BELIEFS
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The Bible.
The Bible is God’s Word to all people. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because it was inspired by God, the Bible is truth without any mixture of error and is completely relevant to our daily lives.
Deuteronomy 4:1-2; Psalms 119:11, 89, 105; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 22:29; John 5:39; 17:17; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 3:16; John 1:1
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The Trinity.
God has existed in (relationship) with Himself for all eternity. He exists as one (substance) in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Although each member of the Trinity serves different functions, they each possess equal power and authority.
Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 61:1; Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 1:35; John 5:21-23; 14:10, 16; Corinthians 8:6; Hebrews 1:8-10; James 2:19; John 10:30
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The Father.
God is great: He is all powerful, all knowing, ever present, unchanging, completely worthy of our trust, and above all, Holy. It is in Him that we live, move and exist. God is good. He is our Father. He is loving, compassionate, and faithful to His people and His promises.
Exodus 3:14; Numbers 23:19; Leviticus 19:2; Psalm 11:4-6; Malachi 3:6; John 3:16; 5:26; Acts 17:28; Romans 3:3-4
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The Son.
Jesus Christ is completely human but, at the same time, completely God. He is the only plan for bringing people who are far from God back into a right relationship with God. He lived a perfect life, so He could be a (substitution) for us in (satisfying God’s demands) for perfection. He defeated death in His resurrection so we can have life.
Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 14:33; 16:16; 28:5-6; Luke 22:70; 24:46-47; John 1:14; 11:25-27; 14:1; 17:1-5; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 8:1-3; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Gal 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15; 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16
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The Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is God in us, and He’s equal with the Father and Son. He is what comforts and empowers us to live the life God has for us. He guides believers into all truth and exalts Christ. He convicts people of their sin, God’s righteousness, and the coming judgment. Additionally, the Holy Spirit enables us to use spiritual gifts, including speaking in tongues. Spiritual gifts are for every Christian.
Psalm 139:7 ff.; Joel 2:28-32; Mark 1:10; Lk 4:1; 11:13; 12:12; John 4:24; 14:16-17; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4, 38-39; Romans 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27;1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Peter 1:21; Revelation 22:17
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Baptism.
Water Baptism is an outward sign of a person’s choice to make Jesus the leader of their life. It is important for a person to be water baptized by immersion.
Col. 2:12; Matthew 3:13-17; Acts 2:38-41; 10:47-48
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Eternity.
Man was created to exist forever. He will exist either eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation found only through knowing Jesus Christ. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is Heaven. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence.
John 3:16, 36; Romans 6:23; 1 John 2:25; 5:11-13; Revelation 20:15
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Man.
Man is made in the image of God and is the supreme object of His creation. Man was created to have fellowship with God but became separated in that relationship through sinful disobedience. As a result, man cannot attain a right relationship with God through his own effort. Every human personality is uniquely created, possesses dignity, and is worthy of respect and Christian love.
Genesis 1:26-30; 2:7, 18-22; 3; Psalms 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18, 23; 5:6; 6:6; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 21-22; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11
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Salvation.
The blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, provides the only way of salvation through the forgiveness of sin. Salvation occurs when people place their faith in the death and resurrection of Christ as sufficient payment for their sin. Salvation is a gift from God, and it cannot be earned through our own efforts.
Isaiah 1:18; 53:5-6; 55:7; Matthew 1:21; 27:22-66, 28:1-6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:12; 3:16, 36; 5:24; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 16:30-31; Romans 1:16-18; 3:23-25; 5:8-10; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 9:24-28
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The Church.
The Church is a local community of people unified through faith in Christ. It is committed to the teachings of Christ and obeying all of His commands, and it seeks to bring the Gospel to the world. The Church works together in love and unity, intent on the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ.
Matthew 16:18-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-47; 13:1-3; 14:23; 16:5; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:10-12; Colossians 1:18; 3:15; 1 Peter 5:1-4
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Righteousness and Justice.
We believe in a church that pursues righteousness inwardly and justice outwardly. That the earliest Description of God is that of Justice and mercy, and a call to a lifestyle of righteousness. We believe righteousness is the call to inward transformation of every believer and justice is a function of the outward call of what it means to be a follower of christ. Righteousness is our pursuit of right standing with God, justice is the pursuit of our neighbors seeing that love in action. We seek justice for the unborn and for the born, from inception of life, to the descent of our bodies into the ground. We are advocates for the biblical examples of advocacy, the marginalized, the discriminated against, the prejudiced, the widow, the orphan, the misunderstood, the stereotype and mislabeled, the incarcerated, the abused, those who have suffered from systemic racism or privilege. We stand for all those in their identity as a son or daughter of Christ.
(Ps 106:3, ps 89:14, Amos 5:23, Isaiah 30:18, Micah 6:8, Matthew 18:7-8, Isaiah 1:17, Psalms 33:5, Isaiah 51:4-5)