Our Beliefs

The Bible

We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are given by God’s inspiration. We believe the Scriptures were written by God through people and, therefore, speak with the authority of God while reflecting the backgrounds, styles, and vocabularies of the human authors. They are the unique and final authority on all matters of Christian faith and practice.

God

We believe in one God, creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. We believe he was raised from the dead, ascended into heaven, and now acts as the only mediator between God and people.

The Holy Spirit

We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit helps us to apply the saving work of Christ. God does this by bringing conviction of a person’s need for the forgiveness of Christ. He regenerates their heart and then permanently indwells them when they believe. His ongoing work is to guide, and instruct, the believer for godly living providing power to be a witness for Him. We also believe in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit that empowers for service through the indwelling of the heart to fulfill the fivefold ministry and the gifts of the Spirit.

Acts 1:4-5, 8, Acts 2:3-4, Eph. 5:18, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 11:15-16, Acts 8:12-17

Humanity

We believe that people were created in the image of God for a loving relationship with God. However, people have rebelled against God, actively or passively choosing to go their own independent way. As a result, we’re separated from God and suffer the corruption of our nature because of our sin. The effects of this fall from our intended relationship with God can be reversed through faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins.

Regeneration by the Spirit

For anyone to know God, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.

John 6:44, 65; Matthew 19:28; Titus 3:5

Salvation

We believe that Jesus Christ died as the substitution for the death penalty we owe. No amount of good works or human effort can restore us from our state of eternal alienation from God. It is only by God’s free grace that we are saved from this state of alienation, and this grace is appropriated by a change of heart toward God’s leadership in our lives and by faith in Jesus to forgive our sins. The first step is an acknowledgment of one’s sins, the second is to ask Jesus to forgive one’s sins, and the third is to follow Jesus into Baptism. These steps reflect the example of Jesus in Death, Burial & Resurrection.

Repentance

Repentance is the commitment to turn away from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Christ, which allows us to receive His redemption and to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Thus, through repentance, we receive forgiveness for our sins and appropriate salvation.

Acts 2:21, 3:19; 1 John 1:9

Sanctification

Sanctification is the ongoing process of yielding to God’s Word and His Spirit in order to complete the development of Christ’s character in us. It is through the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life.

1 Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23; 2 Corinthians 3:18, 6:14-18, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, Romans 8:29, 12:1-2, Hebrews 2:11

Jesus' Blood

The Blood that Jesus Christ shed on the Cross of Calvary was sinless and is 100% sufficient to cleanse mankind of all sin. Jesus allowed Himself to be punished for both our sinfulness and our sins, enabling all those who believe to be free from the penalty of sin, which is death.

1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5, 5:9; Colossians 1:20; Romans 3:10-12, 23, 5:9; John 1:29

Resurrection

Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after His death on the cross. In addition, both the saved and the lost will be resurrected; those that are saved to the resurrection of life and those that are lost to the resurrection of eternal damnation.

Luke 24:16, 36, 39; John 2:19-21, 20:26-28, 21:4; Acts 24:15; 1 Corinthians 15:42, 44; Philippians 1:21-23, 3:21

Jesus Christ Indwells All Believers

Christians are people who have invited the Lord Jesus Christ to come and live inside them by His Holy Spirit. They relinquish the authority of their lives to Him, thus making Jesus the Lord of their lives and Savior. They put their trust in what Jesus accomplished for them when He died, was buried, and rose again from the dead.

John 1:12; John 14:17, 23; John 15:4; Romans 8:11; Revelation 3:20

Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Given at Pentecost, it is the promise of the Father, sent by Jesus after His Ascension, to empower the Church to preach the Gospel throughout the whole earth.

Joel 2:28-29; Matthew 3:11; Mark 16:17; Acts 1:5, 2:1-4, 17, 38-39, 8:14-17, 10:38, 44-47, 11:15-17, 19:1-6

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, and confirm the power of the Gospel. The Bible’s lists of these gifts are not necessarily exhaustive, and the gifts may occur in various combinations. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of Biblical parameters.

Hebrews 2:4; Romans 1:11, 12 :4-8; Ephesians 4:16; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6-7; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31, 14:1-40; 1 Peter 4:10

The Church

We believe that there is only one true Church composed of all people who have asked Jesus Christ for forgiveness and made Him leader of their lives. The diversity of all believers working together, using their gifts to build up one another, forms the parts of the body of Christ, the Church. The scripture commands believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, the teaching of God’s Word, using our gifts to build up one another, outreach, communion, and baptism. Wherever God’s people meet in obedience to this command, there is the local expression of the church. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church, and that every local church has the right under Christ to decide and govern its own affairs.

Sacraments

Water Baptism: Following faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the new convert is commanded by the Word of God to be baptized in water in the Name of Jesus. (Acts 2:38)
The Lord’s Supper: A unique time of communion in the presence of God when the elements of bread and grape juice (the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ) are taken in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross. (Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-25)
Marriage: We believe marriage is defined in the Bible as a covenant, a sacred bond between one man and one woman, instituted by and publicly entered into before God. (Matthew 19:4-6)

Healing of the Sick

Healing of the sick is illustrated in the life and ministry of Jesus and included in the commission of Jesus to His disciples. It is given as a sign, which is to follow believers. It is also a part of Jesus’ work on the cross and one of the gifts of the Spirit.

Psalm 103:2-3; Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 16:17-18; Acts 8:6-7; James 5:14-16; 1 Corinthians 12:9, 28; Romans 11:29

The Second Coming

Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for the second time to establish His Kingdom. This will occur on a date undisclosed by the Scriptures.

Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelation 1:7

God's Will For Provision

It is the Father’s will for believers to become whole, healthy, and successful in all areas of life. Because of the fall, many may not receive the full benefits of God’s will while on Earth, but that fact should never prevent all believers from seeking the full benefits of Christ’s provision in order to better serve others.

Spiritual: John 3:3-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Romans 10:9-10
Mental and Emotional: 2 Timothy 1:7, 2:11; Philippians 4:7-8; Romans 12:2; Isaiah 26:3
Physical: Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24
Financial: Joshua 1:8; Malachi 3:10-11; Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6-10; Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Psalm 34:10, 84:11; Philippians 4:19

Heaven

Heaven is the eternal dwelling place for all believers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 5:3, 12, 20, 6:20, 19:21, 25:34; John 17:24; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Hebrews 11:16; 1 Peter 1:4

Hell

After living one life on earth, the unbelievers will be judged by God and sent to Hell where they will be eternally tormented with the Devil and the Fallen Angels.

Matthew 25:41; Mark 9:43-48; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 14:9-11, 20:12-15, 21:8

Spiritual Growth

As our Christ-like character develops, we become more loving people. Evidence of this is- by the Fruits of the Spirit of God being displayed in our lives, which are: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control.

Our spiritual growth involves a relationship with Jesus Christ and with others. We are committed to value each individual and live relationally with one another. We use our gifts to serve God and others. People in need cross our path every day and we believe the scriptures show the Body of Christ as the church that meets the needs of people who are oppressed and marginalized in our community and beyond.

Sexual Morality

We believe God has set forth in the Bible His standards for our lives including those regarding sexuality and marriage. The Bible says that marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. The Bible further provides that any sexual acts and behavior outside of the marriage covenant is a sin. The exercise of sexual expression outside of the biblical definition of marriage in any manner, including but not limited to homosexuality, adultery, premarital sex, or co-habitation, is contradictory to the teachings of Scripture and the principles governing the Church.