It is important you know what the Christian Church believes. The following statements summarize the core Biblical doctrines we hold as true for all.
We believe the Bible is God’s Word, divinely inspired, entirely true and relevant for people of every age. In God’s Word we are shown the truth: God is the source of life and the Creator of all existence. We see that God loved the world so much that He gave humanity free will. This free will led to sin, but God’s redemptive love proved more powerful than sin through Jesus Christ’s life and death. In God’s Word we discover the plan for salvation: the virgin birth of His son, His son’s sinless life, His remarkable instructions, His sacrificial death, the shedding of His blood on the cross, and His burial and glorious resurrection. We believe Christ is God’s Son and those who have accepted Him as Lord believe in Him; have faith in Him; have repented of their sins; and have been baptized into Him thus receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit that is Christ within us. We believe God desires everyone in the world to know Him through His Word. He has given us the responsibility of spreading the message to the world that Jesus Christ died for the sins of all who accept Him as their Savior.
God – We believe God is the Creator of the universe. That He revealed himself through the Bible and through the person of Jesus Christ. We believe that He loved the world and paid the price to save the world from its fallen state. We believe that God is one God, and that He has revealed himself to humanity on three levels: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Genesis 1:1; Matthew 3:16, 17, John 1:1, John 3:16, and John 14:9, 10
Jesus Christ – We believe Jesus Christ is both fully man and fully God. We believe that God revealed himself through Christ. Christ has existed from the beginning. He is the prophesied Messiah of Israel. Christ is the Savior of the world. Christ dies and rose to forgive humanity’s sin. He is the head of the church. Matthew 1:18-21, John 1:1, John 1:29-30, John 20, Romans 6:23, & Colossians 1:13-23
The Holy Spirit – The Holy Spirit is Christ in us. It is the Comforter that is given to us at our baptism. The Spirit specially blesses every Christian with spiritual gifts. The Holy Spirit is our seal and mark of entrance into the family of God. John 16:5-15, Acts 2:38, Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, and Ephesians 1:17
Bible – The Bible is the divine revelation of God and His Son Jesus Christ. It is relevant through all times to all peoples. It is the Word of God given to the world that they may find abundant life. It is the only standard by which the church should set its belief. John 1:1-14, Romans 15:4, Hebrews 4:12-13, & 2 Timothy 3:16
Humanity – We believe all creation including man was made by God. God made man special in the fact that he was created in the image of God himself. Man was made for a perfect world and was made perfect by God. Man was given free will and as a result chose to sin thus disrupting God’s designed perfection for man. Genesis 1-3
Sin – There are many sins and forms of sin but all men have fallen into sin in one form or another. Sin is not living according to the direction of God. Romans 3:23 & 1 John 1:7
Grace – Grace is God’s love for the world in motion. The world deserves destruction; God instead brings salvation in the form of His very own Son. His Son takes on the sins of the world thus providing a hope for those united with Him in His perfect death. Romans 3:24, John 1:14-17, & Ephesians 2:5-8
Salvation – This is God’s forgiveness of sins granted to man through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This salvation comes to an individual through their belief, faith, repentance, and confession of sins and baptism (immersion) into Christ. This salvation is only found in Jesus Christ. Matthew 26:28, John 20:30-31, Acts 2:38, Romans 6:1-7, Romans 10:9, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, & Ephesians 2:8-9
Baptism – It is in baptism that we personally connect with the blood, burial, and resurrection of Christ. We die to our old self and are raised to a new creation that will live eternally because of Christ’s sacrifice. It is in this event that our sins are forgiven, our faith is recognized, and we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 & 22:16
Belief – This is simply an understanding of who God is, what He has done, and how He has saved humanity through His Son. It is not something that will alone bring salvation; it is instead a starting place. It does not make you a Christian for even the demons believe in God and Christ. John 3:16, John 17:20, & Acts 16:34-37.
Faith – Faith is being sure of what you cannot see. Faith is the way in which a Christian lives their life as they wait for the fulfillment of God’s plan. Faith is taking your belief and putting it into life. Faith comes from being told the Truth. Romans 10:17, Colossians 1:23, & Hebrews 11:1
Repentance – This word simply means that we know the sin that we have committed against God and that we are sorry for it. All sin is ultimately against God only and His holiness. Repentance realizes our sin in the sight of God and says I will no longer live a life of sin but I will strive to live a life that is in line with God’s desires and plans. Psalm 51:4, Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19, & Acts 8:22
The Church – We believe that the church is the body and bride of Christ. It was founded on the day of Pentecost. It consists of all believers everywhere. Its mission is to seek and save the lost for Christ. Matthew 16:13-18, Matthew 28:19, & Acts 2:14-47
Communion – We believe communion is the central focus of our meeting together as Christians. It is our remembrance of all the Lord has done for us. It is a regular corporate act to recognize and remember Christ’s sacrifice. 1 Corinthians 11:24-26, 33
Worship – Worship is a regular state for all believers at all times. Our very lives are to worship God. It is also reserved for God only. Exodus 20:3, John 4:24, & Romans 12:1
Leadership – The leadership of the church is played out in many ways. The New Testament clearly points out that there are to be elders in the church that have a protection role, a moral guardianship for the people. They are to be leaders that safeguard and maintain the Truth in the church. There also deacons or servant leaders that have been given specific oversight of an area of church life. There is also the role of the evangelist in the New Testament. The evangelist is one that teaches and preaches the Word of God to the people because of special training. We believe that all these roles have an integral part to play in the leadership of the church, and they must all work together as the church reaching out to fulfill its mission of evangelism. The reality is that Christ is the head and He has already cast the vision for the church and we must simply find a way to accomplish His will through whatever means possible. Matthew 28:16-20, Ephesians 2:11-22, 1 Timothy 3:1-16, & Titus 1:5-9
Eschatology – Christ was raised on the third day and later ascended into heaven. Before leaving He promised that He would return to save His people. On the last day, Christ will come back and the world will all know He is Lord. It will not be that some are taken, or that there is some secret way into heaven. Christ will return to judge the world and the world will come to an end. The coming of this time will not be known to anyone nor are any given a special revelation. There will be a heaven and a hell. Matthew 25:31-46, Acts 1:7-11, Philippians 2:6-11, and Revelation 14:1-5, 14:14-20, 19:9-18, 20:11-15, 21:5-8, & 22:7- 20