What We Believe

 

God created the universe and all living things for His pleasure.  And of all creation, men and women were specifically created in His own image and were destined to be His choice possession.  In essence, we were made to be like God, reflect His character, and live in intimate friendship with Him. But the first man and woman sinned.  By disobeying God they marred the image that was given to them and lost intimacy and friendship with Him. Their actions not only affected them, but all of their children as well, including all of mankind.  Since God cannot have fellowship with evil, our destination is death, because God is our source for life. (Genesis 1-3, Revelation 4:11, James 1:18)

Although we had done nothing to deserve it, God loved us anyway, and unfolded a master plan that would provide a way for every person to be forgiven, restored to friendship with God, and to inherit eternal life instead of death.  Romans 5:8 says that “God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Trusting in Jesus and His work on the cross is the only way to be restored to right relationship with God the Father (John 14:6).  (1 John 4:9-10, Romans 5:6-11)

Not only did Christ come to restore us to peace with God, but also to make us into new and different people.  We are called to be changed according to the likeness of God, which is true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24)

God in His great wisdom understood that we needed help to change, and accordingly made provisions for His people to live victorious lives free from sin:

1. Christ established the church, His body, so that believers could encourage and build each other up in the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11, Hebrews 10:25)
2. Christ gave the gifts of leadership to His church; apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.  They are to equip God’s people to do the work of ministry and to bring them to maturity, measuring up to the full stature of Christ. (Ephesians 4:7-13, 1 Corinthians 12:27-28)
3. Christ gave the Holy Spirit so that every believer would be filled with power and truth.  The Holy Spirit also gives supernatural gifts or special abilities to every believer in order to minister to others. (1 Corinthians 12:1-11, Romans 12:6-8)
4. Christ gave us truth, His Word, which is both living and eternal.  The Word of God is also powerful and effective. It does not change, but stands forever.  He gave us His Word in order to teach and instruct us that we might live victoriously over sin and the powers of darkness. (1 Peter 1:23-25, Hebrews 4:12, Colossians 3:16, 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Christ promises that He will one day return to judge all people and establish His rule which is love, righteousness, and justice.  Those who belong to Him have been given the privilege of living with Him in the joy and peace and blessing of His eternal Kingdom. (Luke 17:23-35, Matthew 24:29-31, Matthew 25:31-46)