Purpose and Beliefs

Purpose

helping people follow Jesus together

Jesus

who He is, what He has done, and what He is doing are of ultimate importance to our church and to our lives. He is our Savior, Sustainer, and Lord. We want to follow Him closely in everything so all we are and do points to Him.

helping people follow

regardless of where people are in their spiritual journey, we are ready to help them see the wonder and beauty of Jesus and to encourage and support them in their efforts to know him better and to live life according to His teaching, values, and desires.

together

we recognize that following Jesus is not a solo journey. It is a community adventure in which each member is committed to the well-being of all the others and has a specific, God-given role to play in the health of the community.

What We Believe

In essential beliefs we have unity.
In non-essential beliefs we have liberty.
In everything we show love.
(Ephesians 4:4-6; Romans 14:1, 4, 12, 22; I Corinthians 13:2)

Our Essential Beliefs

About God

We believe in one God, the creator of all things, who eternally exists in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and who each possess the same attributes of deity. (Genesis 1:1; Genesis 1:26-27; Isaiah 43:10, 13; Exodus 3:14; Matthew 28:19, 20; Colossians 1:17)

About Jesus

We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born through the virgin Mary, making Him both fully God and man. He lived a sinless life and offered His life as a perfect sacrifice to God to accomplish our redemption through death on a cross. After three days He rose from the dead, demonstrating His Godly power over sin and death, and ascended to heaven, guaranteeing the redemption of all who believe. He now sits at the right hand of the Father where He acts as our mediator between us and God. One day He will return to earth to judge the living and the dead, all things will be united to Him, and He will reign as King. (Matthew 1:18, 25:31-46; John 1:1-3, 14; Acts 4:12; Romans 1:4; II Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:1-14;)

About the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus. He is promised to all believers and equips, convicts, comforts, counsels, guides and empowers them to live Jesus-like lives, serve the church and reach out to our broken world. (Matthew 28:19; John 14:26, 16:7-15; Acts 1:5, 8, 2:1-40; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 12:4-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)

About Humanity

We believe all people were created in the image of God to be in perfect relationship with God, free from sin. However, people fell from innocence with Adam’s voluntary act of personal disobedience to God. We lost our perfect relationship and inherited a sinful nature that alienates us from God. We are unable to throw off the shackles of sin and regain a right relationship with God through our own efforts. We remain deserving of the judgment of God for our sin. (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 3:1-24; John 3:16-18; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9)

About Salvation

We believe salvation is forgiveness for a judgment we deserved and brings us into a restored relationship with God now and for eternity. We receive the gift of salvation and grace when we trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus as payment for our sin penalty. Salvation is not gained by self-improvement or good works, but it is evidenced by them as the believer submits to the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives and to the Word of God. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 5:22-23; II Timothy 1:9)

About the Church

We believe that the Church is the worldwide community of people who believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus for the forgiveness of all sins and who have therefore given their lives to Him. This community meets together in local churches around the world to glorify God, encourage and protect one another’s spiritual formation, and to bring the hope of Jesus to a broken and hurting world. (Matthew 28:18-20I Corinthians 12:13Ephesians 2:11-22Ephesians 4:11-16Colossians 1:28Hebrews 10:23-25)

About The Bible

We believe the Bible, consisting of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired word of God and without error in the original manuscripts. In the Bible, God reveals His person and His work to humanity. The Bible is our final authority for faith, for life, and for testing what is true and what is right. (Isaiah 40:8; John 17:17; II Timothy 3:16-17)

About Satan

We believe that Satan is present in our world today, existing solely to be in war with God and His people. He persistently brings darkness and destruction wherever he goes. We believe that Jesus defeated him by dying and coming back to life and will punish him when He returns to earth. (Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:12-17; Acts 26:18; Ephesians 6:10-13; Revelation 1:1-17, 19:17-21)

About the Future

We believe that one day Jesus will return to judge the world, bringing justice and restoring all things to God’s original design. Those who trusted Jesus will dwell forever in relationship with God where there is no more darkness, tears or death. Those who did not accept the offer of grace will spend eternity apart from God, banished from the hope and light. (Acts 1:11; Matthew 25:31-46; I Thessalonians 4:15-18; Revelation 21:1-8)