Our beliefs
We rest on the teachings of the Bible and the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We embrace the ancient truths of Christianity expressed in the Apostles’ Creed and search for knowledge in the Holy Scriptures through prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
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The Apostles’ Creed is an historical statement of faith common to all Christians, identifying what historic Christianity has taught from its inception.
“I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
“I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
“I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church*,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.”
*that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places
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We believe in one God who created all that exists apart from Himself. While one in being, essence, and substance, God exists as a Trinity in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are equal in power and authority, though They take different roles in the creation and redemption of the world.
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God the Son and the Second Person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ took on flesh, was born of the virgin Mary, and lived a sinless human life in the person of Jesus Christ. He experienced all that it means to be human and all forms of human temptation, yet was without sin. Jesus was and is truly God and truly Man. On the cross, Jesus voluntarily died a vicarious death which atoned for the sin of all Mankind. Jesus was buried in a tomb from which He arose bodily and physically on the third day, and He appeared to various individuals and groups of people before publicly ascending to a position of authority in Heaven, where He intercedes for believers and from whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
John 1:1 John 1:14 Luke 1:26ff Matthew 1:18ff Matthew 20:28 1 John 2:2 1 Corinthians 15:3ff Acts 1:9 Acts 2:33 Hebrews 7:25 John 5:22
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The Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit is God’s gift to all those who trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. The Holy Spirit dwells inside all believers, sealing them for salvation, granting them a new heart, empowering them to live a God-pleasing life, comforting them, and reminding them of the words and teachings of Jesus. He grants to believers various gifts meant for the edification of His Church.
Hebrews 3:7 Romans 8:11 Ephesians 1:13-14 Ezekiel 11:19 Galatians 5:16ff John 14:26 1 Corinthians 12:1ff
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We believe that the Holy Scriptures, comprising the 39 books of the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament) and the 27 books of the New Testament, are the sole infallible authority of Christian faith and practice. These Scriptures, while written by humans, were verbally and plenarily inspired by God, and contain everything necessary for salvation and for the mature Christian life.
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Man, both male and female, were originally created in the image and likeness of God. They were unique among His creation and meant to glorify Him and enjoy fellowship with Him. Through the disobedience of Adam and Eve, Man was cut off from the presence of God, and their descendents are born with a sin nature, incapable of saving themselves or living a God-pleasing life. God, in His great goodness, offers salvation and the forgiveness of sins as a free gift to those who trust in Jesus Christ. Salvation is not a reward of good deeds or religious service, but those who receive the free gift are expected to turn from their sins and to live a life of service to God and to others.
Genesis 1:27 Genesis 3:24 Romans 5:12 Romans 6:23 Ephesians 2:8-10
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Upon trusting in Jesus Christ, the believer becomes part of the universal Church (in Greek, the ekklesia, the “congregation” or “assembly”). The Church is the bride of Christ and His body on earth. The Church is not a building, but a people, meant to glorify God by spreading His message and by building one another up in love and in faithfulness. God intends that His people gather regularly in local congregations to worship Him, to pray, to hear His word, and to encourage one another.