who we are : our beliefs

The Bible

We believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God, without error regarding spiritual truth, and the only written revelation from God to man. We believe that the message of the Bible is relevant for all times and should not be watered down, altered or dressed up by men.

2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Acts 20:27; 2 Timothy 1:13; Titus 1:9; 2:1; Acts 20:30,31; 2 Timothy 4:3,4

God

We believe in the one true God, the creator of all that exists, who has revealed himself through creation, conscience, history, personal experience, Jesus Christ and the Bible to be holy, loving and just. He has also revealed that in the category of “God” three distinct persons exist--the mysterious community of God the Father, Jesus the Son of God and the Holy Spirit. While the Bible acknowledges their unity, the greater emphasis is given to their individuality and their distinct roles in the saving of mankind.

Romans 1:19,20; Habakkuk 1:13; Exodus 34:6,7; Deuteronomy 32:4; Matthew 3:16,17; 28:19; Luke 1:35; 1 Timothy 2: 5; Ephesians 4:4-6; 1 Corinthians 12:4; 15:24-28; 2 Corinthians 13:14

Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus is the Son of God, mysteriously one with God the Father. According to God’s loving plan, Jesus became a man to die as the representative of sinful mankind in order to save mankind from the penalty of their sins. Having completed his mission, he rose from the dead and has returned to his Father where he now prays for us. He will one day return to take into God’s presence those who continue to live for him and to banish from God’s presence all who continue in sin and unbelief.

Luke 1:35; John 20:31; John 1:1; Matthew 20:28; Romans 5:6-8; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Hebrews 7:25; 9:28; 3:14; Romans 2:5-10,16; 2 Thessalonians 1:9,10; Matthew 22:13; 25:31-46; John 3:16-21

The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit, as part of the divine community, inspired men to write the Bible, convicts the world of guilt in regard to sin, righteousness and judgment, morally transforms believers who cooperate with his inner promptings, and empowers them for ministry.

2 Peter 1:20-21; John 16:5-11; Romans 8:15,16,26,27; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Philippians 2:12,13; Acts 1:8

Humanity

We believe that mankind was created in God’s image and was intended for a thriving intimate relationship with God. This is why we see much that is good in man. But the beautiful image God placed in man was marred by “the fall” when Adam and Eve, the representatives of all mankind, failed in the way we all would have had we been there--they failed to live by God’s guidelines and moral standards. Having inherited their nature, all of mankind is now prone to sin, separated from their holy and loving creator, and desperately in need of a rescue from God’s just wrath against sin and rebellion.

Genesis 1:26,27; Matthew 23:37; Revelation 7:15-17; Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 5:12-19; Romans 1:18-32; 3:10-20, 23; 1 John 1:8-10; Ephesians 2:1-3: Isaiah 59:2; Ephesians 4:18; Romans 2:5; 7:24

Salvation

We believe that God provided the rescue we so desperately needed when he sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to take upon himself the wrath and separation we deserve. Jesus took our place on the cross, he died for our sins, and now he offers back to us the beautiful intimacy with God that we were intended to experience! This amazing gift is available to everyone who will repent of their sins (turn from sinful, selfish living), trust in the death of Jesus as the only way to be saved, and commit to living a life of devotion and service to God with the help he provides.

Because God is just, those who do not have access to these truths (young children, the unreached, those lacking adequate mental capacity and those living prior to Christ) will be judged by how they respond to the truth made available to them (for example, in creation and conscience), and by consideration of their capacity. Ultimately however, since no one can be saved apart from Christ, it would make sense that those who respond well to God’s general revelation, or lack the capacity to respond, will have the saving benefits of Christ’s death applied to them.

Romans 7:24,25; 8:1; Colossians 1:13; Isaiah 53:5,6; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Matthew 20:28; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Timothy 2:4; Acts: 17:30,31; 20:21; 26:20; Romans 3:25; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:8-10; Psalm 19:1-4; Romans 1:19,20; 2:12-16; Acts 17:27

Christ Followers

We believe that followers of Christ will exhibit growth in loving God, loving others and loving the world. This love will become increasingly evident in the way they lay their lives down for God, care for the believing community and let their light shine before a lost and hurting world.

Sincere believers will grow to be more and more like Jesus as they cooperate with the powerful work of the Holy Spirit who lives in them. The Spirit lovingly draws believers to walk in paths of righteousness, directs their hearts to spend time in the Bible so that they can contemplate its truths, encouragements and warnings, prays to the Father for them, and encourages them to grow in loving, childlike intimacy with God.

Matthew 22:34-39; 28:18-20; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-10; James 1:27; Philippians 1:9,10; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Peter 1:3-11; Matthew 5:14-16; 1 John 1:5,6; 2:9-11; 3:14,18,19; Philippians 2:12,13; Galatians 6:7-10; Ephesians 5:5,6; Romans 8:12-17