What We Believe

The nature of God is far beyond our ability to comprehend it. We are not likely to ever learn how to fully describe God. However, as Peter’s sermon at Pentecost makes clear, “This Jesus, being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, has shed forth this which you both see and hear” (Acts 2:33). We believe in one God who exists in three “persons”: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We believe our Lord Jesus Christ was begotten, not created, fully God and fully man. He was born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, suffered under Pontius Pilate, died an atoning death on a Roman cross for the sins of the world, was buried in a borrowed grave, and rose from the dead for our justification. He ascended into heaven and now reigns in glory until He returns to make everything whole. He alone is “the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) Through Him we are saved.

We believe the Holy Spirit indwells all believers, imparting spiritual truth and spiritual gifts, and conforming them to the image of Jesus Christ.  The Spirit is at work in the lives unbelievers as well, imparting God’s prevenient grace and preparing their hearts before they are even aware of it.

We believe that the Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God, through which God conveys His true nature and purpose to His people.  The Scriptures were given by the Holy Spirit through the agency of human writers and were subsequently gathered and established as canon by the early Christian Church. We believe the Church has no authority to enforce any doctrine or practice contrary to these Scriptures.

We believe humankind was made by God in His image—created by Him to be in relationship with Him. This alone gives us worth.  However, by reason of the fall, humanity is mired in their sin and alienated from their Creator. Apart from God’s grace, we have no ability to bridge that gap.

We believe that one of the key messages of the gospel is that God forgives everyone who asks Him for forgiveness. Indeed, God not only forgives us, He justifies us by His grace, which means God treats us as though we were not guilty.  This is what it means to be saved. There is nothing we can do to earn God’s favor.  We need only accept this free gift of God’s unmerited favor and ask Jesus to be Lord of our lives.

We believe that those who are called by the name of Christ should turn away from sinful ways. Understanding that salvation is only the beginning of the faith journey, we acknowledge the work of the Holy Spirit to create in us the character of Christ.  Right faith should create in us a desire for right living.  Through God’s sanctifying grace, we are guided toward Christian perfection and freedom from the power of sin. Sin affects every area of our lives, and God brings healing to each of these areas. He works not only to forgive us but to completely restore us to His original purpose for us.

We believe that God does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called.  The calling of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers are a part of God’s plan for the Body of Christ until Jesus returns. God places a call on the heart of each of His people and, through the Holy Spirit, imparts the gifts and abilities needed to live out that calling.  These ministries are gifts to the Church for the purpose of equipping the saints for the work of ministry for the benefit of the Body of Christ.

We believe the Body of Christ on earth is primarily perceived through the local church. By this we mean that believers experience God’s Church through their local congregation.  It’s also the means by which unbelievers are most likely to encounter Christ. Local churches offer heritage and innovation, things old and things new. They are creative and dynamic gatherings of Christians within a specific time and place. They are meant to become spiritual families for believers walking through life together and learning how to cooperate for the purpose of ministering to the needs the least, the last, and the lost in the name of Christ.

We believe all God’s people are called to die to our old selves and be raised with our Lord Jesus Christ in the waters of baptism. Baptism is not required for salvation. Nor is it an act of salvation.  Rather, baptism is the way Jesus commanded us to confess our belief in His person, His work, and His teaching (Matthew 6:4). Therefore, when we make our decision to turn away from our old life of sin—a decision that Christians call repentance—we submit ourselves for baptism. When we do this in faith, God meets us in the water to make a profound change in us. We rise from the water to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).