There is one God, and that God is eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing and present everywhere. We believe that God exists as three distinct persons who operate in perfect unity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – as creator and sustainer of all things (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; 1 Timothy 2:5).
Jesus is God revealed to mankind as a human being - fully human yet fully God. Jesus lived a sinless life, died to take the penalty for the sins of all mankind, was raised to life again by the power of the Holy Spirit, and is now at the right hand of the Father praying for us. We believe in the certainty of Jesus’ second coming in power and glory to gather to himself those who believe in him, to execute final judgment on the earth against sin, and to make all things new (John 1:1, 14; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Titus 2:11-14; Revelation 21:5).
The Holy Spirit is God’s personal, empowering presence on the earth. He convinces the world of the true nature of sin, how to live a truly righteous life, and God’s judgment against sin. The Holy Spirit gives new life to all who turn from their sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. He sets our lives apart for God, empowers us to do what God desires, equips us with a vast array of spiritual gifts, teaches us what God wants us to know, and guides and comforts the believers (John 16:7,8, 12-15; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:7).
The Bible is the product of the Holy Spirit’s creative work in the lives of those whom God chose to write the Bible. Because the Bible comes from God through people, the Bible is without error in what it teaches and has the final authority in all matters it addresses (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
Because all mankind is born into a state of spiritual death and brokenness in our relationship with God, we are unable to restore that relationship. God graciously gives salvation to every person who believes in the message of Jesus Christ. Salvation is a gift that cannot be earned in any way by human effort. The result of salvation is the complete and eternal renewal of what it truly means to be human. Salvation comes to us when we genuinely turn from our sin, ask for God’s forgiveness for our rebellion, and become followers of Jesus. In this way alone are we restored and live at peace with God. The Bible calls this new birth (Romans 3:23; 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:3-5).
All those who believe in the message of Jesus Christ and are truly his followers make up, what the Bible calls, “the Church.” The Church of Jesus Christ is an organism, a universal expression of those who have been vitally united by faith in Christ, its living Head and sovereign Lord (Matthew 16:18; Hebrews 12:22-24).
Jesus commanded his followers to observe two important commands that we call "ordinances:" Baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe they are outward acts appointed by Christ to be expressed in each church, not as a means of salvation, but as a visible expression of faith in Christ, and of the importance of his death on the cross for our sins (Acts 8:36; 1 Corinthians 11:24-34).
Articles of Faith
