What We Believe
There is one Body and one Spirit . . . there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of us all . . . Ephesians 4:4-6
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 coequal and are one God. Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; 3:22; Deut 6: 4; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14
ABOUT JESUS CHRIST—Jesus is the Son of God. He is coequal with the Father. Jesus came to the earth in human form and lived a sinless life. He offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He was raised from the dead after three days to demonstrate his power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven's glory and reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords. He will return someday for the final judgment and to take all believers to eternity. 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 coequal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides believers with power for living, understanding spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer spiritual gifts when they are saved. As Christians, we seek to live under his daily control. 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16, 17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18
ABOUT THE BIBLE—The Bible is God's Word to us. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth of Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105, 160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5
ABOUT HUMANKIND—People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like him in character. People are the supreme object of God's creation. Every person is conceived and born with the spiritual condition called original sin. Our disobedience toward God, our sin, is what separates us from God. Our sin and the sins of others causes life's problems. Our sin is why we need forgiveness. Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1,2
ABOUT SALVATION—Salvation is God's free gift to us in Jesus Christ. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's substitute can we be saved from sin's penalty. We trust in Jesus' death and resurrection as the act of salvation that offers the forgiveness of our sins and our adoption into God's family. Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1
ABOUT ETERNITY—People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. 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 eternal existence. John 3:16, 2:25; 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; Matthew 1:8, 2:44,46