The Essentials Of What We Believe

About God

God is the creator and ruler of the universe. God has eternally existed in three distinct persons: The Father, the Son-Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one in relationship and association, in complete unity as one God. (Genesis 1:1,26, 27; 3:22; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 90:2; Isaiah 43:10; Matthew 28:19; 2 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
A great word picture that might help us understand this is the sun. The sun as a whole represents God, the sphere is like the Father, the light you see is like Jesus and the heat you feel is like the Holy Spirit. All are one.

About Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus was born through the virgin birth of Mary, and He performed miracles to confirm He was God's son. He lived a sinless life and He offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power and mastery over sin and death. He ascended to heaven and will return someday to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Matthew 1:22,23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Acts 1:9-11; 2:22; 10:38; Romans 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 Timothy 6: 14,15; Hebrews 4:14,15).

About the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also comes into the life of every Christian from the moment of salvation. We are to seek to be baptized and continually filled with the Holy Spirit after we are saved. The work of the Holy Spirit in our lives provides power for living, understanding spiritual truth and guidance in doing what is right. The Holy Spirit empowers us for life and service and He gives each believer spiritual gifts. The Holy Spirit empowers us to be bold witnesses for Jesus Christ. As Christians we seek to live under His control every day. (Luke 24:29; John 16:7-13; 14:16,17; Acts 1:4,8; 8:12-17; 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 3:16; 12:1-31; Ephesians 1:13; 5:18; Galatians 5:25).

About the Bible

The Bible is God's Word; or letters to us. Human authors, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, wrote it. It is the supreme standard and authoritative rule for life and conduct. It is the source of truth for Christian beliefs and actions. It is inspired by God and is without error. (2 Timothy 1:13; 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21; Psalm 12:6; 119:105,160; Proverbs 30:5).

About Human Beings

People are made in the Image of God, to be like Him in character and conduct. Human beings are the supreme objects of God's creation. Each of us has a tremendous potential for good, yet all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called "sin". This attitude separated us from God and is the cause of many problems in life. (Genesis 1:26,27; 2:17; 3:6; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; 59: 1-2; Romans 3:23; :12-19).

About Salvation

Man's only hope is through God's precious gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. God's gift is free but we must accept it. We can never make up for our "missing the mark"(sin) by self-improvement, living the good life or doing good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin's penalty of death. When we turn from our self-ruled life to Jesus in faith, letting God sit in the driver's seat, we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life through faith. (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; 4:24; John 1:12; 3:3; 14:6; Titus 2:11-12, 3:5-7; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1; 8:16; 10:13-15).

About the Church

When we become a Christian we are adopted into God's family. Our spiritual family becomes our eternal family. God has decided to use His church and family as His extended hand of healing in this world. The Church has received God's command to complete the work that Jesus Christ began while on the earth. This work includes making disciples by evangelizing the world (helping other people find Jesus) and mentoring and equipping them to grow in maturity, to be a corporate family that worships God and to be a place where people can be encouraged to grow in the image and character of Christ. (Ephesians 1:22,23; 2:22; Hebrews 12:23; Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16: 15-16; Ephesians 4:11-16).

About Biblical Unity

Jesus prayed for His disciples and for all who would believe through their testimony (including you and I) that we would all be one in unity, thus reflecting the unity of the Trinity. God's plan is for His church to embody the manifestation of His glory in the earth and to reflect His goodness, grace and love to our world. This can only happen when the church is walking in unity. We strive to develop and maintain a spirit of unity in our local church, region, nation and world. We choose to join in regional efforts to bring the body of Christ together in unity and to associate with churches and organizations that have chosen the same path. (John 17:6-23; 1 Corinthians 1:10; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 4:3, 13; Philippians 1:27; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 1 Peter 3:8)

About Spiritual Fruits and Gifts

We believe that God desires to transform the life of the believer to be a reflection of Christ and His character to our world. The Holy Spirit works in the daily lives of God's people to transform the character of the believer so that the fruit of the Spirit may be displayed through their lives. The fruit of the Spirit is the foundation from which the gifts of the Spirit must operate in order to bring balance and health in God's church. We believe that the gifts of the Spirit listed in the Bible are available and in complete operation today. The Bible teaches that there are many different gifts and that the Holy Spirit gives these gifts as God determines for the building up and encouragement of the church. We believe a person's gifts will be affirmed and confirmed by the body as the believer grows in character and as true spiritual fruit results from an obedient and submitted life to Christ and one another. (1 Corinthians 13; Galatians 5:22-23; Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18; Romans 12:3-13; 1Corinthians 12, 14; Ephesians 4:11-16).

About Deliverance and Healing

Healing and deliverance are an integral part of God's work among His people, and it plays a significant role in confirming the good news of Jesus Christ as we reach out to share Christ's love with our hurting world. Jesus' ministry displayed powerful manifestations of deliverance and healing from sickness, disease and oppressive works of the enemy. We see this ministry of power encounters continued in the early church as recorded in the book of Acts. We believe that God desires to heal and deliver people from the influence of Satan and to heal their entire being, spirit, soul and body. We believe God desires to manifest His glory through our lives as His people in "Power Encounters" with the lost. Through these power encounters we see God's love displayed which opens the hearts of people to hear about the good news of Jesus Christ's dying for their sins. We believe that death brings the ultimate healing and release from the challenges of this present world into an eternal destination with God. (Exodus 15:26; Jeremiah 30:17; Isaiah 53:5; Luke 4:18-19; John 14:11-14; Luke 10:19; Acts 3:7; 5:16; 9:34; James 5:13-16; Revelation 22:2)

About Heaven and Eternity

People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with God is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence. We believe Jesus will return for His church to take us to be with him for all eternity. John 2:25; 3:16; 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 6:23; 20:15; Matthew 1:8; 2:44,46)