Faith Statement
We believe in one God, who is Creator, Ruler, and Sustainer of the Universe. We believe
that God exists as three equal, co-eternal persons—God the Father, God the
Son, and God the Holy Spirit—yet remains one God. This is a mystery whose
comprehension lies beyond the limits of our finite minds. We believe that,
in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in
them. God upholds the universe by the power of his Word. We believe that God
is a personal being, not merely a cosmic force or an energy source that we
can tap and manipulate for our own ends. Because God is personal, we can
have a personal relationship with him—a relationship as real, and more
vital, than even our closest human relationships.
We believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God. He was
conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and lived a sinless
life as a flesh and blood human being. He was both fully human and fully
divine. We believe that he suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified,
died, and was buried. We believe he rose literally and bodily from the grave
and ascended into heaven where, as fully God and fully human, he is our
Advocate, High Priest, Savior, Friend, and beloved Lord and Master.
We believe that the Holy Bible is God’s authoritative and inspired
Word. In the Holy Bible we are taught everything necessary for our
salvation. As Christians we submit to its divine authority, both
individually and corporately, in all matters of belief and conduct. The Holy
Bible not only reveals to us who God is, but who we are and what our place
in the world is. The Holy Bible teaches us how to live life to the fullest.
A worldview based on biblical principles is a worldview that is based on the
fundamental realities of the universe.
We believe that all people are in need of the salvation that is found
only in Jesus Christ. We cannot enter the kingdom of God except by passing
through the true gate, Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth, and the
light. No one comes to the Father except through him. While we are not
Universalists, we believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the whole
world. We do not pretend to understand the fate of those who have never had
the chance to hear the good news about Jesus Christ and his love for us. We
do believe, however, that God is love, and whatever plans he has for those
who have had no chance to hear his word will be based on his limitless love
for all humankind.
We believe that we are justified, or made right with God, by grace through faith in
Jesus Christ and what he has done for us as our Savior, Liberator, and
Healer. Good works have no place in justification. We do not need to earn
the approval of our heavenly Father. Jesus Christ has done—and as our living
Savior, is doing—all that is necessary to bring us to a right standing with
God. God's grace is un-earnable and un-repayable. We are fully dependent on
God for both justification and sanctification. While human effort ("works"
or actions) play no part in justification, we cooperate with God in the
process of sanctification. God is the Master Potter. We are to be moldable
clay in his hands as God transforms us more and more into the image and
likeness of Jesus Christ.
We believe in one holy, universal, and apostolic Church. Its calling
is to worship and witness concerning its head, Jesus Christ, preaching the
good news about Jesus Christ among all nations and demonstrating its
commitment to Christ and his teachings by compassionate service to the needs
of human beings and by promoting righteousness and justice. All believers,
including, but not limited to, Evangelicals, mainline Protestants, Orthodox,
and Roman Catholics—as well as those believers affiliated with no church at
all—comprise the universal church, the Body of Jesus Christ.
We believe in the necessity of the work of the Holy Spirit for our
individual, personal transformation and growth to spiritual maturity, and
for the Church’s constant renewal in truth, wisdom, faith, holiness, love,
power, and mission. The Holy Spirit guides us, both individually and
corporately, as we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ.
We believe that Jesus Christ will personally and visibly return in
glory to raise the dead and bring salvation and judgment to completion.
While God's kingdom exists in incipient form now, at the return of Jesus
Christ, God will fully manifest his kingdom when he establishes a new heaven
and new earth, in which there will be no suffering, no death, and the
knowledge of the true God will cover the earth as water covers the seas.
