WHAT WE BELIEVE
"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." - 1 Peter 3:15
WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?
The gospel is the good news of God's grace invading the darkness of this world. It is the grand narrative of creation, fall, redemption and consummation ordained by God and orchestrated through the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. Christ's crucifixion is the heart of the gospel, His resurrection is the power of the gospel, and His ascension is the glory of the gospel.
Christ's death is a substitutionary and fully sufficient sacrifice to God for our sins. It satisfies the demands of God's holy justice and appeases His holy wrath against the sins of those who call on His name. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man, and there is no other name by which humans can be saved. At the heart of all sound doctrine is the cross of Jesus Christ and the infinite privilege that redeemed sinners have in praising God and glorifying Him. Therefore, we want all that takes place in our hearts and our church to proceed from and be explicitly related to the gospel.
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering." - Romans 8:1-3a
BASIC BELIEFS
Bible- We believe the Bible consists of the Old and New Testaments and every word is the inspired Word of God. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
- We believe in one God who exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:26; 11:7, Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14)
- We believe that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah. (John 20:31, Phil. 2:9, Matthew 1:23, John 13:13)
- We believe that Jesus Christ died for the sins of all humanity. (John 3:16-18, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 2 Corinthians 5:15, 1 John 2:2)
- We believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. (John 20:20, 27, Luke 24:28-32, Mark 8:31, 9:31, 10:34)
- We believe that all people possess a sinful nature. (Romans 3:23, 5:8, 5:12, Ephesians 2:1-3, Psalm 51:5, 1 John 1:8, Galatians 5:19-21)
- We believe that man's redemption and reconciliation with God is an act of God's grace. (Ephesians 1:7, 2:8-9, Romans 3:21-26, 10:9-11, Hebrews 9:12)
- We believe that Jesus was baptized by immersion, so we are baptized by immersion. We are not saved by baptism, but we obey scripture when we are baptized.
- We believe that the early church practiced weekly communion and that Christ commands us to do so until He returns. (Matthew 28:19-20, Matthew 26:26-29, 1 Corinthians 11:26)
- We believe that the first man and woman were created in the image of God. (Genesis 1:27-28, 9:6, James 3:9)
- We believe that marriage unites one man and one woman in a lifetime commitment to each other (Genesis 2:23-24; Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-9). Marriage reflects the relationship of Christ and the church (Matthew 25:1-13; Ephesian 5:25-31; 1 Corinthians 7:1-5)
WHO WE ARE
- "The People of the Book" – We value studying and wrestling with the Bible in community and applying it to our lives.
- We value focusing on unity and working alongside other Christians from different denominations.
- We strive not to draw lines of belief that are not clearly written in
the Bible.
- "Where the Bible speaks; we speak; where the Bible is silent, we are silent." – Thomas Campbell
- "In the essentials Unity, the non-essentials Liberty, and in all things Charity." – Rupertus Meldenius
- We believe in the priesthood of all believers. We believe that men and women are called to serve in church leadership and are included in the office of deacon, elder, and pastor.
- We believe that when we come to the table of Jesus Christ, nothing separates us. (Galatians 3:28)
- How do we live this out:
- We can be of different political parties, yet we come to the table as one.
- Our past mistakes, even divorce, can be forgiven and redeemed.
- All who confess Jesus Christ are welcome at the communion table. Our definition of the Body of Christ includes Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Independent, or all others who confess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
- As a family of faith, we do not agree in all things. You will find many differences of opinions. Yet, we come to the table as one.