OUR FAITH
Our Beliefs
We stand by the classic Christian creeds. We believe in: the Bible as our authority on all matters of faith and life; the Trinity; the incarnation of Jesus Christ by virgin birth; the effects of Jesus’s death on sin and sinners; the resurrection of Jesus Christ after three days; the ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven; the future second coming of Jesus Christ to the earth; salvation that is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
The Bible
We believe the Bible to be the Word of God, written by people inspired of God, true, inerrant, and complete. We accept what the Bible says in full, and we reject any human thought that goes against the Bible or beyond what it allows. 2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16-17
The Triune God
We believe in a God who is uniquely one, yet at the same time distinctly three—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three Persons are distinct yet not separate, eternally existing and co-equal with God. According to the New Testament, all three Persons are in the believers. 1 Timothy 2:5; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:6; Colossians 1:27; John 14:17
The Person and Work of Christ
Christ is eternally God, and he became a true and real man, our Lord Jesus, in His incarnation. He lived a sinless human life and, rejected by people, died on the cross as a perfect sacrifice for the sins of all mankind, thus accomplishing our redemption. He resurrected on the third day, becoming a life-giving Spirit to impart His life into us. He ascended to the right hand of God the Father and will one day return to claim the church as His Bride and establish His kingdom forever. John 1:14; Hebrews 4:15, 10:12; 1 Peter 2:24; Romans 3:24; Acts 10:40; 1 Corinthians 15:45; Acts 1:9-11, 2:33; Revelation 11:15, 19:7, 21:2
Salvation by Faith
Because of who Jesus Christ is and what He has done, we all can repent and believe in Him for the forgiveness of our sins, for our redemption, for our justification, for our sanctification, and to be born of God so that we would have His eternal life and become His children. As we mature in this life, we become conformed to the image of the Son so that He might one day be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. This is our salvation by grace through faith. Acts 2:38; John 3:16; Acts 16:31; Romans 3:24-25, 6:22; John 1:12, 3:36; Romans 8:29; Ephesians 2:8-9
The Church
We consider all believers in Jesus Christ to be members of the Church, the universal body of Christ—regardless of race, age, sex, class, measure of faith, or portion of ministry they have received from God. We are given gifts so that every member is equipped to build up this body. Just as the wisdom of God is made known through His universal church, the New Testament shows us a pattern of churches in cities as the local, practical expressions of the universal church. Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:8-12, 3:10; Colossians 3:11; Revelation 1:11, 1:20; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:2, 3:28; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; Titus 1:5