What We Believe

The Bible is the Word of God. It is comprised of 39 books known as the Old Testament and 27 books known as the New Testament. As God’s Word written by human authors under the supernatural inspiration of the Holy Spirit, it is the infallible, authoritative witness to the Truth. It is God’s revelation of His redemptive plan and purpose in written form for all of creation and is the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.

2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5; John 8:31-32

God is the Sovereign Creator, Sustainer and Ruler of all. He has eternally existed in three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal in nature, essence and being and are one God.

Genesis 1:1; Psalm 90:2; Psalm 115:3; Psalm 103:19; Isaiah 14:24; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Acts 17:24-25; 1 Corinthians 8:6; John 14:16-17

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is none other than God come to us through the mystery and miracle of the Incarnation. Being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, He is fully God and fully human. He lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the complete and perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying a substitutionary death on a cross in accordance to God’s redemptive plan. He rose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death and make a new and living way for all people to be reconciled to God by faith in Jesus. He ascended to heaven’s glory where He makes intercession for the saints and will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords bringing to completion God’s redemptive plan.

John 1:1-5, 14; Colossians 1:15-17; Colossians 2:9; Matthew 1:22-24; Isaiah 9:6; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; Philippians 2:5-11; Titus 2:13

The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to convict people of their sin make them aware of their need for salvation in Jesus Christ. He also lives in every believer from the moment of salvation, applying the redemptive work of Christ in them as new creations. He empowers all followers of Christ to live in holiness and serve the Church with their various gifts. Every believer seeks to live under His leading and control daily.

John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:22-25; 1 Corinthians 12:4-13; Ephesians 4:30; Galatians 5:16; Romans 8:5

All people are created in the image of God. This is the foundation of human dignity and identity. We were created to be His image bearers in the world. That is, we are created and called to glorify and honor God and fulfill His purposes throughout creation. All human beings have rebelled against God and His will. As a result, sin has corrupted all of humanity. All of us have turned away from God to seek our own way. We are all estranged and alienated from God because of our sin. But God who is rich in mercy has made a way for us to be reconciled to Him. He lovingly and graciously calls us, by His Word and Spirit, to turn from sin and place our faith and trust in the person and finished work of Jesus Christ.

Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 8:3-6; Psalm 100:3; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 3:23; 1 Corinthians 2:14; 1 John 1:8-10

Salvation is a gift from God to humankind through which we are both forgiven for our sin and spared from God’s just wrath on sin. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Our forgiveness and reconciliation with God comes only through repentance, confession and trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s atoning sacrifice. Through God’s merciful and gracious offer of forgiveness in Christ, we can be saved from sin’s penalty and freed from its power. Eternal and abundant life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ by faith.

John 3:16; Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Mark 1:15; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Romans 8:1-2; Romans 5:1

We believe the Church is comprised of all believers who are in Christ. The Church is the universal spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. The Church is both universal (all believers everywhere) and local (a gathering of believers in a specific time and place). The Church gathers for worship, prayer, proclamation of the Word, mutual encouragement and other spiritual practices that edify the body. The mission of the church, both universal and local, is to make disciples of Jesus Christ teaching them the way of Christ.

Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 2:20-22; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Hebrews 10:23–25

Baptism by immersion in water symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and is the public declaration that you have placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior. Baptism is not a requirement for salvation. It is a biblical command given to all believers to publicly testify of their faith in Christ as celebrated by the Church.

Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:41; Ephesians 2: 8-9; Matthew 28:19-20

Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, is given to all believers by Jesus Christ to remember his sacrifice for us and to symbolize the new covenant. The elements of bread and wine (or juice) are symbols of Christ’s body and shed blood. Communion is not a means of salvation. Rather, it is a testament of a believer’s faith in the atoning work of the cross. Through Communion we experience a renewed sense of God’s grace in Jesus Christ.

Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19,20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29

All of history is moving towards God’s full and final consummation of his kingdom, salvation and judgment. The time of Christ’s return is unknown, but will occur when the gospel has been preached to all nations and in accordance with Father’s good pleasure. God’s people should therefore share the gospel with others. People have been created to exist forever. At the final judgment Satan’s defeat is final. Those who have forgiveness and salvation in Jesus Christ will be in eternal union with God. This will be a perfect kingdom where death is defeated, righteousness dwells and God will reign forever. Those who have perpetually rebelled against God and forsaken Jesus Christ will be separated from God and experience eternal death and suffering in Hell.

John 3:16, Romans 6:23; Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:10; Hebrews 9:27-28; Mark 13:26-27; Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Peter 3:13; Mark 14:62; Revelation 20:10-15; 21:1-6