Statement of Faith

scripture

This Statement of Faith follows the overall storyline of the scriptures.

{STORY} What are the scriptures?

We believe the Old and New Testament are the inspired Word of God written by human hands. (2 Peter 1:20-21)
We believe the original writings of the scriptures are God-breathed and without error. (John 10:35; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
We believe the scriptures are the supreme and final authority for life and faith (Isaiah 40:8)

We believe God is the Author and Creator of all things. (Genesis 1-2, Psalm 90:1-2; Isaiah 44:24)
We believe God eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are co-equal and are one God.(Genesis 1:26, Deuteronomy 6:4, 2 Corinthians 13:14)
We believe God is altogether good, sovereign, just, wise, mighty, and loving. (Deuteronomy 32:4,Jeremiah 32:17, Mark 10:18, Acts 17:26-27, Romans 16:27, 1 John 4:8)

We believe human beings are created in the image of God and are his masterpiece creation. (Genesis 1:26; Ephesians 2:10)
We believe every person matters and has intrinsic value. (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139:13-16)
We believe everyone is designed to have a relationship with God. (Psalm 100:3; Micah 6:8)

We believe sin bled into the story through the rebellion of humanity resulting in shame, pain, distrust, despair, and pride.(Genesis 3)
We believe humanity inherited a sinful nature and are separated from a right relationship with God. (Psalm 51:5; Ephesians 2:3; Isaiah 53:6)
We believe human beings are incapable of regaining a right relationship with God through our own effort. (John 3:3; Romans 3:10; Romans 3:23)

We believe Jesus is God become man who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, born a virgin birth, lived a perfect, sinless life, and taught us to love God and others as ourselves. (Matthew 1:20-23;Luke 1:26-38; Mark 12:28-31; Hebrews 4:15; Titus 2.13; 1 John 3:5)
We believe Jesus is the hero of the story who offered himself as the complete and substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of all believers by dying on a cross. He rose again three days later, changing the story of everything, and bringing hope and restoration to our broken world. (Luke 23:44-46; 1 Peter 2:24;Galatians 3:13; Colossians 2:13-14; Luke 24:1-12; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
We believe salvation is only found by grace through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. God’s grace is not earned, it is freely given to all who truly believe. (John 3:16; John 14:6; Romans 5:1-2; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Acts 4:11-12; Ephesians 2:8-9)

We believe followers of Christ will spend eternity in relationship with Him in heaven. Those who don’t get what they want, an eternity apart from a relationship with God in hell. (Matthew 25:46; John 10:25-29;Isaiah 25:6-9; Hebrews 9:27; 2 Thessalonians 1:9)
We believe the salvation of believers is kept by God’s grace, not self-effort, and are secure in Christ forever (John 6:37–40; 10:27–30; Romans 8:1, 38, 39; 1 Corinthians 1:4–8; 1 Peter 1:5).
We believe Jesus will return in all his power and glory to judge the living and the dead and usher in a new Heaven and new earth, where we will worship and enjoy Him forever. (Matthew 25:31-46; John 14:3;Revelation 19:11-16; Revelation 21:1-8; Revelation 22:1-5

We believe the Spirit of God was promised by Jesus to guide our stories, teach and transform us, help us when we are in need, convict us of sin, empower us with spiritual gifts, and draw us near to Jesus. (John 15:26; John 16:13; Luke 12:12; Romans 8:26; John 16:8–11; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12:11;John 16:13-14)
We believe followers of Jesus are a family of the forgiven united as one body called the Church. Their mission is to make disciples of Jesus and join God in the renewal of all things. (Matthew 16:18; Colossians 1:18; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:42-47; Acts 13:47; Revelation 21:5)
We believe every believer is called and empowered to make a difference in this world because of the difference Christ made for us. (Jeremiah 29:11-13; Matthew 5:13-16; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Philippians 4:13)