WHO WE ARE

There is one God, eternally existing in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal, and each possesses all the attributes of God. God is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe and everything in it. He is all powerful (Omnipotence), all knowing (Omniscience), and everywhere (Omnipresence). He is completely holy and just, full of mercy, and love. Mankind’s highest aim in life should be to “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.” – Ecclesiastes 12:13 (NIV)

Gen. 1:1 | Deut. 6:4 | Ps. 90:2 | 1st John 4:8 | Rev. 19:6 | Jer. 23:23-24 | Ps. 139:7-10 | Rom. 11:33 | Matt. 28:19

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is one with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is our Savior, who was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for all sin, and was raised from the grave after three days to demonstrate His defeat of sin and death. He ascended into heaven and will return to earth again.

Not only is Jesus our Savior, but he is also our Lord who is over all his followers—the church. The term “Savior” indicates what Christ has done and is doing for the believer. The term “Lord” reflects how the believer surrenders to Christ as Savior.

Matt. 1:22-23 | John 1:1-5 | Col. 2:9-10 | Acts 2:36 | Acts 10:36 | Phil. 2:9-11 | 1st Tim. 2:5 | Heb. 2:17-18

The Holy Spirit is one with God the Father and Jesus Christ. Those who accept Christ as their Savior will receive the Holy Spirit. In John 14:15-17 Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as an Advocate (παράκλητος [parakletos]) Some translations use the words Counselor, Helper, or Comforter. So, the Holy Spirit is the special Helper sent to carry on Jesus’ work, and to live in the Christian.  His presence assures the Christian of his salvation and that he belongs to God. He enables the Christian to bear fruits of righteousness, as well as power to help us overcome.  Bottom line, we are not alone in living our Christian life!

John 14:16-17 | John 16:7-13 | 1 Cor. 3:16 | 2 Cor. 13:14 | Rom. 8:9 | 1st Cor. 12:11 | Matt. 28:19 |  Eph. 1:13-14

Our foundation is based firmly upon the Bible as our ultimate authority on Christian beliefs and a guide to living. Both the Old and New Testaments of the bible are divinely inspired by God, without error, given to man so that we may know and understand the truth of God and his love. It is through God’s word that He reveals Himself to us.

The Bible is literally “God’s words” to us. Jesus said that “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matt. 24:35).  We hold a high view of Scripture because it guides us by lighting our path (Ps. 119:105). The bible also liberates. Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32) The bible also influences. The apostle Paul wrote, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith’” (Rom. 1:16-17).

2 Tim. 3:16 | 2 Peter 1:20-21 | Ps. 12:6 | Matt. 24:35 | 1st Pet. 1:23 | Ps. 119:105

All people are made in the image of God and were created to live the adventure of following Jesus Christ. Although we, as people, have tremendous potential for good, we also have the freedom to do the opposite if our hearts are not right. Our disobedience toward God is called “sin,” which separates humanity from God.

Sin originated in the Garden of Eden when Eve and Adam, deceived by Satan, ate the fruit from the forbidden tree. This act of disobedience brought sin into the world. Sin in turn brought death. Since that moment, the evil trail of sin began to wind its wicked way through the history of man.  Sin is selfish, it allures, deceives and enslaves. It separates us from God, brings suffering, and ultimately death.

We have rebelled against God through sin and separated ourselves from the glory of God. But, praise God we have a Savior, Jesus Christ, the only one with the solution to our sin problem.

Gen. 3:1-8 | Isa. 53:6 | Isa. 59:1-2 | Rom. 3:23 | Rom. 5:12 | Rom. 6:16 | 1st John 3:4

Salvation is only given by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone, for the remission of our sin. It is a gift from God that can never be earned through good works or self-improvement. Salvation is based on the work of Jesus on the cross where He sacrificially died, bearing the sin and punishment of all mankind, and paying the price required of sin for all those who believe in Him.

In short, without the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, no one would have any hope of salvation whatsoever!

John 1:12 | John 3:16 | Ephesians 1:7 | Ephesians 2:8-9 | Romans 3:23-25 | Romans 5:6-9 | Romans 6:23

Following our understanding of Scripture, we practice baptism by immersion. The Greek word used exclusively throughout the New Testament for baptism is “baptizo,” which means to plunge, dip, or immerse. Jesus modeled this form of baptism and practiced it. Baptism by immersion represents the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, symbolizing our old self dying, being buried in the water, and raised as a new creation in Christ Jesus. Thus, being baptized by immersion is the visible, God-chosen way of responding to our newly found faith in Christ.

Based on the many examples found in the New Testament, we believe that anyone who has professed faith in Jesus Christ will follow Christ’s example and command and be baptized by immersion at, or near to, the time of their conversion.

Matthew 3:13-17 | Matthew 28:19 | Romans 6:3-4 | 2 Corinthians 5:17 | Acts 2:38 | Acts 8:12 | Acts 8:36-38 | Acts 10:44-48

According to the Bible, the word for the church is “Ecclesia” which literally means “Called Out Ones.” This is the word Jesus chose to describe His people. So, the church is the community of all true followers of Jesus Christ who have been called out of sin and into righteousness. The bible also describes the church as the body of Christ of which Jesus is the head. The core mission of the church is to make disciples, which we define as “helping people follow Jesus, be changed by Jesus, and join the mission of Jesus.

All true followers of Jesus should take an active part in the body of a local church—to worship God, to know God more intimately, to pray, to make disciples of Jesus, to serve, to give and receive encouragement, and to be nurtured in order to grow to maturity in faith.

Ephesians 5:23 | Matthew 28:18-20 | Acts 1:8 | 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 | Ephesians 1:22-23 | Hebrews 10:25  | Ephesians 4:12-13

The Bible says that Jesus is coming again! His first coming was to provide salvation for man by taking on our sin. His second coming will be to receive those who through faith have obtained that salvation. Hebrews 9:28 says, “So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”

The Bible is also clear that no one, other than God, knows when the 2nd coming will occur. Our responsibility is to be ready. So, in preparation, we strive for personal holiness (2nd Pet. 3:14). We don’t get attached to the things of this world (Titus 2:11-13) and always stay watchful (Matt. 24:42).

Heb. 9:28 | Acts 1:10-11 | Rev. 1:7 | 1st Thess. 4:16-17 | Matt. 24:27-30 | Matt. 25:31 | Rev. 22:12 | Rev. 22:20

People were created to exist forever. Jesus will return one day, and on that day, all will be judged. There will be just punishment and reward. For those who are in Christ Jesus there is no condemnation, and they will spend eternity in the presence of God in a real place called Heaven. Those who reject Jesus will be separated from Him by their sin for eternity in a real place called Hell.

The Bible tells us that for those who are true followers of Christ, “Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20). The Bible not only refers to heaven as a real place but describes it as an awesome place that is beyond our ability to comprehend. We will be in the presence of God for eternity, and that’s what make heaven—heaven!

1st Pet. 1:3-4 | 1st Cor. 2:9 | Rev. 4-6 | 2nd Cor. 5:1 | 1st Cor. 15:42-44 | Rev. 21:22-27 | Rev. 21:3 | Rev. 22:1-5

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female and that these two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. We believe that God created marriage to be exclusively the union of one biological man and one biological woman, and that sexual activity is to occur exclusively within that marriage covenant.

Gen. 5:2 | Gen. 2:24 | Eph. 5:25