Believe
For the Christian, belief is more than merely intellectually agreeing to a creed. It is a life-altering loyalty (trust) in the reality of the Gospel—a loyalty which reorients a person’s worldview, self-identity, values, and habits.
(Reference: John 3:16-18; John 4:42; James 2:19-20)
For the Christian, belief is more than merely intellectually agreeing to a creed. It is a life-altering loyalty (trust) in the reality of the Gospel—a loyalty which reorients a person’s worldview, self-identity, values, and habits.
(Reference: John 3:16-18; John 4:42; James 2:19-20)
God
God is the one true, living God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is the creator of the cosmos and the King of Eternity. Despite His triune nature, He is only one in essence.
(Reference: Deuteronomy 6:4)
God is the one true, living God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is the creator of the cosmos and the King of Eternity. Despite His triune nature, He is only one in essence.
(Reference: Deuteronomy 6:4)
The Father
God the Father is the person of the Trinity who sits enthroned as King of creation, ordering and directing all things to His purpose, pleasure, and grace. He created the universe and all that is within it (seen and unseen). He graciously involves Himself in the affairs of men, hears and answers prayer, and rescues us from the sin and death which comes from our rebellious choices.
(Reference: Matthew 6:9; John 5:19-24; Ephesians 1:3-6)
God the Father is the person of the Trinity who sits enthroned as King of creation, ordering and directing all things to His purpose, pleasure, and grace. He created the universe and all that is within it (seen and unseen). He graciously involves Himself in the affairs of men, hears and answers prayer, and rescues us from the sin and death which comes from our rebellious choices.
(Reference: Matthew 6:9; John 5:19-24; Ephesians 1:3-6)
Only Son
Jesus Christ is God the Son, who was born miraculously to an unmarried virgin, as prophesy had foretold. As such, He is God-with-us, the God-man, fully God and fully man. By becoming man, He eliminated the distance our natures; by living sinlessly and dying, He paid the debt of our sins; and by His resurrection, He destroys even death itself. We believe that He is seated at God’s right hand, serving as Lord of the Universe. He will return to earth to institute a new kingdom without death or sin.
(Reference: John 1:14-18; 1 Corinthians 15; Hebrews 2:17-18;
Romans 3:24-26; Revelation 20:11-15; Colossians 2:9)
Jesus Christ is God the Son, who was born miraculously to an unmarried virgin, as prophesy had foretold. As such, He is God-with-us, the God-man, fully God and fully man. By becoming man, He eliminated the distance our natures; by living sinlessly and dying, He paid the debt of our sins; and by His resurrection, He destroys even death itself. We believe that He is seated at God’s right hand, serving as Lord of the Universe. He will return to earth to institute a new kingdom without death or sin.
(Reference: John 1:14-18; 1 Corinthians 15; Hebrews 2:17-18;
Romans 3:24-26; Revelation 20:11-15; Colossians 2:9)
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity of God, who executes the will of God in the world of men. It is the Holy Spirit who applies the salvation of Jesus Christ to those with faith; who convicts us of our sins; who empowers us with spiritual gifts to benefit the church; and who seals our salvation in eternal decree.
(Reference: 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 2:10; John 3:1-8; John 16:4-15;
Ephesians 1:13-14; John 15:16; Galatians 5:16-25)
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity of God, who executes the will of God in the world of men. It is the Holy Spirit who applies the salvation of Jesus Christ to those with faith; who convicts us of our sins; who empowers us with spiritual gifts to benefit the church; and who seals our salvation in eternal decree.
(Reference: 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 2:10; John 3:1-8; John 16:4-15;
Ephesians 1:13-14; John 15:16; Galatians 5:16-25)
Universal Church
The universal Church is the worldwide collection of believers. The Holy Spirit regenerates us from our broken sin, and puts us together globally to live for God’s glory as His Kingdom-in-waiting. The local churches are communities of believers who God brings into co-ministry to carry one another’s burdens, equip one another to live faithfully, and lead individuals into belief and maturity. Together, all the saints (past, present, and future) share their gifts together and share in God’s salvation, an eternal family covenantal relationship the ancients called the communion of saints.
(Reference: Hebrews 10:23-25; Acts 2:41-47; Acts 4:1-16;
1Cor 12-14; Matthew 16:13-28; Ephesians 2:19-22; John 1:12-13;
Ephesians 2:10; Revelation 21:22-27)
The universal Church is the worldwide collection of believers. The Holy Spirit regenerates us from our broken sin, and puts us together globally to live for God’s glory as His Kingdom-in-waiting. The local churches are communities of believers who God brings into co-ministry to carry one another’s burdens, equip one another to live faithfully, and lead individuals into belief and maturity. Together, all the saints (past, present, and future) share their gifts together and share in God’s salvation, an eternal family covenantal relationship the ancients called the communion of saints.
(Reference: Hebrews 10:23-25; Acts 2:41-47; Acts 4:1-16;
1Cor 12-14; Matthew 16:13-28; Ephesians 2:19-22; John 1:12-13;
Ephesians 2:10; Revelation 21:22-27)
Forgiveness of Sins
As believers in Christ, our many sins have been forgiven and our debts paid by Jesus’ work on the cross. As those forgiven by the Lord, we have no right to refuse to pass along the same forgiveness to others. The centrality of the Gospel makes confession, repentance, and forgiveness a fundamental habit of who we are.
(Reference: Colossians 3:13; Matthew 6:14-15; Luke 17:3-4;
Ephesians 4:31-32; 1John 1:9; John 3:16-18)
As believers in Christ, our many sins have been forgiven and our debts paid by Jesus’ work on the cross. As those forgiven by the Lord, we have no right to refuse to pass along the same forgiveness to others. The centrality of the Gospel makes confession, repentance, and forgiveness a fundamental habit of who we are.
(Reference: Colossians 3:13; Matthew 6:14-15; Luke 17:3-4;
Ephesians 4:31-32; 1John 1:9; John 3:16-18)
Resurrection of the Body
We believe that Jesus Christ was resurrected in the body, the firstfruits of a coming eternal resurrection. The afterlife is not merely a spiritual existence, but is a re-making of the world as it was before the Fall—a restoration of Creation. The next great event of human history will be the blessed return of Jesus Christ to initiate the new and eternal paradise. We will live, work, and commune together in the new, sinless, everlasting life.
(Reference: 1Corinthians 15:23-38; John 20:27; Revelation 21;
Matthew 27:52; Daniel 12:2; Revelation 20:12-13; 1Thessalonians 4:16)
We believe that Jesus Christ was resurrected in the body, the firstfruits of a coming eternal resurrection. The afterlife is not merely a spiritual existence, but is a re-making of the world as it was before the Fall—a restoration of Creation. The next great event of human history will be the blessed return of Jesus Christ to initiate the new and eternal paradise. We will live, work, and commune together in the new, sinless, everlasting life.
(Reference: 1Corinthians 15:23-38; John 20:27; Revelation 21;
Matthew 27:52; Daniel 12:2; Revelation 20:12-13; 1Thessalonians 4:16)