What We Believe

Section 1: The Trinity

We worship one God who exists in eternal love between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons — the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Stated differently, God is one in essence and three in person. These definitions express three crucial truths: (1) the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons, (2) each Person is fully God, (3) there is only one God.

Section 2: God

The Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory. (Genesis 1:1; John. 1:1-2, 10:30, 14:7-10; Colossians 1:15-19; Romans 1:20

Section 3: Jesus Christ

We worship and follow Jesus the Messiah, God’s only begotten son, fully God and fully human, who took up his cross and beckoned us to follow (Matthew 16:24-25) and was physically raised from the dead (Luke 23:44 – 24:8; John 20:24-29; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8) thereby providing the capacity for salvation and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate.

Section 4: Holy Spirit

We worship the Holy Spirit of God (John 4:24), the Spirit of the crucified and risen Christ who is our Advocate and Comforter, given that we might be convicted of sin (John 16:5-16) and then walk in faithfulness and give and receive forgiveness. He also indwells, illuminates, guides, equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service.

Section 5: The Bible

We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises. We affirm that Scripture is God’s unique and inspired word (2 Peter 1:20-21), preserved through history for the purpose of giving us the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Corinthians 2:13).

Section 6: Humanity

We recognize God’s aim is to save all people. Although God created everything and called it “good,” sin entered the world. As the recipients of God’s grace in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-10) we become a new creation (Jeremiah 31:31-34; 2 Corinthians 5:17) and we work toward the future renewal of this world (Romans 8:19, 2 Peter 3:11-13) to live in complete community with one another under Christ through eternity.

Section 7: The Church

We believe that the true church comprises all who have been justified by God’s grace through faith alone in Christ alone. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. We are a small part of the global Church as the community of salvation, the bride of Christ (Revelation 21:1-2). In the midst of human sin and need, God’s mission to save the world is directed toward, and is experienced by, being in community with one another.

Section 8: Living Life

We believe that God’s justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our faith with care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the oppressed. With God’s Word, the Spirit’s power, and fervent prayer in Christ’s name, we are to combat the spiritual forces of evil. In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed.

Section 9: Baptism

We practice baptism as the symbol of one’s new birth into the new creation. It depicts our entrance into Christian community that is ruled by the story of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. With a new identity, we are symbolizing dying to ourselves (Romans 6:3-4) in allowing the Spirit to transform us into the unified community of those who belong to God (Matthew 28:18-20). We affirm the pattern in Scripture to be a believer's baptism by immersion (Acts 2:38-41).

Section 10: Communion

We practice communion as the symbol of coming together and partaking of the same meal that Jesus had with his disciples before He was crucified. By doing so, we are affirming Christ’s presence among us, and in one another (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Participation in this practice is open to all.

Section 11: Salvation

We believe that salvation that is offered through Jesus is based on God’s grace, not merit. Salvation can’t be earned; it is a gift from God. What we could not do for ourselves (reconcile our relationship with God), Jesus did for us through His death on the cross. God lovingly offers salvation to every person; every person has the freedom to accept this gift from God. 

Section 12: Christ’s Return

We believe in the bodily ascension of Jesus to heaven, his exaltation, and his personal, literal, and bodily coming again the second time for the Church (John 14:2-3;1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.

Section 13: Eternal Destiny

We believe that God commands everyone everywhere to believe the gospel by turning to Him in repentance and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace.