OUR THEOLOGY
The Gospel
The gospel is the good news that through Christ the power of God's kingdom has entered history to renew the whole world. When we believe and rely on Jesus' work and record (rather than ours) for our relationship to God, that kingdom power comes upon us and begins to work through us.
We believe the gospel is the good news of what God has graciously accomplished for sinners through the sinless life, sacrificial death, and bodily resurrection of his Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, namely our forgiveness from sin and complete justification before God; this gospel is also the foundation for our confidence in the ultimate triumph of God’s kingdom, and the consummation of his purpose for all creation in the new heavens and new earth. This gospel is centered in Christ, is the foundation for the life of the Church, and is our only hope for eternal life; this gospel hinges on Christ’s penal substitutionary death and bodily resurrection are central to our message.
We hold Gospel centrality in all of life as a core conviction. The gospel changes people from the inside out. Christ gives us a radically new identity, freeing us from both self-righteousness and self-condemnation. He liberates us to accept people we once excluded and to break the bondage of things (even good things) that once drove us. In particular, the gospel makes us welcoming and respectful toward those who do not share our beliefs.
The salvation offered in this gospel message is received by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone; no ordinance, ritual, work, or any other activity on the part of man is required in order to be saved.
Mark 1:1; Luke 24:46-47; John 3:16-18; Romans 1:16-17; Romans 1:18-25; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; 2:2; 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 4:1-6; 9:13; Galatians 1:6-9; Ephesians 1: 7-10; Colossians 1: 19-20; 2 Timothy 1:8-14; 2 Peter 3: 11-13 Jude 3-4; Revelation 21:1-22:21
The Trinity
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption.
We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of all people, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, continuing intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth.
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to give new spiritual life, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide. We hold the work of the Holy Spirit as a necessity for all of life and ministry.
Deuteronomy 6:4; John 1:1,3; Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14; Romans 1:19-20
The Bible
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. History, science, and God's ability to speak through our experiences all align and weave themselves into a tapestry of truth with scripture.
II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21; John 16:12-13; Mark 13:31; Acts 20:32
The Church
We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. Jesus made it clear that the church is a new community, and he placed himself at the center of that community. Jesus defined church in relation to himself, as his body. It was built, not of bricks and mortar, but of the Spirit and the fellowship of the saints. In the early church, there is no mention of buildings. Rather, believers worshiped wherever they were—in the temple, at home, by the riverside, in the marketplace. The only thing that mattered was a focus on Christ and the vitality of the Body of believers.
Ephesians 2:19-20; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:19-21; Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:23-25
The gospel is the good news that through Christ the power of God's kingdom has entered history to renew the whole world. When we believe and rely on Jesus' work and record (rather than ours) for our relationship to God, that kingdom power comes upon us and begins to work through us.
We believe the gospel is the good news of what God has graciously accomplished for sinners through the sinless life, sacrificial death, and bodily resurrection of his Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, namely our forgiveness from sin and complete justification before God; this gospel is also the foundation for our confidence in the ultimate triumph of God’s kingdom, and the consummation of his purpose for all creation in the new heavens and new earth. This gospel is centered in Christ, is the foundation for the life of the Church, and is our only hope for eternal life; this gospel hinges on Christ’s penal substitutionary death and bodily resurrection are central to our message.
We hold Gospel centrality in all of life as a core conviction. The gospel changes people from the inside out. Christ gives us a radically new identity, freeing us from both self-righteousness and self-condemnation. He liberates us to accept people we once excluded and to break the bondage of things (even good things) that once drove us. In particular, the gospel makes us welcoming and respectful toward those who do not share our beliefs.
The salvation offered in this gospel message is received by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone; no ordinance, ritual, work, or any other activity on the part of man is required in order to be saved.
Mark 1:1; Luke 24:46-47; John 3:16-18; Romans 1:16-17; Romans 1:18-25; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; 2:2; 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 4:1-6; 9:13; Galatians 1:6-9; Ephesians 1: 7-10; Colossians 1: 19-20; 2 Timothy 1:8-14; 2 Peter 3: 11-13 Jude 3-4; Revelation 21:1-22:21
The Trinity
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption.
We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of all people, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, continuing intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth.
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to give new spiritual life, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide. We hold the work of the Holy Spirit as a necessity for all of life and ministry.
Deuteronomy 6:4; John 1:1,3; Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14; Romans 1:19-20
The Bible
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. History, science, and God's ability to speak through our experiences all align and weave themselves into a tapestry of truth with scripture.
II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21; John 16:12-13; Mark 13:31; Acts 20:32
The Church
We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. Jesus made it clear that the church is a new community, and he placed himself at the center of that community. Jesus defined church in relation to himself, as his body. It was built, not of bricks and mortar, but of the Spirit and the fellowship of the saints. In the early church, there is no mention of buildings. Rather, believers worshiped wherever they were—in the temple, at home, by the riverside, in the marketplace. The only thing that mattered was a focus on Christ and the vitality of the Body of believers.
Ephesians 2:19-20; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:19-21; Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:23-25
