WHAT WE BELIEVE

We are convinced by Scripture and by reason, that:

The Bible is the inspired Word of God and free from error of any type (inerrant) in the original manuscripts and completely reliable in its teachings. We always go back to the Bible to find truth and direction in life.

As you move through these topics of belief, click “Read More” and you’ll find our more full justification with scripture references.  And always – if you have questions please ask away!

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The scriptures are “God-breathed” according to 2 Timothy 3:16 showing them to be inspired by God Himself. This occurred through the supernatural influence of the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21) upon the writers, rendering their writings an accurate record of the revelation of God. 2 Peter 3:2 while using their character traits, flaws, talents and skills to bring to light His elected truth in a providentially protected way.

Inerrant – When all facts are known, the scriptures, in their original autographs and/or properly interpreted/translated, are completely true and trustworthy in everything that they address and/or speak to. This includes doctrine, morality, history and the social, physical and life sciences. This must be true as the Word of God is a revelation of the very nature of God (truth). Anything else would counter this premise and be contrary to God which is not possible.

Canonicity – The 66 books of the Bible are the complete, full Word of God and thus, the canon of Scripture is closed with nothing to be added (Rev. 22:18-19). The books of the Bible are a unit sewn together by the Holy Spirit that is fully reliable upon each other lacking disagreement. This is based upon the fact that it is against the very nature of God to lie or to contradict Himself.

WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT GOD

We are convinced by Scripture and by reason that:

God is the only true God, sovereign Lord and Creator of the heavens and the earth and all that they contain. He is a personal God in that He is capable of being known by man. He has always existed and is eternal, demonstrating qualities of personality such as emotion, intellect and will. God exists in the form of three persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Spirit (Holy Spirit).

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Attributes of God: God is the Creator and Giver of life (Genesis 1); spirit (John 4:24); self-existent (Exodus 3:13-14, John 1:1); immutable (Malachi 3:6); holy (1 Samuel 2:2); love (1 John 4:8); good (1 Chron. 16:34); omniscient (Psalm 147:5, Prov. 3:19); omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-10); and omnipotent (Matt. 19:26).
God the Person – God is one God (Deut. 6:4) but exists in the form of three persons equal in nature, distinct in person, and subordinate in duties. The Son is eternally begotten by the Father (Psalm 2:7), submissive to do the work of the Father. The Son then sent the Holy Spirit to be a comforter/counselor (John 15:26).
God the Father – Often embodying the holiness, righteousness, power, and authority of the trinity. God the Father is best understood by the various roles of Father that He holds:
    1. Father of creation – God is the ultimate source of heaven and earth (James 1:17)
    2. National Father of Israel – Israel is special to God as He loves Israel and has given them instruction through the giving of His law (Jer. 31:9)
    3. Unique Father of Jesus Christ – the Son that is always and eternally begotten of the Father and willing to take on flesh. (Psalm 2:7)
    4. Protective Father – He meets needs, cares, and defends His children. (Psalm 68:5)
    5. Redemptive Father – When we trust God, He becomes our Father and we enter into an intimate relationship with Him. (Romans 8:15)

WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT JESUS

We are convinced by Scripture and by reason that:

Jesus Christ is 100% the true God, co-equal and eternally existent with the Father. Jesus Christ came to earth, on mission, to exist as true man while remaining entirely true God.

Christ pleased the Father by fulfilling His mission on earth of redeeming man to Himself through His vicarious, willful, and atoning death on the cross to pay for the penalty of man’s own sin to which he was bound and from which he was unable to redeem himself.

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  1. The offices of Christ – Jesus fulfilled the three Old Testament anointed offices:
    He is our Prophet (Deut. 18:15-19), being the perfect spokesman, predictor, and preacher of God.
    He is our High Priest (Hebrews 9:11-14), becoming the perfect mediator (1 Tim. 2:5) for mankind by representing them through offering the perfect sacrifice, and making intercession on man’s behalf. Christ’s priesthood is unlike other priests in that Christ lives forever.
    He is our King (Acts 17:7), as seen through His deity, His eternal kingdom, and His subjects. His office now fulfilled and reigning as King demands the new rules of a new priesthood (Heb. 7:12).
  2. The life of Christ – Jesus the Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born to the virgin, Mary (Luke 1:34-37). He lived a sinless life (2 Cor. 5:21, 1 John 3:5) and performed many miracles and healings, fulfilling prophecy and providing a visible and tangible evidence to his divinity, later leveraged by Paul (Acts 9:22). Jesus Christ remained fully God (John 1:14) while taking on flesh through the mystery of kenosis (Phil. 2:6-8) living as the God-Man.
  3. The sacrifice of Christ – Jesus Christ fulfilled His primary mission by becoming man’s substitutionary atonement for the judgment of sin (2 Cor. 5:21). He redeemed man to God through the shedding of His blood on the cross at Calvary (Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:22). The exchange of life would require the cost of the very essence of life from the only one deemed and demonstrated (Hebrews 5:9) to be perfect.
    Through Christ’s offering, He satisfied God’s wrath toward man (a result of man’s sin) by becoming a propitiation offering for our sin (Hebrews 2:17, 1 John 2:2). Through Christ, the demands of The Law were satisfied (Romans 10:4) and the sins of the elect were propitiously atoned for and deemed finished by God.
  4. Following His death on the cross, Christ was buried and dead, and after three days He rose to live again (Acts 10:40). This resurrection is both the promise of life and demonstration of the sufficiency to save for all those who will exercise faith and believe (1 Cor. 15:20-22). After forty days following His resurrection, Jesus Christ placed His disciples into motion building His church, and then ascended into Heaven to take His rightful place at the right hand of the Father where He prepares a place for all believers (John 14:2).

WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT

We are convinced by Scripture and by reason that: The Holy Spirit is the divine, third person of the Trinity (Acts 5:3-4), being co-equal to the Father and Son in nature ,yet with a differing role. The Holy Spirit has a distinct ministry in the life of individuals in total cooperation with that of the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit resides in each individual who is found alive in Christ.

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Pre-conversion ministries of the Holy Spirit

The primary ministry of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life prior to accepting Christ is that of conviction with regard to sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8), and in enabling the unbeliever to see the truth of the Gospel. The Spirit of God illumines and calls the believer to the Gospel message (John 6:44, Romans 10:14, Titus 3:5). The Holy Spirit also maintains the role of restrainer – though man is fallen and depraved he is not as bad as he could be (even the unbeliever) – preventing the world from being thrown into complete corruption (2 Thess. 2:7).

The conversion ministry of the Holy Spirit

During a person’s conversion, the Holy Spirit performs a work of regeneration (Titus 3:5) when all things become new in Christ. At that same time, a person is also baptized of the Spirit – meaning that they are placed in Jesus Christ and the family of God (1 Cor. 12:13). The Holy Spirit then comes to indwell the believer at conversion (1 Cor. 6:19), making man the tabernacle of God, and thus enabling worship and guidance. The last thing the Holy Spirit does at conversion is to seal the believer (Eph. 1:13-14) as a promise of God’s continued commitment to the new heir in Christ.

The post-conversion ministries of the Holy Spirit 

The Holy Spirit fills believers, thereby enabling service (Eph. 5:18, Acts 22:). The Holy Spirit sanctifies (forgives and sets apart to God) at the point of salvation, but also enables the continual process of sanctification during the life of a believer (2 Cor. 3:18) and then ultimate sanctification at the return of the Lord or at a believer’s death (1 John 3:2). The Spirit also illuminates believers (John 16:13), intercedes in prayer (Romans 8:26-27), bears fruit in the believer (Gal. 5:22-23), and bestows gifts (Romans 12:6, 1 Peter 4:10).

WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT THE CHURCH

We are convinced by Scripture and by reason that:
The Church is the called-out assembly of believers belonging to Jesus Christ. All those in the Church have placed their faith in Christ as Lord and Savior and are committed to the Great Commission of making disciples.

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What is the nature of the Church?

Each believer in the Church is called by and endowed with the Holy Spirit, enabling them to interpret Scripture, and each has the requirement to minister according to the gifts that they have been given (1 Peter 2:9-10, Romans 12:6). The Church is led by those mature believers called to the various roles of Church leadership, which primarily include elder (or bishop), and deacon (Philippians 1:1, 2 John 1:1, Titus 1:6, 1 Timothy 3:12-13, 1 Timothy 3:1-2). The Church is both a local body and the universal body of Christ, with Christ as the head (Matthew 16:18, Revelation 3:1, Ephesians 5:23). The Church is built by Christ and belongs to Christ (Matthew 16:17-19).

What is the government of the Church?

Elder: A servant/leader of spiritual maturity responsible for overseeing and shepherding in the Church through leading, feeding, encouraging, and protecting the flock. He is also responsible for preaching the truth of Christ and the Word, and for teaching and explaining the Scriptures (1 Timothy 5:7, 1 Peter 5:2, 1 Timothy 5:20, Titus 1:9-13, Ephesians 4:12, Acts 20:28).

Deacon: Spiritually strong servants of good standing and report within the Church who ensure that the ministries of service to the needy within the Church, such as widows and orphans, are taking place. This ministry in turn frees the elders so that they can continue in the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:1-6, 1 Timothy 3:1-13).

The Ordinances of the Church: There are two ordinances of the Church which are symbolic of the powerful work of salvation through the work of Jesus Christ.

Baptism is the initial step of obedience that is done once and is the public declaration of a person’s identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

The Lord’s Supper is the ongoing act of obedience practiced frequently in remembrance of the price paid by Christ for our salvation.

– Baptism

The outward expression of the new life a believer has with Jesus Christ in which a person is obedient to identify with Christ through the picture of His death, burial and resurrection by immersion in water. This was commanded and demonstrated by the Lord, Himself. (Acts 2:38, Matt. 28:19, Acts 2:41, Luke 3:21-23, Romans 6:3-5, 1 Peter 3:21)

– The Lord’s Supper

The ongoing expression of one’s faith in Christ through the remembrance of His sacrifice for our sins. The fruit of the vine and the bread are partaken of symbolically, representative of the body and the blood of Christ. The Lord’s Supper strengthens the fellowship with Christ and with other believers. (1 Cor. 11:23-34, Acts 2:46-47, Matt. 26:26-29).

WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT SIN

We are convinced by Scripture and by reason, that:
Man has incurred both physical and spiritual death, as well as being separated from God, due to his disobedience. Apart from accepting Jesus Christ and His atoning death as well as entering into a relationship with Him, man is doomed to the bondage of sin and eternal hell.

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The nature of sin: The first man to sin, Adam (Gen. 3:6), through his act of disobedience (as federal head of all mankind), ushered in both physical and spiritual death (Gen. 3:19, Rom. 6:23) as well as losing his place (and ultimately, our natural heir to the same) in utopia, the Garden of Eden.
Because of Adam’s sin, all humans who come forth from the same seed are born bound to a nature which is inherently and naturally sinful (Rom. 5:12-21), resulting in the truth of original sin and placing a sentence of death upon the human race (Rom. 6:23). All men are due the wrath of God as God sits in judgment upon man’s a) original sin nature and b) personal sin (Psalm 51:5, Rom. 2:8, Rom. 3:23, 1 Cor. 15:22, 1 John 1:8).

WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT MANKIND

We are convinced by Scripture and by reason that:
Man was created by God in His image.

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The image of God in man takes on four key characteristics:
Personal – Man has a personality similar to God, however fallen, in that he can reason, has feelings, and can act out of personal, creaturely, will (Job 7:11, John 7:17, Acts 17:2).
Moral – Deep inside every man is a pervading sense of right and wrong, which is written on the hearts of all. Man has a conscience for discerning such things no matter how far or close the individuals are to the Lord and the Scriptures (Romans 9:1, 1 Cor. 8:1-13).
Spiritual – Adam was created with the ability to know God and fellowship with Him. For post-Adamic man, at the point of regeneration, this ability increases in knowing God personally and increased ability to discern the Word of truth (Ephesians 4:24, Colossians 3:10, John 4:23).
Immortal – Man’s soul is created to live forever after this physical life is over. He will either live in a blissful state of perfection in heaven with the Father or live in eternal punishment. (John 6:47, Matt. 25:46).

WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT SALVATION

We are convinced by Scripture and by reason that:
God provided Jesus Christ as the only solution to the problem of sin.

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Through Christ man is reconciled to God because the sin of man was placed upon Christ at the cross. Through His vicarious, atoning death – as the only perfect sacrifice – the righteousness of Christ was placed upon each man who believes upon Him in faith and repents of their sin.
The Nature of Salvation: Man is saved by the grace of God through personal faith in the blood of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9, Hebrews 13:12). The salvation that comes to man is a gift from God and is both an instantaneous event as well as a progressive event. At the moment of a man’s conversion, when he trusts in Christ for the first time and accepts Him as Lord and Savior, he is justified. Justification is the judicial act of God in which he declares the sinner free from condemnation (Eph. 2:12-13,Rom. 3:22, Rom. 5:18).
The Lord continues a redemptive work in the life of the believer as long as he lives and through this occurs the process of sanctification (1 Cor. 1:18,Phil. 1:6) as directly administered by the Holy Spirit of God. The process of sanctification is God working in us, actively through His Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:4-11; 2 Cor 3:18), in order to grow more like Him and help us overcome our daily struggles in sin.
The ultimate point of our salvation will be the return of the Lord Jesus when each one of us will be glorified (1 John 3:2, 1 Cor. 13:10-12). This is when we will each be made into His image and likeness.

WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT OUR FUTURE HOPE

We are convinced by Scripture and by reason that:
All humanity is living in the last days of this age.
This age will end and a new age will come.

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First, the Church will be Raptured, followed by seven years known as the Great Tribulation. Then, the Lord Jesus will come a second time for all to behold when He will set up His Millennial Reign on Earth. Following the thousand-year reign of Christ, He will set forth His Final Judgment, thus ushering in Eternity.
The Rapture – is the next great prophetic event to occur in the world (especially as it pertains to the Church). The Lord will come in the air, and at that time the dead in Christ will be raised, followed by living believers, to meet with Him and live eternally with Him (1 Thes. 4:16-18, 1 Cor. 15:51-52, John 14:1-3, Rev. 3:10). It is at this point (when believers are raptured to be with Christ) that the Great Tribulation will begin for all those who remain. The Holy Spirit, who previously had been acting as a Restrainer for sin and evil, will be removed (2 Thes. 2:7, 2 Cor. 4:4). Once the Church experiences the Rapture, those in it will not experience the Great Tribulation but at that time will stand before the Lord in judgment (bema) for the things done in the flesh. (2 Cor. 5:10, 1 Thes. 1:10, 1 Thes. 5:9). Until the Church experiences the Rapture it will experience sufferings and persecution due to the truth of God on which it stands and its righteousness apart from the world (James 1:2-4, 1 Peter 1:6, 1 Peter 1:17).
 
The Great Tribulation – a seven year (known as Daniel’s seventieth week) period of judgment upon the world as a result of rejecting His Son, which will be characterized by suffering and destruction (Rev. 14:7, Rev. 15:4, Rev. 8:13, Rev. 16:5, Mark 13:19, Daniel 9:24-27).  The lawless one, the man of sin, the Antichrist will rise to power during this time and deceive and rule the world appointing kings to rule through a ten nation confederacy (Rev. 17, 2 Thes. 2:3-10, 1 John 2:18, Daniel 9:24-27).
The Second Coming of Christ – Christ will return to the earth in body and in full view of all following the Great Tribulation and will bind Satan and his Antichrist in hell. He will begin his millennial reign on earth while beginning his reign on the throne of David (Mat. 25:31).
 
The End of the Millennial Reign and the Judgment of Unbelievers – Following the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth, Satan, his Antichrist, and all his demons will be loosed from prison only to be ultimately defeated and judged by Christ, destined for an eternity in hell. At this time, all unbelievers will be judged for their unbelief of Christ and their evil deeds. Once deemed guilty, they too will be cast forever into endless hell, the Lake of Fire doomed to spend an eternity separated from God in judgment for a life lacking faith (Jude 14-15, Matt. 25:41, 2 Thess. 1:9, Romans 2:1-9, Rev. 20:7,10-15).

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