We Believe...
In Jesus...
Actually, we're pretty much awestruck by the majesty and glory of the Trinity. God the Father, the creator of all, the good and loving God of Heaven and Earth who created Heaven and Earth and moved Heaven and Earth all for our benefit. The Holy Spirit, the whispering wind and tongue of fire which is our ever-present counselor and comforter. All that being said though, there's just something about Jesus. It could be his divine humanity or maybe his human divinity. We're enthralled by the smiling, laughing, raging, sacrificing Jesus. He invites us to walk with him on the waves and pray with him in the garden. He calls us to travel with him the dusty roads of this faith journey called life. For all of these reasons and more, we love Jesus, and, more importantly, he loves us.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV)”
In the church...
As is all too often the case, man has taken the perfection of Jesus' Church and twisted it. At times, the Church is lazy, uninspired, mistaken and downright embarrassing. Let us not forget though that the Church's shortcomings are our shortcomings. There are times, however, when the Church rises to its true calling and when that happens there is no greater force on earth. It is the assemblage of an endlessly diverse group of people united in purpose and bound to one another by Jesus and his love. In the final analysis, God's plans rest with the Church and who are we to argue with that?
“And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
in the immeasurable grace of God...
God's unmerited favor. A bizarre concept with which the human mind is ill-equipped to deal. All of recorded history is the story of God trying to return his fallen creation to a state of grace. It is a patently unfair gift, often accepted with difficulty and abused with great ease. A gift that's only good when accepted and impossible to earn. All in all, it's a a strange idea, but one that's an infinitely better and more beautiful route back to the Creator than any list or work devised by man.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ”
in the bible
Authored by man, inspired, breathed if you will, by God. Written over hundreds of years, it is the sweeping saga of God's love, grace and redemption made flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. It is inspiring, confusing, poetic, historic and mystical. Every bit of understanding is based on previous comprehension and leads to future revelation. Every passage is a layered excavation revealed with the tools of maturity, experience and wisdom. Even when it can't be understood, God is present in it which is equally terrifying and assuring. The Bible is God’s unique revelation to mankind, the inspired, infallible Word of God without error in what it teaches and affirms. No other writings are vested with such divine authority.
we believe
For the most part, that's the core of Christian belief. The foundation if you will. God knows there's plenty of other stuff out there. All the various and sundry issues that set denomination against denomination, church against church, believer against believer. They are important issues (morality, theology, behavior, etc) and every believer should strive with the Holy Spirit to understand how they are to be worked out in his/her life. But we believe that if the foundation is solid, everything that's built upon it will work out in the end. Be warned: what you build will not always look like the other believers around you, but that's not a bad thing. Through the differences, a fuller, and ultimately truer, portrait of the Father will be revealed.
Our Beliefs
1. About God
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
Genesis 1:1,26,27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14.
2. About Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead on the third day to demonstrate his power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of kings, and Lord of lords.
Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13.
3. About the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make us aware of our need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily.
2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18.
4. About the Bible
The Bible is God’s word. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error, for its matter. The criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105, 160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5.
5. About Humankind
All people are made in the spiritual image of God to be like Him in character. They are the supreme object of God’s creation. Because of our sin, we have separated ourselves from God and live with the disposition to sin.
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1,2.
6. About Salvation
Salvation is a gift from God. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can we be saved from sin’s penalty. Living in salvation begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ by faith and turns from sin in sincere repentance.
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1.