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 What we believe about: God: God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit— co-equal in power and glory, having the same attributes and perfections. (Genesis 1:1, 26-27; 3:22; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 90:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2) Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven's glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We believe Jesus is coming again to judge the living and the dead. (Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Peter 4:5; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13) The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make us aware of our need for Jesus. He lives in every believer from the moment of salvation and provides power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. (2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13-14; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18) The Bible: We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and the final authority for faith and life. We believe that it is without error in the original writings, infallible, and God-breathed. (Psalm 119:105,160; Proverbs 30:5; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; Matthew 5:18; John 16:12, 13). People: People are created in the image and likeness of God to reflect His glory. We believe that every person has worth as a creation of God, but all have sinned and fall short of God’s perfection, making a relationship with God by human effort impossible. (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2) The Church: The church is made up of people who have trusted in Jesus. It is the community of God and the body of Christ on earth and exists to continue the mission of Jesus. Jesus is the sole head of the church, not any person, group, or religious organization. While we value associating and cooperating with other groups of Christians, we believe every local congregation is directly under the leadership of God. (1 Corinthians 12:27; Matthew 28:19-20; John 10:10; Ephesians 4:11-14; Colossians 1:18) Salvation: Salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith. We are saved from sin’s penalty by trusting in Jesus Christ and his sacrifice as God’s offer of forgiveness. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his or her life by faith. We show our faith publicly through baptism. (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6; 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1; John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18–19) The Ministry and Spiritual Gifts: Spiritual gifts are God-given abilities for serving and building up of the church. We believe that it is the privilege and responsibility of every believer to minister according to the gift(s) and grace of God that is given. (Romans 12:1–8; 1 Corinthians 13; 1 Peter 4:10–11). |
