Beliefs

The statements below are the foundational Scriptural teachings that sit behind who we are, help guide our spiritual formation and motivate how we live our lives.

GOD

God (Yahweh) is the creator, sustainer, and redeemer of everything that exists. He is the one and only God manifesting Himself in three persons-the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (i.e. Trinity). These three persons have the same nature, are co-equal and co-existent.

Genesis 1 & 2
John 14:15-2
Colossians 1:15-20

JESUS

Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. He was God in the flesh, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He was sinless, yet He gave His life for the sins of the world by dying on the cross. He rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of God, and is our great High Priest and Advocate. He alone can restore the relationship of mankind to God.

Isaiah 53
Matthew 1:18-25
I Corinthians 15:1-8
Colossians 1:15-20
Hebrews 1:1-4

THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity. He is the Spirit of God and Christ, filling, comforting, empowering and guiding those obedient to Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is the present and active person and power of Jesus that empowers God’s people to live into the mission of the kingdom of God.

Genesis 1:1-2
Joel 2:28-29
John 14:15-21
I John 2:1-6
Acts 1:7-8
Romans 8
I Corinthians 12
Galatians 5:16-26

SIN & MAN

Man is created in the image and likeness of God. The first man, Adam, rebelled against God, fell from a right relationship with Him, and in so doing, introduced sin and death into the world. All human beings share Adam's sinful, fallen nature. We are all naturally sinful and we need Jesus to rescue us from our sin.

Genesis 3:13-17
Romans 5:12-13
I Corinthians 15:22

SALVATION & GRACE

God sent Jesus to save mankind from his sins and restore his relationship with God. Jesus was sacrificed on the cross, died, and was resurrected, atoning for the sins of all who believe in Him. Man can do nothing to earn his salvation. It is grace — a free gift of God through faith.

Romans 3:10-24
Ephesians 2:1-10

THE MISSION OF GOD'S PEOPLE

We are called to join with God in His ongoing project of restoring the world. He has invited us, commissioned us, in the name and way of Jesus so that the world will know that God loves them, is grieved by their current condition and rebellion, and has offered them a way back to the family that they were created to live in. We show this love in a variety of ways in order to let people know that we care and that God loves them and wants them to come home.

Matthew 25:31-46
Matthew 28:18-20
II Corinthians 5:11-21
I Peter 1:9-12

SCRIPTURES

The Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are inspired by God and are the Divine authority for all Christian faith and life.

Psalm 119:9-16
II Timothy 3:16-17

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

The return of Jesus is to be eagerly anticipated. It gives Christians the courage to pray without ceasing, to work with energy, to expose falsehood, and to strive for justice and peace. Godly men and women hold a number of views concerning the return of Jesus Christ. These are matters of scriptural interpretation and so should not be used as a test of faith or fellowship.

I Thessalonians 3:11-13, 4:13-18
I Corinthians 15:20-28

THE ETERNAL STATE

Those who are “in Christ” have already been raised with Christ and seated in the heavenly place where Christ is (Ephesians 2:1-10). Eternity is already under way and we are awaiting the time when Jesus will return to finish what He started and make all things new. Those who have trusted Jesus and died before His return will be raised back to life and given new bodies that are equipped for their eternal existence in this new creation. Those who have rejected Jesus in this age will spend eternity apart from Him.

I Corinthians 15:20-28
Hebrews 9:27-28
II Corinthians 5:1-10

BAPTISM

Baptism is the public sign that we have declared our allegiance to Jesus and to His body, the church. The act is a symbol of our life with God. Being immersed under the waters is symbolic of being crucified with Christ, our sins buried. Our emergence from the water proclaims a resurrected life, being made new in Jesus. The water has no saving power; that is God’s work. The symbolism and importance of baptism is seen in the life of Jesus and in the life of the church after the resurrection.

We understand that there are many traditions in regards to baptism. We practice baptism by immersion for those who have come to an understanding of their sin, recognize their need for God’s grace and have confessed Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Romans 6:3-4
Mark 1:9
Acts 2

COMMUNION

On the night that Jesus was betrayed, He shared the traditional Passover meal with His disciples. During this meal, He helped His followers to re-imagine this feast in light of what would happen to him days later. He would give His life as atonement for the sins of humanity and to conquer the power of sin and death. During this meal, He took the wine and the bread and told His disciples that whenever they eat this bread or drink this cup they are proclaiming His death until He returns. There is also the mystery of Christ’s presence in this meal. When we take the bread and the cup, we are invited to encounter Jesus. We practice this remembrance feast each week and invite all who look to Jesus for God’s grace and mercy to join us at the table.

Matthew 26