Our Beliefs  

 
What do we believe?

"And I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am I did not make it, no it is making me
It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man "
-from 'Creed', Rich Mullins

o We believe that the whole Bible, though written by men, is a message from God to us. It is true and the final authority in all matters of what we believe and how we should live. (2Tim 3:16; 2Pet 1:21; Rom 3:2).

o We believe there is only one God, existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (2Cor 13:14) and this is a mystery.

o We believe in God the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth. (Gen 1;Ps 65; Ps 104).

o We believe that Jesus of Nazareth was conceived by God’s Spirit, and that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary (Matt 1:18), suffered under Pontius Pilate (Luke 22:66-23:25), was crucified (Luke 23:26-43), died (Luke 23:44-49), was buried (Luke 23:50-56), and that He is 100% God and 100% man. (Jn 1:1-4; Phil 2:5-8).

o We believe that Jesus rose bodily from the dead and went into heaven where He is now. (Luke 24; Acts 1:3-9; 1Cor 15:4; Heb 7:23-25).

o We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person, and that He is God and co-equal with the Father and Son. The Holy Spirit lives in every believer in Jesus Christ and He is our abiding Helper, Teacher, and Guide (Eph 1:13; Jn 14:16,17,26; Jn 16:13).

o We believe in all the gifts of the Spirit (Rom 12:6-8; 1Cor 12:7-11; 14:39-40; Eph 4:11-13; 1Pet 4:8-11) given to every believer to grow a healthy group of Christians called the Church.

o We believe angels are real, both good and fallen. This includes Satan (the devil), the enemy of God, whose unhappy ending has already been written (Rev 20:7-10; Job 1:6; Heb 1:14; Col 2:15).

o We believe that man was created in the image of God, that he sinned, and by sinning, brought on himself and the human race, a debt, which results in not only physical death but also in separation from God, a spiritual death (Rom 5:12, 18-19; Gen 1:26-27; 2:16-17).

o We believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins and because of His death our debt is cancelled, our ransom is paid, our freedom obtained and we have forgiveness of sins through His blood (1Cor 15:3; Eph 1:7; Jn 3:16).

o We believe that Jesus could come back from heaven at any time; that His coming will be personal and visible. (Acts 1:11; Jn 5:28-29; 1Thes 4:14-17; 1Cor 15:51-53).

o We believe that a person becomes a child of God by trusting Jesus and the forgiveness that He provides (Rom 10:9-10). Doing things God’s way becomes a way of life (1Jn 1:8-9). Following the example of Jesus, baptism by immersion is a way we reveal our desire for clear conscience towards God (1Pet 3:21) and a symbolic representation of us connecting our life with His death, burial and resurrection (Rom 6:4). Living faith, a lifestyle of doing things God’s way and baptism into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all part of God’s design to bring us into relationship with Himself (Matt 28:19-20; Jn 1:12-13; Titus 3:8; Acts 2:21,38).

o We believe that the Church, formed by Jesus, is made up of all true believers and not just one group. The Great Task Jesus challenged us to live out is to find others who are interested in what we have found in Jesus and to show them how to become fully devoted followers in all nations of the world (1Cor 12:12-13; Matt 28:19-20; 16:18).

o We believe that there will be a bodily resurrection of both the just and the unjust. The people who make a commitment to Jesus will go to their true home in heaven full of peace and joy and life. The people who choose to live without God will get what they have lived for. (1Thes 4:13-18; Rev 20:11-21).