what we believe.

Question 1

Answer

We believe God exists eternally and equally in three persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

(Matthew 28:19; Colossians 2:9)

Question 2

JESUS.

Answer

We Believe That Jesus Christ Is Completely Human But, At The Same Time, Completely God.

We believe that through Him mankind can be brought back into a right relationship with God. Jesus lived a life without sin, so that He could be the perfect sacrifice for us in satisfying the debt of sin. Through His death and resurrection, He has given us the opportunity to receive eternal life.

(Isaiah 7:14; 53; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 14:33; 16:16; 28:5-6; Luke 1:27-35; 22:70; 24:46-47; John 1:1, 14; 10:30; 11:25-27; 17:1-5; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 8:1-3; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Gal 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15; 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16)

Question 3

THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Answer

We Believe That The Holy Spirit Within Us Assures Us Of Our Relationship With Christ.

The Holy Spirit guides believers into all truth and encourages us to exalt Christ. He convicts people of their sin, the righteousness of God, and the coming judgment. He comforts us, gives us spiritual gifts without repentance, and helps us be more like Christ. We know the Holy Spirit is present in us by way of evidence. The Holy Spirit is seen in the fruits of the Holy Spirit, speaking in unknown tongues, gifts of the Holy Spirit, etc.

(Genesis 1:2; Psalms 51:11; 139:7 ff.; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Mark 1:10; Luke 1:35; 4:1; 11:13; 12:12; John 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:5, 8; 2:1-4; 13:2; Romans 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 12:1-11; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Peter 1:21; Revelation 22:17)

Question 4

THE CHURCH.

Answer

The Church Is A Local Community Of Baptized Believers United Through Faith In Christ.

The church is committed to the teachings of Christ and obeying all of His commands, and it seeks to bring and connect the Gospel to the world. The Church works to motivate with love and unity, with the intent to develop a mind to glorify God.

(Matthew 16:18-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-47; 5:11-14; 13:1-3; 14:23; 16:5; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:10-12; 5:22-32; Colossians 1:18; 3:15; 1 Timothy 4:14; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 21:2-3)

Question 5

MANKIND.

Answer

We Believe That Man Is Made In The Image Of God And Is The Object Of His Creation.

God created man to have fellowship with Him but through sinful disobedience the relationship between God and man was damaged. As a result, man cannot attain the right relationship with God through his own effort. Man now has to attain that relationship through the acceptance of Jesus Christ.

(Genesis 1:26-30; 2:7, 18-22; 3; Psalms 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18, 23; 5:6; 6:6; 7:14-25; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19, 21-22; Ephesians 2; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11)

Question 6

REPENTANCE.

Answer

Man Was Created Good And Upright, But By Voluntary Transgression He Fell Into Sin.

His only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ. Repentance is a commitment to turn away from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Christ. Through repentance we individually receive forgiveness of sins and appropriate salvation.

(Genesis 1:26-31, 3:17; Acts 2:38, 3:19; Romans 5:12-21)

Question 7

SALVATION.

Answer

The Blood Of Jesus Christ, Shed On The Cross, Provides The Only Way Of Salvation Through The Forgiveness Of Sin.

Salvation occurs when people place their faith in the death and resurrection of Christ as sufficient payment for their sin. Salvation is a gift given through the grace of God, and it cannot be earned through our own efforts.

(Isaiah 1:18; 53:5-6; 55:7; Matthew 1:21; 27:22-66, 28:1-6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:12; 3:16, 36; 5:24; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 16:30-31; Romans 1:16-18; 3:23-25; 5:8-10; 6; 1, 10:9-10; Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:16, 20; 3:8, 13; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; Hebrews 9:22-28; Revelation 3:20

Question 8

THE BIBLE.

Answer

We believe what the Bible says about itself which is that it is inspired by God. It is a collection of writings by human authors who were under the authority and guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is to be interpreted according to its context and purpose and when “rightly divided” it is the ultimate authority for our faith, our lives, and the practices of our church.

(Matthew 22:29; 2 Timothy 3:15-16; Romans 15:4 )

Question 9

PRAYER.

Answer

We Believe That Prayer Is Our Ability To Communicate With God.

There was a time when we needed an intercessor to go between God and us, but now we can address Him directly. We believe that there is nothing too difficult for God, and through prayer all things are possible.

(Psalms 145:18; Proverbs 15:29; Matthew 7:11; Luke 18:1; Romans 8:26; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Timothy 2:8)

Question 10

BAPTISM.

Answer

We Believe That Baptism Is An Outward Expression Of An Inward Renewal.

Baptism publicly professes one’s salvation, but our salvation does not rely upon baptism. We practice full-immersion baptism that symbolizes the process of death and resurrection that Jesus went through for us.

(Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38)

Question 11

COMMUNION.

Answer

Communion (The Lord’s Supper) Is A Time When We Express The Body Being Broken For Us And The Flowing Of The Blood Of Christ.

We believe that communion expresses our appreciation and remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

(Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12, 8:36-38, 10:47-48; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-25)

Question 12

FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY.

Answer

The Five-Fold Ministry Positions Have Been Given To The Church For The Edifying Of The People.

The ministry positions consist of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. We believe that both men and women are sovereignly chosen by God for these ministry positions.

(Ephesians 4:8-13; 1 Corinthians 12:4-30, 14:29-31; Galatians 3:26-29; Philippians 4:3; Romans 16:1-7)

Question 13

HEALTH & WEALTH.

Answer

We Believe That It Is The Father’s Will For Believers To Become Whole, Healthy, And Successful In All Areas Of Life.

There are four major areas of a person’s life that makes up the whole of that person, and God wants to positively affect those areas:

Spiritual (John 3:3, 11: Romans 10:9-10, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

Mental & Emotional (Isaiah 26:3; 2 Timothy 1:7; Romans 12:2)

Physical (Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24)

Financial (Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 34:10, 84:11; Malachi 3:10)

Question 14

GENEROSITY.

Answer

We believe that tithes, offerings, and alms are God’s financial plan for the support of His work.

(Malachi 3:10; Matthew 23:23; 2 Corinthians 9:6-12)

Question 15

DISCIPLINE.

Answer

We believe that discipline is a gift from Christ given to His church to promote its health and productivity.

(Matthew 18:15-20; Proverbs 19:18)

Question 16

THE SECOND COMING.

Answer

We Believe That Jesus Christ Will Return To Earth For The Second Time To Establish His Kingdom On Earth.

Scripture does not reveal when this will occur, but as believers we live each day in expectation of Christ’s return.

(Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64: Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelation 1:7)

Question 17

ETERNITY.

Answer

We Believe That Man Was Created To Exist Eternally.

The bible has declared that man will exist eternally separated from God because of sin, or united with God through forgiveness and salvation. To exist eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally united with Him is Heaven. Heaven and Hell are places where man can exist eternally.

(Matthew 5:3, 12, 20, 6:20, 19:21, 25:34, 41; Mark 9:43-48; John 3:16, 36; Romans 6:23; Hebrews 9:27, 11:16; 1 John 2:25; 5:11-13; Revelation 14:9-11, 20:12-15, 21:8)

Question 18

Answer