DOCTRINE STATEMENT
We shape our lives around who God is and what He says. If you are not a Christian, we pray that you would come to faith in Jesus and be reconciled to God. If you are a Christian, we pray that you may be strengthened in your faith and motivated to share the gospel with those around you. What we believe is absolutely crucial because it shapes who we are and what we do.
God - God is one, consisting of three persons: Father, Son, and Spirit; The Triune God is eternal, holy, perfect, and equal in essence. God is Creator and is loving, caring, compassionate, forgiving, generous, wrathful, jealous, full of grace, faithful, and just. Though the roles of Father, Son, and Spirit are different, they exist in perfect unity.
Gen 1:1, 1:26; Ex 34:6-7; Num 25:10-11; Is 6:3, 40:28; Matt 3:16-17, 5:48, 28:19; Jn 3:16, 10:30; 2 Cor 13:14
Father - The Father created everything with and through the Son and Spirit. God is a Father, and He desires a relationship with every person. The Father is the giver of every good gift. He is redeeming His broken world.
Gen 1:1-2, 1:26; Jn 1:3; Rom 8:32; 1 Cor 8:6; Col 1:16; 1 Tim 2:4-6; Jas 1:17; 1 Pet 1:3-5
Son - Jesus is God and the Son of God. The Son became human in the person of Jesus, fulfilling Old Testament Scriptures. The Son is fully God and fully human. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Though sinless, He died on the cross and purchased our salvation with His blood. He was raised from the dead and ascended to the Father from where He came. We are awaiting His return.
Gen 49:10; Ps 2:7-8; Matt 1:20-23; Jn 1:1-15, 10:30; Phil 2:6-11; Col 1:19-20; Heb 1:3; Rev 22:20
Spirit - The Holy Spirit is God and is a person. He lives inside all who place their faith in Jesus, giving believers new hearts that enable us to love God and others. His presence is a promise from God, assuring us of eternal life with God now and in the future. He is the helper sent from God and glorifies Jesus. The Spirit convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Spirit equips believers with the power needed to live godly lives and the gifts needed to make disciples.
Ezek 36:26-27; Jn 14:16-17, 26-27, 16:7-15; Ac 1:8, 4:31, 5:1-11; Gal 5:22-25; 1 Thess 5:23; 2 Pet 1:3
Bible - The Bible consists of the Old and New Testaments. God used over 40 human authors to write the Bible over a period of roughly 1,500 years. The Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God, inerrant in its original manuscripts. It is profitable for all of life, so we may be wise for salvation and equipped for every good work. The Bible tells a unified story of God saving His world through Jesus.
Gen 3:15; 2 Tim 3:15-17; 2 Pet 1:21
Gospel - The gospel is the good news of God saving sinful humanity and his broken world through Jesus. The first mention of the gospel is in Genesis 3:15, shortly after sin entered the world. The gospel is how we enter God’s kingdom, and it is the way we live life.
Gen 3:15; Jn 3:16-17; Ac 2
Sin - All have sinned and are separated from God from birth. To sin is to fall short of God’s standard and the consequence of sin is death. Sin is something that needs to be dealt with, but it is not a problem we can or have to solve. Jesus did this for us. Though we will never be free from sin in this life, God’s intent is for us to hate our sin and trust Him to overcome it.
Gen 3:1-13; Rom 3:23, 6:23, 7:15-8:11; 1 Cor 10:13; Gal 5:19-21
Atonement - Jesus paid the penalty for the sins of the whole world through His death on the cross, sacrificing Himself and showing the immeasurable love of God. Jesus, the perfect Son of God, died physically and experienced separation from God. Through the cross, Christ paid the debt for spiritual death that was rightfully ours, making it possible to restore the relationship with God that was lost in the Garden of Eden.
Is 53:5, 10; Eph 5:2; Col 1:13-14; 1 Pet 2:24; 3:18; 1 Jn 2:2
Salvation - Salvation is the greatest need of every person in the world. To be saved is to be reconciled to God by grace through faith in Jesus. Those who repent of their sin and follow Jesus are secure in him now and for eternity. Jesus is the only way of salvation.
Jn 3:16-17, 5:24, 10:27-29, 14:6; Ac 4:12; Eph 2:8-10; Col 1:21-23
Discipleship - Discipleship is a process of multiplication where obedient believers teach others to be obedient to God’s Word and to grow in grace and knowledge.
Matt 4:19, 28:19-20; Lk 14:26-33; Jn 8:31; 2 Tim 2:1-2
Sanctification - Sanctification is being purified by and set apart for God to serve Him. It is the life-long process of becoming increasingly like Jesus. God’s will is for every believer to be sanctified by the blood of Christ and the Word of God.
Jn 17:17; Gal 2:20; Col 3:5; 1 Thess 4:3, 5:23; 2 Thess 2:13; 2 Tim 2:19-21; 1 Pet 1:13-21
Church - The universal church is the collection of people around the world who are saved by grace through faith in Jesus. The local church is the gathering of disciples. The local church is marked by love and worship for God, love for each other, submission to Christ, the teaching of the Scriptures, fellowship, discipleship, communion, and life centered on the gospel. Christ loves His Church and died for it. The church is elder led with Christ as the Head of His Church. He will come back for His Church any day.
Jn 13:34-35, 14:3; Ac 1:11, 2:42-47, 14:23, 20:28; Eph 5:23-25; Col 1:18; 1 Pet 5:2
Baptism - Baptism is a testimony of our faith. We baptize by immersion and will baptize anyone who has been saved by grace through faith in Jesus. Baptism symbolizes our death to sin and self and resurrection to new life through Jesus. The biblical pattern is that baptism immediately follows belief. Baptism is a step of obedience, not a means of grace or salvation.
Matt 28:19; Ac 2:38-41, 16:30-33; Col 2:12
Communion - Communion is an act of remembrance performed by the Body of Christ through the partaking of the bread and cup, symbolizing Jesus’ body and blood given on the cross for us. Anyone who has been saved by grace through faith in Jesus should participate in communion in obedience to God and in response to His grace. We are called to do this until He returns.
Ex 12; Matt 26:26-29; 1 Cor 11:23-26
Humanity - God created humanity perfect. Humans had perfect relationships with each other and with God. With perfect life, God also gave us the ability to choose between right and wrong. The first Adam chose to rebel against God, defining good for himself instead of allowing God to do this. Since that day, every human has been born into sin, apart from God, and in need of being reconciled. Jesus, the second Adam and perfect human, accomplished what was necessary to reverse the curse of sin. He lived a sinless life, died for us, and was raised to life, conquering death and purchasing our salvation.
Gen 1-2, 3:1-13; Rom 5:1-19; 2 Cor 5:15-21; Heb 2:17; Rev 21:4-5
Image of God - Every person is made in the image of God and has inherent dignity and worth. Life begins at conception and should only end when God chooses. We value life at every stage because God does and oppose everything that devalues and destroys the gift of life He gives.
Gen 1:27; Ps 139:13-16; Jer 1:5; Mk 12:13-17; Col 3:5-11
Sexuality - God created and designed sexuality - male and female. He gave it as a gift and called it, “very good” (Gen 1:31). The biological sex at birth is what determines male or female. Part of being a sinful human is being tempted to redefine what God calls good. When we attempt this, it always leads to increased brokenness, heartache, and leads us further down the path of seeking things that cannot satisfy.
Gen 1:27-31, 3:1-13, 5:2
Marriage, Family, Singleness - Marriage is the union of one man, one woman and God for all of life. God created marriage and gave it as a gift. He designed marriage to be a safe place where two people live, enjoy each other, raise children, and partner together in making disciples. Healthy families are the foundation of healthy societies. God, in His infinite wisdom, does not lead every person into marriage. Like marriage, singleness is a gift from God. We should strive to be content in whatever situation God has placed us in. When marriages, families, and relationships fall apart, we will respond with grace, seeking reconciliation if possible, and healing for all persons involved.
Gen 1:28, 2:24-25; Matt 19:1-9; 1 Cor 7; Eph 5:22-33
Resurrection and Last Things - Redemptive history will culminate with the imminent physical return of Jesus Christ. Every person will face judgment. Those who trust Jesus through faith will enter the fullness of eternal life. Those who do not trust Jesus will be pronounced guilty for lack of faith and will enter eternal existence apart from God. God will put an end to Satan, sin, and death. The perfect life lost in the Garden of Eden will be restored.
Is 65:17; Ac 1:11; Rom 14:12; 2 Cor 5:10; 1 Thess 5:2; Heb 9:27-28; Rev 20-22
God - God is one, consisting of three persons: Father, Son, and Spirit; The Triune God is eternal, holy, perfect, and equal in essence. God is Creator and is loving, caring, compassionate, forgiving, generous, wrathful, jealous, full of grace, faithful, and just. Though the roles of Father, Son, and Spirit are different, they exist in perfect unity.
Gen 1:1, 1:26; Ex 34:6-7; Num 25:10-11; Is 6:3, 40:28; Matt 3:16-17, 5:48, 28:19; Jn 3:16, 10:30; 2 Cor 13:14
Father - The Father created everything with and through the Son and Spirit. God is a Father, and He desires a relationship with every person. The Father is the giver of every good gift. He is redeeming His broken world.
Gen 1:1-2, 1:26; Jn 1:3; Rom 8:32; 1 Cor 8:6; Col 1:16; 1 Tim 2:4-6; Jas 1:17; 1 Pet 1:3-5
Son - Jesus is God and the Son of God. The Son became human in the person of Jesus, fulfilling Old Testament Scriptures. The Son is fully God and fully human. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Though sinless, He died on the cross and purchased our salvation with His blood. He was raised from the dead and ascended to the Father from where He came. We are awaiting His return.
Gen 49:10; Ps 2:7-8; Matt 1:20-23; Jn 1:1-15, 10:30; Phil 2:6-11; Col 1:19-20; Heb 1:3; Rev 22:20
Spirit - The Holy Spirit is God and is a person. He lives inside all who place their faith in Jesus, giving believers new hearts that enable us to love God and others. His presence is a promise from God, assuring us of eternal life with God now and in the future. He is the helper sent from God and glorifies Jesus. The Spirit convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Spirit equips believers with the power needed to live godly lives and the gifts needed to make disciples.
Ezek 36:26-27; Jn 14:16-17, 26-27, 16:7-15; Ac 1:8, 4:31, 5:1-11; Gal 5:22-25; 1 Thess 5:23; 2 Pet 1:3
Bible - The Bible consists of the Old and New Testaments. God used over 40 human authors to write the Bible over a period of roughly 1,500 years. The Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God, inerrant in its original manuscripts. It is profitable for all of life, so we may be wise for salvation and equipped for every good work. The Bible tells a unified story of God saving His world through Jesus.
Gen 3:15; 2 Tim 3:15-17; 2 Pet 1:21
Gospel - The gospel is the good news of God saving sinful humanity and his broken world through Jesus. The first mention of the gospel is in Genesis 3:15, shortly after sin entered the world. The gospel is how we enter God’s kingdom, and it is the way we live life.
Gen 3:15; Jn 3:16-17; Ac 2
Sin - All have sinned and are separated from God from birth. To sin is to fall short of God’s standard and the consequence of sin is death. Sin is something that needs to be dealt with, but it is not a problem we can or have to solve. Jesus did this for us. Though we will never be free from sin in this life, God’s intent is for us to hate our sin and trust Him to overcome it.
Gen 3:1-13; Rom 3:23, 6:23, 7:15-8:11; 1 Cor 10:13; Gal 5:19-21
Atonement - Jesus paid the penalty for the sins of the whole world through His death on the cross, sacrificing Himself and showing the immeasurable love of God. Jesus, the perfect Son of God, died physically and experienced separation from God. Through the cross, Christ paid the debt for spiritual death that was rightfully ours, making it possible to restore the relationship with God that was lost in the Garden of Eden.
Is 53:5, 10; Eph 5:2; Col 1:13-14; 1 Pet 2:24; 3:18; 1 Jn 2:2
Salvation - Salvation is the greatest need of every person in the world. To be saved is to be reconciled to God by grace through faith in Jesus. Those who repent of their sin and follow Jesus are secure in him now and for eternity. Jesus is the only way of salvation.
Jn 3:16-17, 5:24, 10:27-29, 14:6; Ac 4:12; Eph 2:8-10; Col 1:21-23
Discipleship - Discipleship is a process of multiplication where obedient believers teach others to be obedient to God’s Word and to grow in grace and knowledge.
Matt 4:19, 28:19-20; Lk 14:26-33; Jn 8:31; 2 Tim 2:1-2
Sanctification - Sanctification is being purified by and set apart for God to serve Him. It is the life-long process of becoming increasingly like Jesus. God’s will is for every believer to be sanctified by the blood of Christ and the Word of God.
Jn 17:17; Gal 2:20; Col 3:5; 1 Thess 4:3, 5:23; 2 Thess 2:13; 2 Tim 2:19-21; 1 Pet 1:13-21
Church - The universal church is the collection of people around the world who are saved by grace through faith in Jesus. The local church is the gathering of disciples. The local church is marked by love and worship for God, love for each other, submission to Christ, the teaching of the Scriptures, fellowship, discipleship, communion, and life centered on the gospel. Christ loves His Church and died for it. The church is elder led with Christ as the Head of His Church. He will come back for His Church any day.
Jn 13:34-35, 14:3; Ac 1:11, 2:42-47, 14:23, 20:28; Eph 5:23-25; Col 1:18; 1 Pet 5:2
Baptism - Baptism is a testimony of our faith. We baptize by immersion and will baptize anyone who has been saved by grace through faith in Jesus. Baptism symbolizes our death to sin and self and resurrection to new life through Jesus. The biblical pattern is that baptism immediately follows belief. Baptism is a step of obedience, not a means of grace or salvation.
Matt 28:19; Ac 2:38-41, 16:30-33; Col 2:12
Communion - Communion is an act of remembrance performed by the Body of Christ through the partaking of the bread and cup, symbolizing Jesus’ body and blood given on the cross for us. Anyone who has been saved by grace through faith in Jesus should participate in communion in obedience to God and in response to His grace. We are called to do this until He returns.
Ex 12; Matt 26:26-29; 1 Cor 11:23-26
Humanity - God created humanity perfect. Humans had perfect relationships with each other and with God. With perfect life, God also gave us the ability to choose between right and wrong. The first Adam chose to rebel against God, defining good for himself instead of allowing God to do this. Since that day, every human has been born into sin, apart from God, and in need of being reconciled. Jesus, the second Adam and perfect human, accomplished what was necessary to reverse the curse of sin. He lived a sinless life, died for us, and was raised to life, conquering death and purchasing our salvation.
Gen 1-2, 3:1-13; Rom 5:1-19; 2 Cor 5:15-21; Heb 2:17; Rev 21:4-5
Image of God - Every person is made in the image of God and has inherent dignity and worth. Life begins at conception and should only end when God chooses. We value life at every stage because God does and oppose everything that devalues and destroys the gift of life He gives.
Gen 1:27; Ps 139:13-16; Jer 1:5; Mk 12:13-17; Col 3:5-11
Sexuality - God created and designed sexuality - male and female. He gave it as a gift and called it, “very good” (Gen 1:31). The biological sex at birth is what determines male or female. Part of being a sinful human is being tempted to redefine what God calls good. When we attempt this, it always leads to increased brokenness, heartache, and leads us further down the path of seeking things that cannot satisfy.
Gen 1:27-31, 3:1-13, 5:2
Marriage, Family, Singleness - Marriage is the union of one man, one woman and God for all of life. God created marriage and gave it as a gift. He designed marriage to be a safe place where two people live, enjoy each other, raise children, and partner together in making disciples. Healthy families are the foundation of healthy societies. God, in His infinite wisdom, does not lead every person into marriage. Like marriage, singleness is a gift from God. We should strive to be content in whatever situation God has placed us in. When marriages, families, and relationships fall apart, we will respond with grace, seeking reconciliation if possible, and healing for all persons involved.
Gen 1:28, 2:24-25; Matt 19:1-9; 1 Cor 7; Eph 5:22-33
Resurrection and Last Things - Redemptive history will culminate with the imminent physical return of Jesus Christ. Every person will face judgment. Those who trust Jesus through faith will enter the fullness of eternal life. Those who do not trust Jesus will be pronounced guilty for lack of faith and will enter eternal existence apart from God. God will put an end to Satan, sin, and death. The perfect life lost in the Garden of Eden will be restored.
Is 65:17; Ac 1:11; Rom 14:12; 2 Cor 5:10; 1 Thess 5:2; Heb 9:27-28; Rev 20-22