“Therefore 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)
Essential Beliefs
We Have Unity
Non Essential Beliefs
We Have Liberty
“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 fails. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. 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. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves.” (Romans 14:1, 4, 12, 22)
In All Beliefs
We Show Love
“If I had the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” (I Cor. 13:2)
Why We Exist
You were created for connection–to link arms with your community, the world at large, and the greatest source of hope and love in the universe–Jesus Christ. We exist to make your purpose become your reality.
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons we call the Trinity – 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; I Peter 1:2; II Corinthians 13:14.
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for 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’s glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
Matthew 1:22, 23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14, 15; I Corinthians 15:3, 4; Romans 1:3, 4; Acts 1:9-11; I Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13.
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son. He is present in the world to make humankind aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living; understand of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer a spiritual gift when they are saved. As Christians we seek to live under His daily control.
II Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13; 14:16, 17; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 2:12; 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18.
The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Bible is always true. It is the supreme source of truth and the supreme authority for Christian beliefs and living.
II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20, 21; II Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105; 160; 12:6; Proverbs 30:5.
Scripture teaches that we are made “in the image of God.” People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin.” This attitude separates people from God and causes many problems for life.
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1, 2.
We are saved, not by our works, but by trusting in Jesus' work on the cross. Because Jesus paid the penalty for sin, salvation is God’s free gift to us but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into one’s life by faith.
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8, 9; John 14:6; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1.
Because salvation is a free gift from God (Eph 2:8), the believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot “lose” it. Paul chastised the Galatian Christians for, "after beginning with the Spirit...now trying to attain their goal by human effort" (Gal 3:3). His point was that an offer which begins by grace, as a free promise, must continue to be made on the same basis or it stops being a promise. As soon as it becomes based on performance, it can no longer be a free gift.
John 10:29; II Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 10:10, 14; I Peter 1:3-5.
People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin in Hell or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation in Heaven. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of existence.
John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; Hebrews 9:27.