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In essential beliefs – We have unity.
“There is one Body and one Spirit…there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all.”
Ephesians 4:4-6
In other beliefs – we have liberty.
“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters…Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls…So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.”
Romans 14:1,4,12
In all our beliefs – we show charity
“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”Â
           1 Corinthians 13:12
| What We Hold as Our Essential Beliefs |
- About God - God is the all powerful, all knowing, loving creator and ruler of all things. He is just and fair. He has eternally existed as three distinct but equal personalities that together make one God. These personalities are God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit.Â
Genesis 1:1,26,27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19;
I Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14
- About Jesus Christ - Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with God. He willingly chose to become embodied as a human being. He was fully man and fully God. He was born of the virgin Mary, lived a completely sin free life, demonstrated his authority on earth by performing miracles, and submitted to crucifixion on a cross as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people. He conquered the power of sin and death and rose again after three days. Jesus Christ is the only way for people to be restored to fellowship with God. He has ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of God, but he is returning someday to gather all who believe in him. Someday he will establish his Kingdom here on Earth.Â
Isaiah 9:6, Mathew 1:18-23, Mark 1:11, John 1:1-18, Mathew 28:6
- About the Holy Spirit - The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God that indwells all believers from the time that they accept the free gift of salvation offered by Jesus Christ. The work of the Holy Spirit is to convict us of our sin, act as a channel of communication directly to God, to provide guidance and direction for daily living, and to help us grow in spiritual maturity. The Holy Spirit gives all believers unique spiritual gifts that are intended for the building up and expanding of the Church body. As a believer matures in their faith and relationship with God through the Holy Spirit, the fruits of the Spirit become evident as the outward sign of the work of God in their lives. These fruits are: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control.
John 14:16-17,& 25, 16:7-15, Acts 1:8, 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16, 12:1-30, 14:1-12, Galatians 5:22-25, Romans 8:26, 27
- About the Bible - The Bible is God's Word to us. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. The truths found in the Bible are timeless and it is as relevant to us today as it was when it was written. Because it is inspired by God, it is without any contradiction or error, containing guidance for every need and situation of life.
- About People - Mankind was created in the image of God in terms of character, intellect, emotion, freewill, and other characteristics. Man was created sinless and perfect, in complete harmony and fellowship with God. We were separated from God when sin entered into the world through the choices made by Adam and Eve. We can be restored to fellowship with God only through the free gift of salvation offered by Jesus Christ. Without accepting this free gift of salvation, we are condemned to live eternity separated from the presence of God.
Genesis 1:27, Isaiah 59:2, Romans 3:23, 5:12, 6:23
- About Salvation - Salvation is the forgiveness of sins and restoration of mankind to fellowship with God. All men are in need of salvation and God has offered it to all people, but we must accept it. Salvation cannot be earned regardless of how hard we try. The only way to be saved is for us to accept that Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sins by dying on the cross, conquered sin and death, and rose again. We are saved the moment that we accept, by faith, the payment offered by Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1, 8, 6:23, 10:9 Ephesians 2:8-9, John 1:12, 14:6
- About the Church - The Church on Earth is the universal body of Christ composed of all believers everywhere. The Church primarily exists to fulfill five purposes given to us directly by Jesus Christ in two passages of scripture known as the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. These purposes are: to worship God, to fellowship together through membership in God's family, to turn seekers into committed followers of Jesus Christ, to grow together toward Christ-like maturity, and to serve together in Christian ministry. We do this not for our glory, but for the glory of Christ.
Mathew 22:36-40, 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, 2:11-47, Ephesians 4:11-16
- About Baptism and The Lords Supper - Water baptism and the breaking of bread were both practiced by Jesus Christ and we as the Church were commanded to participate in both. Water baptism is practiced by the one time immersion of a believer who has chosen to publicly profess his/her faith and commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The Lord's Supper is practiced by partaking of bread and juice together, as a body of believers, to commemorate the final supper that Jesus shared with his disciples. Neither of these traditions are required for salvation, they are merely symbolic acts practiced as a way of publicly stating our desire to follow the teaching of Jesus Christ.
Mathew 28:19, Luke 22:19, 1 Corinthians 11:24-25
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