God
We believe in God; one God in three Persons–God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. (Jn 1:1-14, 10:30-36; 1 Cor 8:6; Col 2:9)
Existence
We believe that God is the author of everything that is–the heavens and the earth, the spiritual and the physical, and everything else in all creation. So, we believe He is sovereign over all things, that everything belongs to Him, and that His divine nature can be clearly seen from what He has created. (Gen 1:1; Dan 4:35; Rom 1:20; Heb 12:2)
Us
We believe that God made human beings in His image; each person is fearfully and wonderfully made and known by God before the womb (Ps 139:14). Each person is God’s workmanship and all are of equal worth to him. We believe that God made us to be relational; to love him and to be loved by him. So, we believe that everyone is made to be connected with God and others in Christ.
Marriage and Sex
We believe God created the institution of marriage as between one man and one woman and that sexual relations are to be experienced within the context of marriage. Marriage is the joining of these distinct genders into one flesh. (Gen 1:26-27, 2:22-24; Lev 18:22; Jer 1:5; Ps 139:14; Eph 2:10; 1Jn 4:12)
We believe that while sex within marriage is pure and honorable, sex outside marriage is sinful and will be judged by God (Heb 13:4). The seventh commandment, “You shall not commit adultery,” protects the sexual relationship between a man and woman who are united in marriage by forbidding marital infidelity, premarital sex, homosexuality, bestiality, and the use of pornography (Ex 20:14).
Celibacy
Outside marriage, God’s standard for sex is celibacy, saying “no” to both heterosexual and homosexual lusts (Mat 5:27-30). Celibacy is a gift of God that allows the unmarried to live a life of purity and contentment, so that a person does not have to engage in sex to have a full and satisfying life (1 Cor 7:7-9).
Homosexual behavior is sinful and unnatural (Ro 1:24-28). Although God’s grace is sufficient to forgive and cleanse from all sin, that does not guarantee that a “forgiven and cleansed” homosexual will develop heterosexual feelings. Still, he or she may live a celibate life (1 Cor 6:9-11).
The Fall
We believe that since the fall of Adam we all have sinned and are separated are from God. We believe that God is just and that, in sin and apart from Him, His just price for our sin is eternal death and separation from God. (Rom 3:23, 6:23; 2:11; Ac 10:34)
Redemption
We believe that God is both truth and love. We believe that since our fall into sin, God has put into action His plan for our redemption. (Jn 1:14, 3:16; 14:6; Ge 3:15)
Jesus
We believe that Jesus Christ is both God and man. We believe that God Himself came as Jesus for our redemption fulfilling the Old Testament law. Jesus is the only way to God the father. (Mt 5:17; Jn 1:14, 14:6, 8:58; Lk 1:35; Rom 3:31; Php 2:5-11; Heb 2:17).
The Cross
We believe that Jesus died on the cross as the once-and-for-all payment for our sins. We believe that through faith, His payment on the cross was the full and final price for our redemption. (1Cor 15:3-4; Jn 19:30; Heb 2:9; 1Jn 2:2)
The Resurrection
We believe that Jesus Christ truly died and three days later rose from the dead. We believe that He ascended into heaven and is now with God the Father. We believe that Jesus’ resurrection gives our redemption from sin eternal significance. We believe that this resurrection gives us new life today, and eternal life with Him forever. (Mk 16:5-7; Ac 3:15; 1Cor 15:4-8)
The Gospel
We believe that Jesus’ death and resurrection is the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan for us. We believe that because of who Jesus is, because of His atoning death on the cross and because of His resurrection, He is our only way of salvation from sin, death and is our connection back to God. We believe that this is good news for both us as believers and for all people. We believe that, in the Gospel, we are made righteous by grace alone, through faith alone. (Lk 2:10; Jn 3:16; Ro 1:17; 1Cor 15:2; Rom 5:8-11; Eph 2:8)
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is God. We believe that the Holy Spirit works for our regeneration. We believe that God sent His Holy Spirit to empower His church to share the Gospel to the world. We believe that the Holy Spirit works in the heart of every believer to lead him or her to enjoy God and live in step with him. (Jn 14:26; Ac 1:8; Eph 1:13)
The Church
We believe that the fellowship of believers is the body of Christ and that all Christians are members of it. To each member grace has been given as Christ apportioned it for the unity and common good of the body. (1Cor 12:12-27; 10:16-17; Eph 4:11-17 5:29-30; Ro 12:6-8)
The Bible
We believe that God speaks. We believe that God speaks to us most clearly through the Bible; His inspired words of truth and life. The Bible is the final authority in faith and practice. We believe that by reading and reflecting on these words, we can better come to know and understand God, ourselves, and others. (2Ti 3:15-17; Mt 4:4; Heb 4:12; Dt 4:2; Jo 1:8; 1Th 2:13; Ps 119)
Judgment
We believe that all people shall be judged by Christ after His second coming. Believes are judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ (Ro 14:10-12). Every believer will give an account of himself, and the Lord will judge the decisions he made—including those concerning issues of conscience. This judgment does not determine salvation, which is by faith alone (Eph 2:8-9), but rather is the time when believers must give an account of their lives in service to Christ.
The unbelieving, the cowardly, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars will not escape God’s judgement. At the final judgment before the Great White Throne (Rev 20:11-15) those who names are written in the book of life shall live with Christ forever, while those whose names are not found in the book of life shall be cast into the lake of fire cut off from God forever, this is the known as the second death.
The Second Coming
We believe in Jesus’ imminent return to rapture away His church who shall meet him in the sky and then with great power and glory together with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones (Jude 1:14) return to the earth in great power and glory to set up His kingdom and to reign forever on David’s throne (Lk 1:32-33). No man can know the day of His Coming (Mt 24:36).
All Things New
After death has been destroyed, and all his enemies have been put under his feet God shall be made all in all (1 Cor 15:24-28). The heavens and earth shall be refined by fire and God shall make all things new where only righteousness dwells (2 Pe 3:10-13, Rev 21).