Every church has open-handed and closed-handed beliefs. Open-handed beliefs have space for personal interpretation where we can accept subtle differences and walk together in love and unity because we agree on the primary truths of Christian doctrine. Close-handed beliefs are primary doctrinal truths. These doctrines are clearly defined in Scripture and are foundational to our fellowship. Although we will always assume a posture of love and grace, these doctrinal beliefs are not open to personal interpretation.
ONE TRUE GOD
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There is one God who is the Creator and Sovereign Ruler over the universe and everything in it. He eternally exists in three persons (The Trinity): the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Gen. 1:1; Deut. 6:4; Matt. 1:23, 28:19; Heb. 1:3, 4:15, 7:26; 1 Cor. 15:3-4, 6:19-20; John 11:25; Acts 1:11; 1 Tim. 6:13-16; Rom. 8:11; Eph. 5:18
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God The Father
He is all powerful, all knowing, ever present, unchanging, completely worthy of our trust, and above all, He is holy. It is in Him that we live, move and exist. God is good: He is our perfect Father, loving, compassionate, and faithful to His people and His promises.
Ex. 3:14; Num. 23:19; Lev. 11:44-45; 19:2; Ps. 11:4-6; Mal. 3:6 John 3:16; 4:24; 5:26; 14:1; Acts 17:28; Rom. 3:3-4
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God The Son
Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. He is the only way for bringing people separated from God back into right relationship with God. Jesus lived a perfect life so that He could be the substitution for us in satisfying God's demands for perfection. He received the punishment for our sins when He died on the cross and overcame death in His resurrection so that we could have eternal life.
Isa. 7:14; 53; Matt. 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 14:33; 16:16; 28:5-6; Luke 22:70; 24:46-47; John 1:1, 14; 10:30; 11:25-27; 17:1-5; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; Rom. 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 8:1-3; 10:4; 1 Cor. 8:6; 2 Cor. 5:19-21; Gal. 4:4-5; Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1:15; 2:9; 1 Tim. 2:5-6; 3:16; Heb. 1:1-3; 4:14-15; 12:2; 13:8; 1 John 4:14-15
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God The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the presence of God that lives within every believer. He guides us into all truth, convicts us of sin, comforts us, gives us spiritual gifts, bears spiritual fruit in us, empowers us to witness boldly, intercedes for us, and makes us more like Christ.
Gen. 1:2; Ps. 51:11; 139:7 ff.; Isa. 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Mark 1:10; Luke 1:35; 4:1; 11:13; 12:12; John 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 13:2; Rom. 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27; 1 Cor. 3:16; Eph. 1:13-14; 2 Pet. 1:21; Rev. 22:17
GOD'S WORD
Both the Old and New Testaments are the inspired word of God and are the revelation of God to man. God's Word is the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct. God's Word is the primary source for teaching and equipping Christians for a life of righteousness and is completely relevant to our daily lives.
2 Tim. 3:15-17; 1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Pet. 1:21; Ps.119:11, 89, 105; Is. 40:8; Matt. 22:29; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Rom. 15:4; Heb. 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Pet.1:25
HUMANITY
Humanity is made in the image of God in both male and female and is the supreme object of His creation. Humanity was created to have fellowship with God, but became separated in that relationship through sinful disobedience. As a result, humanity cannot attain a right relationship with God by their efforts alone. Every human person possesses dignity, is uniquely created, is worthy of respect, and biblical, Christlike love.
Gen. 1:26-30; 2:7, 18-22; 3; Ps. 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Is. 6:5; Jer. 17:5; Acts 17:26-31; Rom. 1:19-32; 3:10-18, 23; 5:6; 6:6; 7:14-25; 1 Cor. 1:21-31; 15:19, 21-22; Eph. 2; Col. 1:21-22; 3:9-11
ETERNITY
Humans were created to exist forever. They will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence.
John 3:16, 36; Rom. 6:23; 1 John 2:25; 5:11-13; Rev. 20:15
THE GOSPEL
As a result of living in a fallen world corrupted by sin humanity is, by nature, sinful. This means that what naturally flows from human life are words, thoughts, actions, attitudes, and motives that fall short of God's standard of holy perfection. What we rightfully earn by sinning is death: an eternity separated from God. Throughout history, God has made a way for humanity to atone for sin. In the Old Testament, it was the Law that included the sacrificial system. In the New Testament, Jesus came as our Savior. He fulfilled the Law, lived a life without sin, and became the perfect sacrifice for all of humanity's sins past, present, and future through His death on the cross. Three days later, He rose from the dead proving once and for all that He has victory over sin and death. If we recognize and confess our sinful state and receive the free gift of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus, accepting Him as our Lord and Savior through faith, we can be forgiven, receive the Holy Spirit, and experience abundant life both now and for eternity.
Gen. 3; Isa. 1:18; 53:5-6; 55:7; Matt. 1:21; 27:22-28:6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:12; 3:16, 36; 5:24; 10:9-10; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 16:30-31; 17:30-31; Rom. 1:16-18; 3:23-25; 5:8-10; 6; 10:9-10, 13; 1 Cor. 1:18; 2 Cor. 5:17-20; Gal. 2:20; 3:13; Eph. 2:8-10; Phil. 2:12-13; Heb. 9:24-28; Rev. 3:20
SANCTIFICATION
Sanctification describes the transformative, life-long process of becoming holy and spiritually mature. This process, which is initiated and completed by God himself, is to be pursued daily and comes as a result of the learning and application of God's Word and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Matt. 22:37-39; John 17:17; Romans 6:1-23; 2 Cor. 3:18; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 2:20; Phil. 1:6; Phil. 2:13; Col. 3; 1 Thess. 4:1-12; 1 Thess. 5:23; 2 Tim. 2:21
THE CHURCH
The church is the body of Christ, of which Jesus is the Head. The church is not a physical location, it consists of every believer of Jesus who has accepted salvation and received the Holy Spirit. Each individual assumes the responsibility of being the church by gathering together, serving, growing in faith, giving generously, and making disciples.
Matt. 16:18-19; 18:15-20; 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 2:41-47; 5:11-14; 13:1-3; 14:23; 16:5; 20:28; Rom. 12; 1 Cor. 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Eph. 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:10-12; 5:22-32; Col. 1:18; 3:15; 1 Tim. 4:14; 1 Pet. 5:1-4; Rev. 21:2-3
ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH
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The Church participates in two major symbolic acts which are outward and visible signs of an inward and invisible reality. These are not man-made religious rituals; they have been demonstrated and ordained by Jesus Himself.
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Water Baptism
All who repent and believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior are to be water baptized. Water baptism is the public declaration of a life devoted to Jesus. Being fully immersed in water represents dying with Christ. Being raised out of the water represents being raised with Christ into new life. As commanded by Jesus in the Great Commission, individuals are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:14-39; Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:12
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Communion
Communion was instituted by Jesus to be done in remembrance of His sacrifice on our behalf. The bread represents his body. The wine (or juice) represents his blood. In addition to remembering the sacrifice of Christ, communion provides an opportunity for personal reflection and repentance. It also prompts us to look ahead to the second coming of Christ.
Matt. 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-29
OUR FUTURE HOPE
We live in between what God has already done and what He has not yet done. God has already made a way for us to be forgiven of our sins, but He has not yet delivered us from the brokenness of a fallen world corrupted by sin. We look forward with confident expectation to the day when Jesus comes again. The evil one (Satan) and his fallen angels will be cast into the lake of fire, every person will stand before the judgement seat of Christ, sin will be no more, and everything will be made new. The fallen world we experience today, full of dysfunction, destruction, and death will be gone as everything is brought into alignment with God's perfect holiness.
Matt. 24; Matt. 25:31-46; John 16:33; 1 Thess. 4:16-17; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Heb. 9:28; 1 Pet. 1:3-4; Rev. 20:10; 20:15; 21:3-4