:39; Acts 1:16; 17:2–3; 18:28; 26:22–23; 28:23; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians. 2:13; 10:11; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21).

Who Is God?

The Bible is the only trustworthy source for understanding the nature and character of God.  It teaches that God is eternal and is neither a part of, nor dependent on the universe.  It also teaches that though He is in essence one being, He is eternally three equal persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Each of these persons has the same nature and attributes, and are worthy of worship (Genesis 1:1; Matt. 28:18–19; Mark 12:29; John 1:14; Acts 5:3–4; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:1–3; Rev. 1:4–6).

Who Is Jesus?

Jesus Christ is God's Son and an equal with the Father.  He has eternally existed, yet lived on earth during the first century A.D.  While he was on earth he was always completely God and completely human. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit to a virgin girl named Mary.  He lived a perfect and sinless life, and freely chose to offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice in the place of every human being that has ever lived.   Jesus defeated sin and death and after three days in the grave He came to life, rose from the dead, and after forty days left earth to be with the Father in heaven.  He is now exalted at the right hand of the Father where, as a High Priest, He intercedes on behalf of those that believe in Him.  He will one day return to be King over all the earth.  His first coming was pre-announced in the prophecies of the Old Testament and His second coming has been pre-announced in the prophecies of both the Old and New Testament. (Luke 1:30-35; 2:40; John 1:1-2,11,18; 3:16; 20:20; Acts 2:22-24; Romans 3:25-26; 2 Corinthians 5:14; Ephesians 1:22-23; Philippians 2:5-8; 3:20-21; 1 Timothy 2:6; Hebrews 1:3; 4:15; 7:25; 10:5-14; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:1)

 Who Is the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the third person (not a force or mode of God) of the Trinity.  He holds back evil in the world and convicts mankind of sin. When we trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin He transforms us into a new person, giving us spiritual life.  He also baptizes us into the Church (the universal body of Christ) and begins to reside within us.  His presence marks (seals) us as belonging to Christ.  The Holy Spirit also gives each of us spiritual gifts that are to be used for the further building up of Christ's Church. When we yield to Christ the Spirit empowers (fills) us to live the life we are called to live. (John 3:6; 14:16–17; 16:7–15; Acts 4:8, 31; Rom. 8:9,23 1 Cor. 6:19; 13:8; 12:13; Eph. 2:22; 4:30; 5:18; 2 Thess. 2:7; 1 John 2:20–27).

God answers prayer for the sick and is able to heal in accordance with His will (I John 5:14-15; James 5:15-16). Some gifts of the Holy Spirit, however, such as corporate speaking in tongues and the gift of miraculous healing, were given to certain individuals as authenticating signs to the early church and not as perpetuating gifts or final evidence of God's presence in a believer's life (I Corinthians 14:22-24; Hebrews 2:4).

Who are the Angels?

Angels are spiritual beings created as sinless personalities and occupy different orders and ranks. They presently exist in both fallen and unfallen states, the former including Satan and his angels (Hebrews 1:13-14; II Peter 2:4; Revelation 7:12).

Satan, by his choice the enemy of God and His people, is the originator of sin. He led our first parents (Adam and Eve) into sin and now rules as "the god of this world." He was judged at the cross and ultimately he will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Isaiah 14:12-14; Genesis 3:1-19; Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 20:10).

Among the innumerable company of angels that have remained faithful to God He sends many to minister to people who shall be heirs of salvation (Luke 15:10; Ephesians 1:21; Hebrews 1:14; Revelation 7:12)

What is the creation?

God created all things in heaven and earth and they exist by His power (Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:16-17). God intimately cares for His creation and is involved in His creation.  The creation is completely dependent upon Him but He is not dependent upon it or to be identified with it except as Creator of it. 

Who is man?

The first man and woman were created in the image of God and given authority as caretakers of God's creation.  In the beginning they were innocent and had a pure relationship with God.  But they sinned, bringing both physical and spiritual death (alienation from God) upon themselves and all their descendents (all people).  Every person has inherited a sinful nature. As a result every person dies and is spiritually alienated from God.  Because we are spiritually dead we can't fix it.  We need God to intervene on our behalf (save us) from this condition (Gen. 1:26; 2:17; 6:5; Psalms. 14:1–3; 51:5; Jeremiah. 17:9; John 3:6; 5:40; 6:35; Romans. 3:10–19; 8:6–7; Ephesians. 2:1–3; 1 Tim. 5:6; 1 John 3:8).

 What is Salvation?

The disobedient nature we (all people) inherited from the first parents (Adam and Eve) has eternally separated us from God. Because of this universal condition (spiritual death through sin) none of us can enter the kingdom of God unless born again (John 3); and no degree of reformation however great, no attainments in morality however high, no culture however attractive, no baptism or other ordinance however administered, can help us take even one step toward heaven.  But a new nature imparted from above, a new life implanted by the Holy Spirit through the Word, is absolutely essential to salvation, and only those receiving this nature are sons of God. We are thus purchased (redemption) solely by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was made to be sin and was made a curse for us, dying as a replacement for us. No repentance, no feeling, no faith, no good resolutions, no sincere efforts, no submission to the rules and regulations of any church, nor all the churches that have existed since the days of the Apostles can add in the very least degree to the value of the blood, or to the merit of the finished work accomplished and completed for us by Jesus Christ.  Only He could do this because He alone united in His person true and proper deity with perfect and sinless humanity. (Leviticus 17:11; Isaiah 64:6; Matthew 26:28; John 3:7–18; Romans 5:6–9; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Gal. 3:13; 6:15; Ephesians. 1:7; Philippians 3:4–9; Titus 3:5; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:18–19, 23)

We are saved only through faith in Christ. Repentance is a vital part of believing, and is in no way, in itself, a separate and independent condition of salvation; nor are any other acts, such as confession, baptism, prayer, or faithful service, to be added to believing as a condition of salvation (John 1:12; 3:16, 18, 36; 5:24; 6:29; Acts 13:39; 16:31; Romans 1:16–17; 3:22, 26; 4:5; 10:4; Gal. 3:22).

If I Accept Jesus Christ Is My Salvation Forever?

Definitely! Our salvation is through the most trustworthy being in the universe – Jesus Christ! We didn’t do anything to earn salvation, and we can’t do anything to lose it. Our salvation is maintained by God’s trustworthiness and love not by what we do. (John 3:16; 5:24; 10:27-29; 14:16-17; 17:11; Luke 10:20; 22:32; Romans 8:1, 29-30; 35-39; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 5:1, 6-8; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 10:22; 1 John 2:1-2; 5:13; Jude 24)

How do we grow as believers?

When we trust Jesus for the forgiveness of sins God set us apart (sanctification) to begin a process of becoming more and more like Jesus.  The moment we receive Christ our position in Christ is already complete (We are declared children of God through Christ).  But though our position is set our sinful nature is still present. As a result we need to continually trust God and the Holy Spirit to empower us to continually become more like Jesus.  The more we are yielded to the Spirit, the less we are influenced by our sinful nature. As we yield to the Holy Spirit and trust God we mature in Christ. Ultimately, we will become in practice what God has already declared us to be.  We will become the image of Christ. When we are taken to be with Jesus we shall see Him and we shall be like Him (John 17:17; II Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 5:25-27; I Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 10:10, 14).

Why is there evil in the world

While God will eventually do away with all evil, He currently allows evil in the world - which provides mankind a choice. Satan is the source of all evil and will suffer an eternity of separation from God for his choices. (Hell was originally prepared for the devil and his demons.) Evil is present in the world because of mankind’s choice in the Garden of Eden. Because of Jesus, we have the opportunity to choose the goodness of God’s grace over evil. While God could eliminate evil immediately, He endures the grief of waiting to do so in order to give more people the opportunity to come to faith in Him. God is able to cause all things, even the evil in this world, to work together for the good of those who love Him. (Genesis 2:17; Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12; Psalm 100:5; John 3:19; Psalm 81:12; Revelation 12:7-9; Revelation 20:10; 1 Corinthians 15:56; Colossians 2:15; 1 John 2:2; 1 Timothy 2:3-4; 2 Peter 3:9; Romans 8:28-29)

What is the Church?

Every true believer is united to the risen and ascended Son of God and is a member of the universal church. The church is figuratively the body and bride of Christ.  It began at Pentecost and is completely distinct from Israel. Its members are constituted as such regardless of membership or non-membership in the organized churches of earth. All believers are baptized by the same Spirit into one body that is Christ’s, whether Jews or Gentiles.  We are all members one of another, are under solemn duty to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, rising above all sectarian differences, and loving one another with a pure heart fervently. (Matt. 16:16–18; Acts 2:42–47; Romans. 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:12–27; Ephesians 1:20–23; 4:3–10; Col. 3:14–15)

The local church is an assembly of professed believers in Jesus Christ who are voluntarily joined together in one locality for the purposes of worship, study of the Word of God, observance of the ordinances, Christian fellowship, equipping for and practice of Kingdom service, specifically stewarding our lives for the purpose of fulfilling the Great Commission (Acts 2:42-47; I Corinthians 1:1-2; Ephesians 4:11-13; Matthew 16:18; 28:19-20).

What are the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper?

Christ instituted the ordinances of water baptism and the Lord's Supper, both of which are to be observed by believers until He returns (Matthew 28:19-20; I Corinthians 11:23-26).

Water baptism is a believer's public declaration of identification with his Savior. Infants of believing parents may be dedicated to the Lord but should not be baptized until they can personally articulate their faith and the purpose of baptism.

The Lord's Supper is a memorial of Christ's death, the elements being symbols of His body and blood. Every Christian has a right to partake of the elements of the Lord's Supper but that participation should always be preceded by solemn self-examination.

What is the Great Commission?

Jesus gave the explicit message to all that receive salvation through Him to follow His example of obedience to the Father in regards to the world.  The Father sent Jesus into the world to save those that are in the world.  Believers as imitators of Jesus, are to be related to this world as strangers and pilgrims, ambassadors and witnesses.  Our primary purpose in life should be to make Christ known to the whole world (Matt. 28:18–19; Mark 16:15; John 17:18; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:18–20; 1 Pet. 1:17; 2:11).

What will happen in the end times?

Jesus is returning to earth to gather together His Church.  Since the Bible does not tell us specifically when He will come we are to always be ready, always anticipating, always believing it could be at any moment.  This event of gathering the church (commonly called the rapture) will be followed by a terrible tribulation on the earth.  At the end of the seven year tribulation Christ will return to the earth to set up His millennial kingdom and reign (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Philippians 3:20; Matthew 24:15-31; Zechariah 14:4-11; Revelation 20:1-6).

What is the eternal state?

The souls of believers in Jesus Christ do, at death, immediately pass into His presence, and there remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the body at His coming for the Church, when soul and body reunited shall be associated with Him forever in glory. The souls of unbelievers remain after death in constant misery in Hades until the close of the millennium when they face final judgment of the Great White Throne.  At that time their soul and body reunited shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to be punished with everlasting separation from the presence of the Lord (Luke 16:19-26; 23:43; II Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 20:11-15).