Who is God?
We believe that God is the Creator of all things. He has always existed and will always exist. He made everything and it is by his power that everything continues to exist and to function. We believe that all God’s characteristics are good, as he is revealed in the Bible. He creates, loves, forgives, disciplines, judges and does all things perfectly. Because of the infinite goodness of all God’s qualities, he is the greatest treasure in the universe. A relationship with him is the most desirable experience possible to have. God is not a means to other ends; he is himself the ultimate satisfaction of the deepest longings of the human heart. (Genesis 1:31, Matthew 13:44, Hebrews 11:3, Revelation 1:8)

We believe in the doctrine of the Trinity. God is one God, as shown in the Bible. God reveals himself to us as the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God in three persons. Each member of the Trinity is co-equal and co-eternal. The truth about God is simple enough that even a young child can believe. The truth about God is also complex enough that mature believers will always find more to be known about the greatness of God. (Deuteronomy 6:4, John 4:24, John 14:10, Matthew 28:19)

The Human Condition
We believe that every person has worth as a creation of God, but all have sinned. Sin is the desire for and choice of anything over God. Our sin is evident through everything from lies to murder. Rather than comparing which ones are worse, we are to admit that all of us have sinned and committed the great wrong of preferring something over God. No matter how “little” we think our sins are, the reality is that we all fall short of God’s standard, and therefore deserve whatever God says justice requires.

The Bible says that God’s justice requires death. Without Jesus, the death we deserve is eternal death, which people who persist in rejecting God will experience in a real place called hell. In hell, people experience what they chose their whole life – separation from God’s grace. The experience of hell is like a flame of loss and regret away from God’s grace and mercy and comfort forever. (Genesis 6:5, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23)

Salvation
We rejoice in the fact that God did not leave us with only the option we deserve. Instead of condemning us all to the eternal death we deserve, Jesus died in our place. Jesus (who is God the Son) never sinned and therefore did not deserve death like we do. When he willingly died for us according to God’s eternal plan, he completely absorbed God’s just requirement of death for our sin. Now everyone who believes in Jesus and devotes their life to him will have their death sentence removed.

This is an individual experience which is called salvation. Salvation involves receiving the Holy Spirit, turning away from sin, submitting to the authority of God through Scripture and living a transformed life. Salvation is an undeserved gift and cannot be earned by any amount of human effort. The visible transformations in our lifestyles and behaviors are the result of the power of the Holy Spirit, because of God’s grace. (Romans 10:9, Ephesians 2:8, John 14:6, John 14:15, Acts 2:38-39, Romans 6:23)

God’s Word
We believe that the Bible is the divinely inspired word of God. The Bible is God’s complete revelation of himself to us. We believe that the Bible is true and that it has authority over us. We believe that it is good and that all Christians should desire to study it and obey it in order to know God. The truth of God’s word never changes. Therefore God’s word keeps us in absolute truth while culture fluctuates. Even though the absolute truth of God’s word never changes, it is also alive and active through God’s Spirit, causing it to be just as personal today as when it was first written. We believe in the importance of spending regular and consistent time reading God’s word in order to be fed spiritually. (Matthew 4:4, John 17:17, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12)

Prayer
Prayer is talking to God. Prayer is a vital part of life for every Christian. Prayer is an act of faith where we ask for God’s forgiveness of sin, help to understand scripture, wisdom for life, physical and spiritual healing and provision. Prayer and Bible application are at the core of every healthy Christian’s life. (John 16:24, Matthew 7:11, Romans 12:12)

Baptism
We practice baptism by immersion, representing the death of our old sinful nature when we turn away from our desire for sin, and the life of our new nature when we turn to God and prefer him. Going under the water represents death and burial; coming up out of the water represents the resurrection of our spirit to new life. This is an actual change that takes place in our nature by God’s Holy Spirit coming to live inside our body. He is invisible, but our new nature will cause visible (and wonderful) changes in our life and behavior. This transformation by the Holy Spirit is the real baptism which water submersion represents. (Matthew 28:19, John 1:33, Romans 6:3-4)

Marriage
We believe that marriage is defined by God in scripture as a covenant relationship between one God-made man and one God-made woman. Both God-made men and God-made women are equal in value, but have distinct God-ordained roles and responsibilities. God created marriage to portray the relationship between Jesus and the church. No other relationship can be defined as biblical marriage, except one God-made man joined through covenant to one God-made woman. (Genesis 2:18-24, Genesis 1:27-28, Matthew 19:4-6, Ephesians 5:22-33)

Singleness
God does not require marriage for those who wish to remain single. The Bible affirms a life of singleness devoted to God just as much as a life in marriage devoted to God. Marriage will not exist in heaven, because the wonderful image it provides will be dissolved in the greater union of God’s full presence. (1 Corinthians 7:8, 17,35, Matthew 22:30)

Sanctity of Life
We believe in the sanctity of human life. People were created to be able to enjoy a personal relationship with the God of the universe. As humans, created by God in his image, known personally, made on purpose for a purpose, it is clear to Christians that life is precious. Life begins at conception and retains its full value to the last breath. Regardless of age or ability, every life ought to be held in great respect and nurtured to achieve its full potential as a worshiper of God. (Matthew 10:30, Genesis 1:27, Psalm 139:13-16)