Full doctrinal statement
We believe the Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God. It is our guide and authority for all matters of faith and action. (2 Timothy 3.16; 2 Peter 1.20,21; 1 John 4.1)
We believe that God is one true and living God who exists in three eternal and equal persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God intentionally and intelligently created the world and everything in it. (Matthew 28.19; John 14.16-26; Genesis 1-2)
We believe that Jesus is God’s only Son, the Savior of the world, and Lord of all. He was born of a virgin, led a sinless life, died for our sins, rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, and is coming back. He lived a perfect life and set the standard for His followers to imitate and through Him is only way we can be right with God. (John 3.16; 1 Corinthians 15.3-5; Philippians 2.5-8; Hebrews 4.14-15; 1 Peter 2.21-24; John 14.6)
We believe that Mankind was created by God and made in His image, giving all people value, dignity, and purpose. We also believe every person has willfully sinned, becoming separated from God, lost, without hope, and in need of a Savior. Because of love, God sent Jesus into the world to die, in order to provide a way for every person to “come back” to God. (Psalm 139; Luke 18.9-14; Matthew 18.3-7; Romans 3.23)
We believe Salvation is more than simply making it to heaven when we die. Jesus came to give His followers an abundant and overflowing life here and now. That life comes by grace through faith…a gift from God that we cannot earn and do not deserve. The right response to grace includes: repentance (turning around), publicly confessing a belief that Jesus is who He claims to be, baptism (as an act of obedience, baptism is a public demonstration of our trust in and allegiance to Jesus—through water immersion), and a continued obedience to His commands. (Isaiah 53.1-6; Romans 5.8; Matthew 28.18-20; Acts 2.38; Romans 6.1-7; Ephesians 2.8-10; John 10:10)
We believe the Holy Spirit is the presence of Jesus Christ, living inside the lives of His followers. Every Christian is a new creation and is given the Holy Spirit to guide, to comfort, to transform, and to empower us to become like Christ in attitude, purpose, and action. (2 Corinthians 5.17; John 14.26; Romans 8.9, 26-27; Acts 2.38)
We believe Jesus Christ is the Head of the church, His body. As the body of Christ, the church is the extension of Jesus’ character, attitude, behavior, and mission to the world today. Jesus Christ came to rescue broken and lost people and has called His church to complete the task. The church is not a place or a building or an event to attend. Rather, the church is simply groups of people gathered together as Christ’s ambassadors and ministers in relationship and purpose. (Ephesians 4.11-16; Colossians 1.9-12; 3.12-17; 1 Peter 5.4; 2 Corinthians 5.20)
We believe in both the unity and diversity of the church. Even though we wholeheartedly affirm the absolute authority of the Word of God, we recognize there are many issues in the church today that are subject to different interpretations and opinions. As we confront those issues, we will always graciously encourage “unity in the essential things, freedom in the non-essential things, and Christ-like love in all things.”