What we believe fuels everything that we do. Here is a brief synopsis of what we believe about a few key topics in relation to God. For a more in-depth look at each specifically, click here.
GOD
He is our Creator. He is the one true God. He exists and reveals Himself to humanity in three distinct, equally divine persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. At the beginning of time, God created the entire universe and all its creatures. He continues to exercise His supreme power to sustain His creation. Throughout history He has expressed His desire to be our God and to have a personal, eternal relationship with us.
GENESIS 1:1-2 - In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
JESUS
Jesus is the eternal, divine son of God. In obedience to God the Father He came to earth as a man living a perfect and sinless life and died on the cross to pay the penalty for the sin of all humanity. God raised Him from the dead three days later, gaining victory over death and sin. After appearing to over 500 people over the course of 40 days, Jesus ascended to Heaven where He is now seated at the right hand of God.
COLOSSIANS 1:13-20 - He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
HOLY SPIRIT
The third person of God is the Holy Spirit. We believe the Holy Spirit dwells in every Christ-follower. His indwelling presence gives spiritual life to believers and distinguishes them as children of God. The Holy Spirit guides Christ-followers in understanding and applying God’s principles and values. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, Christ-followers are empowered to live Christ-like lives. The Holy Spirit also equips Christ-followers with talents and abilities for the purpose of building up God’s Kingdom.
EPHESIANS 1:13-14 - In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
PEOPLE
People are created in God’s image, but because of the sin of Adam, and our ongoing rebellion we are separated from God. There is hope for redemption through the work of Jesus on the cross, but without that redemption, people are to face eternity without God’s grace in hell.
ROMANS 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
SALVATION
Our inability to re-establish our relationship with God leaves us dependent on God’s mercy for salvation. God graciously provided the means to reconcile this relationship through faith in Jesus Christ. Our relationship is re-established when we make a commitment to follow Jesus as God’s son and our Savior and Lord. Through faith in Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven, and we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and eternal life.
EPHESIANS 2:8-9 - 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.
