Beliefs

 

In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In everything, love.

This quote from St. Augustine offers a helpful posture toward beliefs in the local church. While there are essential Scriptural teachings necessary for faithfulness and unity, there exist important secondary teachings with scriptural support that have been debated and produced division in the body of Christ for centuries. Where essential teachings provide a non-negotiable anchor, we believe secondary teachings can be held with an open hand for the sake of maintaining unity and harmony within the Church.

Belief Statement

  • We believe that the Bible is the inspired, infallible, authoritative Word of God (Deuteronomy 31:24-26; Psalm 19:7-11; Jeremiah 30:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 3:15-16).

  • We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:17-20; Acts 17:24-28; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 1:9-12; 4:4-6; Colossians 1:15-23; Jude 20-21).

  • We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, that he was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, offered himself as a sacrifice for sinners, and was physically raised from the dead on the third day (Isaiah 53:1-12; Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1-18; Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:1-28; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:10-14; Ephesians 1:7; Philippians 2:6-11; Colossians 1:15-23; 2:15; Hebrews 7:25; 9:13-15; 10:19; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 1 John 2:1-2; 3:8).

  • We believe that the Holy Spirit imparts spiritual life through regeneration and that he indwells, leads, sanctifies, empowers, and that the gifts of the Spirit dispensed to the early church remain active today for the purpose of edification within the body. (Matthew 3:11; John 1:12-13; 3:1-15; 15:26-27; 16:7-15; Acts 2:1-4; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:11-16; 5:18).

  • We believe that all of humanity (with the exception of Jesus Christ) are sinners by nature and choice, wholly unable to save themselves (Genesis 1-3; Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:9-18; 5:12-21; Ephesians 2:1-3).

  • We believe that we are justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in the redemptive work of Christ alone (John 1:12-13; 6:37-44; 10:25-30; Acts 13:48; 16:30-31; Romans 8:1-17, 31-39; 9:1-23; 10:8-10; Ephesians 1:4-5; 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; Titus 3:3-7; 1 John 1:7,9).

  • We believe that Christians will live for eternity with God. Those who die without Christ will suffer eternal separation from God (Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:19-31; John 5:25-29; 1 Corinthians 15:35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Philippians 1:19-26; 3:20-21; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:1-22:15).

  • We believe in the historically Christian view of marriage and sexual expression; that marriage is a lifelong one-flesh covenant union between two sexually different persons (male and female) from different families, and that all sexual relationships and expressions outside of marriage are sin (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:18-25; Matthew 19:4-6; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 6:18-20; 1 Corinthians 7:1-3; 1 Timothy 1:9-11).

The Nicene Creed

The Nicene Creed was developed in the 4th Century as a foundational statement of belief for early Christian churches. It is one of the most famous and influential creeds in the history of the church, settling the question of how Christians can worship one God and also claim that this God is three persons.

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy universal and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.