What We Believe About
God is the one and only creator. He is father of the universe. He lived and died among us through His son Jesus. By His Holy Spirit, He places Jesus in us to guide our minds and hearts. All three are equal and are one God: Father, Son, and Spirit.
Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14
The Bible is God’s story written for humanity to live out. While He used humans to write it, the words are His own. They are without error and are timelessly true. The written word of God was given by Him to the writers through the Holy Spirit so that all of humanity could personally know Him.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5
Humanity is made in the image of God. He did this so they would enjoy a trusting relationship with Him. God also gives men and women independence to think and act. This often leads to sinful disobedience, which separates humanity from God’s original design of unity with Him.
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2
Evil is evident everywhere in the world. The leader of evil is Satan who desperately wanted to be God. He plans evil to make humanity not want to fully trust God. Satan uses evil to shift mindsets away from God. Evil is measured against God’s standard of righteousness.
Genesis 6:5; Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:17; John 13:2; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:9-10
Redemption is the act of God rescuing humanity. God won the battle against Satan by sending His son Jesus to earth to live and die for the disobedience of mankind. Those who place faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection are forgiven and redeemed. Jesus’ sacrifice is the only way to remove sin and separation.
John 1:5; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 1:3-4; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:10
Heaven is where God is and where Jesus lives. Heaven and hell are places of eternal existence. To be eternally separated from God is hell. God created hell for the devil and his angels as an eternal punishment. People have the choice to avoid this by accepting Jesus’ gift of eternal life in heaven. Heaven will have no tears, pain, death or mourning.
Matthew 25:31-46; John 3:16, 14:23; Romans 6:23; 1 John 2:25; 5:11-13; Revelation 20:15; Revelation 21
Baptism is a public declaration of faith in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Baptism alone does not offer salvation but symbolizes resurrection into eternal life. Baptism is a biblical command that demonstrates ultimate love for Jesus’ act of redemption. Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41; Ephesians 2: 8-9; Colossians 2:12
The Holy Spirit is present in the world so that humanity is aware of the need for Jesus’ redemption. God provides Jesus’ Spirit to those who accept him as leader and redeemer of their life. His Spirit helps with understanding spiritual truth. It guides believers to live according to God’s will. The Holy Spirit becomes present and eternal life begins the moment one accepts Jesus.
John 14:16-17, 26, 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Ephesians 1:13
A Christian is one who has fully accepted living for Jesus instead of for themselves. By obeying God’s complete design found in the Bible, trusting in the presence of the Holy Spirit, every Christian is equipped to mature in spiritual life and conformed to be more like Jesus each day. Christians are God’s chosen people who help him redeem the world from evil, sin, and suffering.
Matthew 11:25; Romans 12:2; Ephesians 2:6-7, 4:11-14; 2 Timothy 3:14-15; 1 Peter 1:10-12, 2:9
Communion is a celebration of God’s gift of Jesus. The communion elements of bread and juice are symbols of Jesus’ broken body and shed blood. Christians take it as a statement of a faith in the redemption of Jesus. Jesus instituted communion the night before he died when he said, “Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29
The Church is made up of people who have accepted Jesus’ redemption and actively live for him and others. It is not a building, although the Church often gathers in various places to encourage each other. The Church of Christians has been entrusted by God to assist in the completion of the work of Jesus.
Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 3:9, 12:12; Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:24; Hebrews 10:24-25
Jesus’ return is going to happen when his earthly redemption is complete. Jesus said, “I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” As the Church, Christians live their lives, commit talents and resources, and place their hope in Jesus’ redeeming work until that unknown day of his return.
Matthew 16:27, 24:42-44; John 14:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20; Hebrews 9:28; 2 Peter 3:1