Statement of Faith
1. We believe that although the Bible was written by the hands of men, it is the inspired word of God and leads us to intimacy with Christ and salvation.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work."
2 Peter 1:20-21 "But notice first that no prophecy found in Scripture is a matter of the prophet’s own interpretation. Prophecy has never been a product of human initiative, but it comes when men and women are moved to speak on behalf of God by the Holy Spirit."
2. We believe in one God experienced in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Genesis 1:26-27 “Then God said, ‘Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.’ So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
Matthew 3:16-17 "After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”
Colossians 2:9 "For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body."
Romans 5:5 "And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love."
3. We believe that all of us have sinned and are in need of a Savior.
Romans 3:10 "As the Scriptures say, 'No one is righteous — not even one.' "
Romans 3:23 "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard."
4. We believe that no person, no matter how good, can earn his/her way to heaven.
Ephesians 2:8-9 "You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God’s gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. It isn’t something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about."
Isaiah 64:6 "We are all messed up like a person compromised with impurity; even all our right efforts are like soiled rags. Were drying up like a leaf in autumn and are blown away by wrongdoing."
5. We believe that Jesus provided a way for us to go to heaven through His death on the Cross and resurrection from the grave.
John 3:16 "For God expressed His love for the world in this way: He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not face everlasting destruction, but will have everlasting life."
Romans 10:9 "If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
6. We believe that salvation is a result of truly believing in Jesus and what He has done to remove our sin and that this belief is reflected in how we live.
Romans 10:10 "For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved."
John 20:31 "But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name."
Acts 3:19 "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord..."
7. We believe in and practice two symbolic elements that remind believers of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ: full immersion baptism and the taking of communion.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 "For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.' For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes."
Romans 6:3-4 "Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."
8. We believe that the church is not the building that houses our congregation but it is the people who come together to love, honor, and serve God, while meeting the needs of one another, our neighbors, and our community.
Acts 2:42-47 “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity — all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 “ Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”
9. We believe that it is the call of all followers of Christ to reach and build more followers of Christ who then repeat the process with others.
2 Timothy 2:2 “You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.”
Romans 10:14-15 “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, ‘How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!’ ”
10. We believe that we are commissioned by God to meet the needs of the hurting and poor both locally and globally.
Matthew 25:34-40 “’Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me. ‘Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ ‘And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ ”
James 1:27 “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”
11. We believe in the sanctity of marriage as ordained by God. It is an exclusive union between a man and a woman as described in scripture, anointed by God, and this church will only recognize and perform a marriage ceremony or civil union that fits the biblical description.
Genesis 1:23-24 “23 “At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’” 24 This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.
Matthew 19:4-6 “4 “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’ ” 5 And he said, “ ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ 6 Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”