Our core beliefs are vital for healthy living in that our worldview, behavior, values, and emotions flow from what we believe and, therefore, what we focus our minds upon. In these important theological beliefs we follow the wise counsel that...
GOD
...in essential beliefs we have unity,
...in non-essential beliefs we have liberty,
...with all people we show charity.
All God’s truth, obviously, cannot be put into a brochure. We affirm that
God’s truth is found in the Bible and in the person, message, and life of
Jesus Christ.
We believe in one living and true God, eternal and of infinite power,
wisdom, goodness, and righteousness. He is a faithful God who is the creator
of all things. In the unity of this one Godhead, there are three persons of
one substance with identical qualities and attributes: The Father (God), the
Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. Life is found in this great God who
is worthy of our deepest worship.
JESUS
We believe in the divine, eternal nature of Jesus Christ, God’s only Son,
whose incarnation on earth began by being conceived by the power of the Holy
Spirit and born of the virgin, Mary. Christ was both fully man and fully
God. He walked our earth, suffered at the hands of men, was crucified, died,
and buried as a substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of humanity. The
purpose was to restore our relationship with God, which was broken by our
sin. Jesus is the only way for reconciliation with God. Christ rose from the
dead and ascended into heaven in full victory over Satan and sin. He now
sits at the right hand of God and intercedes for us until His triumphant
second coming.
HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Holy Spirit as the person of the trinity who lives within
followers of Jesus Christ, bestowing the love of God in their hearts. God
clearly calls His children to live a Spirit filled life. Evidence of a
Spirit led life is a heart of love, power for effective witness, and
spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ. Ephesians 5:18 clearly
teaches that the filling of the Spirit is continuous, is for all believers,
is a command from God, and is a work of God we receive by faith.
SCRIPTURES
We believe the Bible is God’s written word made up of the sixty-six books of
the Old and New Testaments. The Holy Bible is a trustworthy record of God’s
revelation, which was inspired by Almighty God. The Bible has unparalleled
spiritual authority and teaches the truth about God, creation, people,
salvation, and the destiny of all mankind. Whatever is not found in the
Bible is not necessary for salvation.
MAN
We believe man and woman were created in God’s image thus bestowing them
with intrinsic worth in God’s eyes unequalled in all creation. That image
has been bent and marred by an inherited sin nature expressing itself in
unbelief, rebellion, and disobedience toward God. People cannot become right
with God nor overcome their sin nature by themselves – we all need God’s
grace and mercy. We were created to fellowship with God, worship Him, and
manage His creation for His glory
.
SALVATION
We believe that Jesus Christ, the living Son of God, was given by God as a
sacrifice for the sins of all people. God, in His wondrous grace, loves the
sinner but hates the sin. Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for
our sin. Trust in Jesus Christ, recognizing Him as Savior and Lord, gives
men and women the free gift of eternal life.
LIFE OF FAITH
We believe God is completely faithful, His part of salvation is totally secure. We, on the other hand, are capable of spiritual backsliding – returning to a self directed rather than a Spirit led life – and also capable of apostasy- which is a renunciation of faith in the gospel. “If we disown Him (apostasy) He will also disown us, if we are faithless (backsliding) He will remain faithful.” (2 Tim. 2:12-13) A Christian can sin and still be a Christian although that damages their fellowship with God. But a Christian can’t renounce their faith in Christ and remain a child of God. This doesn’t mean that we “maintain” salvation by our efforts. We are secure as we continue, in faith, to believe in Christ as Savior. The Bible does warn us about the foolishness of backsliding and the dire consequences of apostasy. This is not to shake our spiritual confidence but to encourage a holy reverence that expresses itself in humble trust and sincere obedience. Anyone who believes Jesus is God’s Son and has declared allegiance to Him as Savior is saved.
God has predestined both the means of salvation to be through Christ and the goal of salvation, which is to produce a holy people. The scripture is clear that God wants all to be saved but not all will respond in faith to His call for salvation in Christ Jesus. God’s foreknowledge does not negate our responsibility to exercise our God given free will and to respond to His prevenient grace with our faith
SANCTIFICATION
We believe God‘s will for His children is to live a life of holiness by the power of the Holy Spirit. Sanctification is the second stage of salvation, after being born again, that continues throughout life on earth. Sanctification is both positional and progressive in nature. (Heb. 10:14) In Christ we are positionally set aside for God’s good will. Practically, we are on a journey of becoming more like Christ throughout our lives. Growth in holiness is a work of faith just like justification, or initial salvation, is a work of faith. (Rom. 1:16-17) Our “work” is to surrender in faith, moment by moment, to the Holy Spirit trusting Him to work the life of Christ in and through us. Then, again by faith, to step out in obedience to the known will of God in full reliance upon the Spirit’s help. The evidence of this type of sanctified life is godly love. (1 Cor. 13)
God’s plan for us spiritually is summed up in the Great Commandments to love God with our heart, soul, mind, and strength and, secondly, to love our neighbor as ourselves. Good works are actions, which express obedience to the Great Commandments. We are not made right in God’s eyes by good works but good works are signs that we are right with God. A God honoring life is built on cooperation with the Spirit in the transformation of our thought and behavioral patterns.
HEALING, ANGELS AND SATAN
We believe Jesus has the power to heal the broken in answer to believing
prayer. We also believe that every medical breakthrough is a gift from God
and should be utilized by God’s children. We are encouraged in the
scriptures to pray both with faith that God does miracles and with an
attitude of humility that we must not tell God how to run His universe.
Angels are messengers from God to minister in our lives. They are spiritual beings, not human, and they are not to be worshipped. Also, people do not become angels when they die.
Satan and his demons are fallen angels who hate God and us. Satan tempts, condemns, harasses, and tries to intimidate or divide us. Satan can cause great havoc but was defeated by Jesus on the cross. Christ’s victory is appropriated by God’s children when they bind and undo the works of Satan in Jesus' name through faith and obedience.
SACRAMENTS
We believe that God ordained two sacraments: the Lord’s supper and baptism.
The Lord’s supper, (communion), is received in remembrance of God’s love
shown to us in the death of Jesus Christ on the cross and reminds us to show
that type of forgiving, sacrificial love toward others. Baptism is an
outward sign of an inward spiritual reality. In baptism we are publicly
demonstrating our identification with and belief in the death and
resurrection of Jesus Christ. Baptism is symbolic of cleansing from sin. The
Bible clearly commands followers of Christ to participate in both
sacraments.
SECOND COMING
We believe that those who have heard about Christ and rejected Him will be under the wrath of God and destined, by their choice of unbelief and rebellion, to eternal separation from God. We believe in the personal return of Jesus Christ to receive His followers into heaven and eternal life. The time of His return is unknown and may be at any moment. This is the glorious hope of all God’s children. Heaven will far surpass the glory of this earth. Therefore we need to always be prepared and to be active in managing God’s resources for His glory until we stand before His throne in accountability.
CHURCH
We believe Jesus formed a new community of His followers called the church.
Jesus is it’s Lord, the Holy Spirit is it’s power. The church exists to
fulfill the purposes of the kingdom of God on earth in worship, fellowship,
worldwide mission, discipleship, social service, and healing. The church is
to be a community of unity in the Spirit although diverse in culture. The
church is to be a community that stands for grace and truth in Christ Jesus.
Being called the bride of Christ shows the church’s value to God. The church
must be careful not to turn spiritually seeking people away from kingdom of
God type life as taught by Jesus Christ through spiritual maladies such as
hypocrisy or apathy.
THE APOSTLE'S CREED
I believe in God The Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in
Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born of the virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead,
And buried: He descended into hell, and on the third day He rose again from
the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sits on the right hand of God, the
Father Almighty; From thence He will come to Judge the living and the Dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, The holy Christian church, The communion of saints, The forgiveness of sins, The resurrection of the body, And the life everlasting. Amen !
GOD:
Holy Trinity – Gen. 1:1-2; Exo. 3:13-15; Mt. 28:19; Jn 1:1-3; 5:19-23; 8:58; 2 Cor. 13:14.
Son – Mt. 1:21; 20:28: 26:27-28; Lk. 1:35; 19:10; 2 Cor. 5:18-19; Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 2:17; 9:14-15; Mt. 25:31-32; Lk. 24:1-7; 24:39; Jn. 20:19; Acts 1:9-11; 2:24; Rom. 8:33-34.
Holy Spirit - Mt. 28:19; Jn. 4:24; 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:13-15. Jn. 16:7-8; Acts 15:8-9; Rom. 8:9, 14-16: 2 Cor. 3:17-18; Gal. 4:6.
SCRIPTURES:
Deut. 4:2; 28:9; Ps. 19:7-11; Jn. 14:26; 17:17; Rom. 15:4; 2 Tim. 3:14-17:
Heb. 4:12; Jas. 1:21.
MAN:
Man – A Free Moral Person - Gen. 1:27; Ps, 51:5; 130:3; Rom. 5:17-19;
Eph. 2:8-10.
Law of Life and Love – Mt 23:35-40; Jn. 15:17; Gal. 3:28; 1 Jn. 4:19-21.
Good Works – Mt. 5:16; 7:16-20; Rom. 3:27-28; Eph. 2:10: 2 Tim. 1:8-9; Tit. 3:5.
SALVATION:
Christ's Sacrifice – Lk. 24:46-48; Jn. 3:16; Acts 4:12; Rom. 5:8-11;
Gal. 2:16; 3:2-3.
The New Life in Christ - Jn. 1:12-13; 3:3-8; Acts 13:38-39; Rom. 8:15-17; Eph. 2:8-9; 1 Pet. 1:23.
Entire Sanctification – Jn. 14:16-17; 17:19; Acts 1:8; 2:4; 15:8-9; Rom. 5:3-5; 8:12-17;12:1-2; 1 Cor. 6:11; 12:4-11; Gal. 5:22-25; Eph. 4:22-24; 1 Thess. 4:7; 5:23-24; 2 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 10:14
CHURCH:
Mt 16:15-18; 18:17; Acts 2:41-47; 9:31; 12:5; 14:23-26; 1 Cor. 1:2; 11:23;
12:28; 16:1; Eph. 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:9-10; 5:22-23; Col. 1:18; 1 Tim.
3:14-15.
Sacraments – Mt. 26:26-29; 28:19; Rom. 4:11; 1 Cor. 10:16-17; 11:23-26; Gal. 3:27.
Baptism – Acts 2:38, 41; 8:12-17; 9:18; 16:33; 18:8; 19:5; Jn 3:5; 1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27-29.
The Lord's Supper – Mk. 14:22-24; Jn. 6:53-58; Acts 2:46; 1 Cor. 5:7-8; 10:16; 11:20, 23-29.
LAST THINGS:
Kingdom of God – Mt. 6:10, 19-20; 24:14; Acts 1:8; Rom. 8:19-23; 1
Cor. 15:20-25.
The Return of Christ – Mt. 24:1-51; 26:64; Rev. 1:7; 19:11-16; 22:6-7, 12, 20.
Resurrection – Jn. 5:28-29; 1 Cor. 15:20, 51-57; 2 Cor. 4:13-14.
Judgment – Mt. 25:31-46; Lk. 11:31-32; Acts 10:42; 17:31; Rom. 2:15-16; 2 Cor. 5:6-10; Heb. 9:27-28; 10:26-31; 2 Pet 3:7.
Destiny – Mk. 9:42-48; Jn. 14:3; Heb. 2:1-3; Rev. 20:11-15; 21:22-27.