WE BELIEVE

The Nature of God

There is one God, eternally existing and preexisting, omniscient and omnipotent, who is the Source of all power, all truth and all things.

The Trinity

God presents himself in three Persons who express in distinct ways his divine character: (Jn. 1:1, 1:14, Rom. 9:5, Phi 2:5-11, Col 2:9, Rev 1:8, 1:17, 22:16, 1 Cor. 8:6, Cor. 13:14, Eph. 4:4-6)

The Father

The Father is the sovereign Lord of creation, the Master of the Universe, and sits enthroned in majesty in Heaven. Our proper response to the Father is awe, Godly fear and worship.

The Son

The Son, Jesus Christ, is eternally and fully both divine and human, is the Creator of the Universe, is the Image in which humans are created, and is first in the siblinghood of the Children of the Father. He was born in the flesh of a union between the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, and made atonement for the sins of the human race by willingly submitting to undeserved execution. He then rose from the dead, was seen and attested by many, and subsequently ascended to Heaven where he now sits as King of kings at the right hand of the Father, judging the living and the dead and interceding for the saints. Our proper response to the Son is love, faith, allegiance, petition and worship.

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit dwells with and within the Saints. His role is to minister to the Saints by coming alongside as helper and friend. Through interpersonal relationship, the Holy Spirit comforts, guides, strengthens and empowers us. Our proper response to the Holy Spirit is affection, trust, friendship and honest dialog.

The Revelation of God

God reveals himself to the World in two ways: (2 Tim 3:16, Heb 4:12, Jn 6:63, Ps. 119:89, Ps 119:105, Rev 1:3, II Tim 3:16, II Pet 1:20, 21):

General Revelation

The Bible is the inspired Word of God, inerrant in its original manuscripts. The Bible is our supreme and final authority in faith and life. (2Tim 3:16-17, Rom 1:18-20, Deut 29:29, Rev 1:1, 22:18-19, Heb 1:1-3, 4:12, 1Th 2:13)

Personal Revelation

God reveals himself through personal interaction with his Children in many ways such as prophecy, dreams, waking visions, and words of knowledge, encouragement or confrontation. (Rom 1:20, 2:14-15, Psa 19:1-14, 2Pe 1:21, Joh 16:13, 2Pe 1:20-21)

Interpretation

This type of revelation is valid only within the context of individual, personal relationships with God, is secondary to General revelation, and is subject to tests of truth such as doctrine and independent verification.

The Nature of Evil

Satan is a former angel who, before the inception of human history, rebelled against God and took a multitude of angels with him. He was cast out of God’s presence and is at work now to establish his counterkingdom of darkness, evil, and unbelief on earth. (Isa. 14:10–17, Ezek. 28:11–19, Mt. 12:25–29, 25:41, Jn. 12:31, 16:11, Eph. 6:10–20, Col. 2:15, 2 Pet. 2:4, Jude 6, Rev. 12:7–9, 20:10)

The Nature of Humanity

Human beings are created by God in His image, but were disobedient and thereby incurred physical death, and also spiritual death in the form of separation from God. Therefore all human beings are born with a sinful nature, guilty in thought, word, and deed, and apart from rebirth by the intervention of God are subject to eternal judgment. (Genesis 1:26,27, 3:1-24, Romans 3:25, 5:12-18, 1 John 1:8)

Sex / Gender

Every human being is created by God in the form of one of two unique and distinct sexes, Male and Female. This distinction is biological, existing at the chromosomal level, and cannot be altered. Therefore we do not condone or support any attempt at other forms of sexual or gender identity, including but not limited to homosexuality, lesbianism, transgenderism or bisexuality. (Gen. 5:2, Gen. 1:27, Psalm 139:13, Jer. 1:5, Mar 10:6)

Marriage

Marriage is ordained by God as a life-long covenant between one biological Man and one biological Woman. The Church is charged with protecting and upholding God’s original design for both singleness and marriage. Therefore we will not perform or support any other form of marriage. (Gen 2:24, Eph 5:31-32, Mt 19:6, 1 Cor 6:18, Heb 13:4, Jude 1:7)

Sexuality

Sexuality is a gift from God both for those who are married and for those who are called to be single. Sexual intercourse is an act of physical, emotional and spiritual union, and is therefore appropriate only in the context of marriage between one biological Man and one biological Woman. Therefore we will not support or condone any form of sexual union outside of marriage as God designed it. (1Co 6:9-10, Mat 5:28, 1Ti 1:9-10, Rom 1:24-27, Heb 13:4, Gen 2:24 Mat 19:4-6)

Sexual Immorality

Sexuality was designed by God to fulfill his creative Purpose, and therefore any form of sexual conduct or activity which is outside that design is sexual immorality. This includes without limitation fornication, adultery, marital rape, homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, trans-genderism, bestiality, incest, pornography, bigamy and polygamy.

Sanctity of Human Life

All humans are created in the image of God and are therefore sacred in the same way that God is. Human life begins at conception and is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including unborn babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Jer 1:5, Psalm 139:13-16, Psalm 127:3, Luke 12:6-7) 4

The Christian Life

Salvation

Humankind is created in the image of God, but because of disobedience in the Garden of Eden is born into spiritual death and separation from God. Only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life be obtained. This takes place through individual repentance from sin and a commitment in faith to believe the promises of God. (Isa.65:17ff. Luk. 14:14, Joh. 5:28-29, Act. 3:19-21, Act. 24:15, 1 Cor. 15, Th. 4:13-18, Rev. 20:5-6, 20:11-15, 21-22, Mar 1:15, Act 2:38, 11:18, 20:21)

Sanctification

Salvation inaugurates a life-long process of transformation away from a nature characterized by confusion, worldly desires, sin and unbelief, and toward a nature characterized by righteousness, peace, faith and power. (2Ti 2:21, 5:23, Joh 17:17, 2Th 2:13, Heb 13:12, 1Co 6:11, 2Pe 1:24, Phi 1:6, Rom 8:28-30)

Faith

Faith is a manner of living wherein decisions are made based on the hope, without proof or even clear evidence, of the goodness, faithfulness and sufficiency of God. Christians are called to live by faith, which means that their only hope for victorious living is the power of God. (Mat 21:22, Heb 11:6, Mar 11:2, 22-24, Eph 2:8, 1Co 2:5, Jas 1:5-8, 2:14-26, 2Co 5:7, Gal 2:16)

Righteousness & Sin

Righteousness

Righteousness is the practice of trusting God, making decisions out of a belief in His promises. (1Jo 2:29, Rom 5:1-5, Mat 5:20, Jas 1:4, 1Pe 2:24, 2Th 1:3-5, Rom 3:21-23)

Sin

Sin is the practice of not trusting God, making decisions out of unbelief in His promises. (Jas 1:15, 4:17, 1Jo 1:8-10, 3:6-10, 1Co 10:13, Gal 5:16, Isa 59:12, 1Jo 3:8)

Sacraments

Sacraments are symbolic acts which commemorate the intervention of God in the world, his nature, and his promises. (Mt. 26:26–29, 28:19, Rom. 6:3– 11, 1 Cor. 11:23–34, 1 Pet. 3:21)

Water Baptism

Water Baptism is a once-for-all, individual, public declaration of allegiance to the Messiah Jesus, and is an outward sign of the inner miracle of regeneration enacted in us through salvation. (Act 2:41, 22:16, Joh 3:5, 1Pe 3:21, Mat 28:19, Rom 6:3-4, Col 2:12-13)

Communion

Communion is an on-going, public and private declaration of our membership in the Messiah’s suffering and victory. The act commemorates the Last Supper when Jesus ate the Passover feast for the last time with the 12 Disciples and commanded them “Do this in remembrance of Me”. The Bread and Cup symbolize Jesus’ body and blood which were given for them and for us. (Mat 26:26-28, 1Co 10:16-17, 11:23-26, Act 2:42, Luk 22:19-20, Joh 6:53-58, Mar 14:22-25)

Prayer & Worship

Prayer & Worship comprise the intentional discipline of carrying on an ongoing dialog, both personal and corporate, with God, and are essential to the Christian life. (Jas 4:8, 5:16-18, 1Ti 2:1, Phi 4:6, Eph 2:18, Luk 2:37, Mat 6:9-13)

The church is mandated by Jesus to be a “house of prayer for all nations.” (Mar 11:17, Isa 56:7)

We exist to answer that call and make first love devotion to Jesus our highest priority, simply because He is worthy. (Rev 2:4) Prayer and worship make a difference and change the spiritual atmosphere. (Ps 100:4-5, Ps 22:3, 1Sam 16:23) The urgency of the hour compels us to take our place before the throne of grace for the salvation of souls and unfolding of God’s purposes in the nations. (Luk 21:36, Mat 24:42-44,Heb 4:16)
Intimacy with God and Justice, through worship and intercession based on His Word, is essential to the furthering of our healing and fuels our ministry to others. We must, therefore, offer Jesus Christ unceasing worship, while contending for justice – proclaiming the good news to the poor, binding up the brokenhearted, proclaiming freedom for the captives, and contending for release from darkness for the prisoners. (Isa 61:1)

Gifts of the Spirit

Gifts of the Spirit are those supernatural capacities which God grants by his own choice and for his own purposes to those who serve him. These Gifts include, but are not limited to, tongues, prophecy, healing, and miracles, and are intended by God for the blessing of the individual and/or for the enlightenment or building up of the Church. Any other use of these Gifts, such as for personal or corporate gain or prestige, are perversions of these Gifts. The practice of such Gifts within our Church is subject to the authority of the Senior Pastor under the guidance of the Board of Elders. (Rom 12:6-8, 1Pe 4:10-11, 2Co 12:4-11, 2Ti 1:6-7, Rom 12:3-8, 1Co 12:7, 27-28, 13:1-2)

The Christian Church

The Christian Church is a universal and living spiritual body of which Jesus is the Head and of which all persons who have experienced salvation and are engaged in sanctification are members. The Church is mandated by Jesus to be a “house of prayer for all nations.” The Local Church is a gathering of
believers in Jesus Christ who have been baptized with a credible profession of faith, and associate for worship, work, and fellowship. (Eph 2:19-22, 5:19-21, Acts 1:8, 2:42, Heb 10:23-25, Mar 11:17, Isa 56:7)

The Great Commission

The Great Commission is the primary task given to members of the local church, to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world and make disciples. (Mat 28:19) We must be committed to answering that call, while also demonstrating His Great Commandment of love to the world, that His disciples might be known by their love for one another. (Mat 22:35-40, Joh 13:35)

The End Times

The End Times is a time, known only to the Father, when Jesus the Messiah will return in the body and in power, will defeat Evil and judge the world, and will thereafter reign over the nations of the world forever. (Ps. 2:7–9, 22:27–28, Mt. 24:36, Jn. 14:12, 17:20–26, Rom. 11:25–32, 1 Cor. 15:20–28, 50–58, Eph. 4:11–16, Phil. 3:20–21, 1 Thes. 4:13–5:11, 2 Thes. 1:3–12, Rev. 7:9–14)