whatwebelieve

About God

God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: 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;1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14

About Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. By the miracle of the virgin birth, Jesus came to earth, lived a sinless human life, and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on a cross. He rose 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; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3, 4;

Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13

About the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is equal in essence and nature to God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son. He convicts unbelievers of sin. He permanently indwells each believer at the instant he regenerates them. At that very instant the believer is baptized by Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit and placed into the Body of Christ. He gives at least one spiritual gift to every believer for the edification of the church. The Holy Spirit then instantaneously begins the process of sanctifying, teaching, assuring, producing spiritual fruit, guiding, convicting, and empowering each believer. Throughout the believer’s life the Holy Spirit prays for him or her. The filling of the Holy Spirit is meant to be a continuous experience for the believer through submission to His controlling authority and power.

Matt. 3:11, 28:19; Jn. 1:33, 16:8-11, 12-15; Acts 1:5;

Rom. 8:9-11, 14, 26, 15:16; 1 Cor. 3:16, 6:11, 19, 12:4-11, 13;

Gal. 5:22-23; Eph. 4:1-12, 5:18

About Man

Man is made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. He is the supreme object of God’s creation. Although man has tremendous potential for good, he is marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called sin. This attitude separates man from God.

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

About Salvation

Salvation is by grace—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 of forgiveness can man be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. Because God gives man eternal life through Jesus Christ, our salvation is forever and secure. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives the believer this eternal security in salvation.

Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6, 1:12;

Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1;

John 10:27-30; 1 Timothy 1:12; John 6:37,39

About the Bible

The Bible is God’s word to all men. It 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. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without error.

2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21; 2 Timothy 1:13;

Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5

About Unity

We believe that by one Spirit, we are placed into one Church, the body of Christ, and we who are the many members of the Church are one in Christ Jesus and under Christ Jesus. This is our source of unity, and the basis of our freedom and diversity within it. We seek a unity in the Essentials of the Faith*, yet we do not suggest that we must agree on all things relative to our daily walk in Christ. As Christians, we understand that our liberties granted by Christ are limited by our love for Christ and for one another. While we do not presume to dictate one’s private worship practices, we agree that, for the sake of harmony and unity of the Body, in our public worship and other sanctioned church meetings, we will strive and pray without ceasing to “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3)

1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 14 ; Romans 12:4-5; 14:13-18