We see the Bible (Old and New Testament) as God’s word to us. It is God’s living intent for us to enjoy and follow it with courage and consistency. It is the final authority on all things pertaining to life and faith and is inerrant in the original writings. The Bible as a whole is focused on the effective work of God's rescue of mankind through our hero Jesus Christ.
We believe with firm resolve that there is one God who created the heavens and the earth. Out of his passion and love, he created all people in his image. This means that we have emotions, creativity, and passion – just like God. God exists eternally in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and these three persons are equal in substance, being, eternal nature, power, and glory. This is both mysterious and beautiful to us.
We believe that man sinned against God and in turn destined the entire race to inherit sin. Upon this cosmic tragedy, mankind became alienated from God and totally unable to salvage his own lost state or even desire God. It is impossible for man to save himself, no matter how many good things he has done. Because of this tragedy, we are dependent on God’s grace to us through the work of his Son Jesus Christ.
We believe that Jesus Christ, who is the eternal Son of God, came to earth as a man – yet remained fully God – and was literally born of a virgin. Our hero and hope, Jesus, came to reveal God to us and to redeem us from sin. This was accomplished through his sinless and perfect life and his work on the cross, our climactic rescue. His death on the cross was in our stead and for our sake, and was an act of love and obedience. We firmly believe Jesus’ work to be an effective, sacrificial, and vicarious substitution. He voluntarily received and absorbed what was due for us. We also believe that after the cross there was a very literal and physical resurrection from the dead. From his resurrection Jesus went before us, exalted and at the right hand of God. It is here that our hero and hope intercedes for us as representative and advocate.
We believe that this salvage operation had us in mind. We understand salvation to be the gift of God to mankind. He gives this gift according to his sovereign grace and will, and we receive it by faith in Jesus Christ and his love for us on the cross. His blood was shed for the distinct purpose of meeting his justice, forgiving our sins, and healing our broken lives. When we call out for him to rescue us, trust him and repent from our sins, we are right before God. This is what we call justification. This gift cannot be stolen from us as we are kept safe by God’s power for all of eternity.
We believe God’s Holy Spirit to be the divine person bringing conviction of our own sin, unrighteousness, and spiritual distance from God. Upon this revelation, it is also the same Spirit that does the salvage work in our hearts. This is what we call regeneration. We believe the Holy Spirit baptizes all believers into the body of Christ upon salvation, empowers us while we live and breathe, and seals our inheritance until we fully receive it on the awesome day of redemption.
We believe that God sovereignly distributed spiritual gifts to believers. This means that everyone doesn’t have the same gifts or even level of gifting. We also believe that we, upon salvation, are fully baptized into the Holy Spirit and set into the Body of Christ. We also do not see any particular spiritual gift as an automatic proof of the Holy Spirit or spiritual maturity. It is our great honor and adventure to exercise these spiritual gifts as God gives us grace to do it.
We believe the church to be the bride of Christ and a living organism made up of all people who are truly born again. We clearly see in God’s word a charge to continue to grow, make disciples, leaders, missionaries, and plant as many healthy reproducing communities of believers as possible. The Lord’s Supper and Baptism are clearly taught to be effective testimonies for the church and we believe in their continual expression.
Like all good stories, this one ends in God’s timing and way - and ultimately for His glory. He will bring all that we see to an end and will establish a new heaven and earth. It is here that we, in glorified states, worship God and give him glory for all eternity.