God's Plan for You | The Gospel
We believe that out of His love, God created everyone in His image for peaceful relationship with Him, as well as with ourselves, other people, nations, and creation as a whole. Humanity turned away from God which led to separation, corruption, sin, and death. It is only through the acceptance and faith in Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection - the act of God’s love for us - that we can be forgiven, redeemed, restored, and adopted into the family of God. The Bible calls this the Gospel.
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” - Romans 5:6-8
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16
See also: Genesis 1:26; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; John 1:12; Romans 1:16-17
The Wholeness of God | The Trinity
We believe God reveals himself in three persons, the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, often called the Trinity. One in essence, each is fully divine with different and interconnected purposes. God’s triune nature reveals His relational and loving character. (See Matthew 28:19)
We believe the Father is sovereign, holy, and just, and the loving creator of heaven and earth. (See Malachi 2:10)
We believe Jesus is fully God and fully human. He came to earth and lived as a human, was tempted like us, but lived without sin. He was crucified, died on the cross, and buried. He defeated death, rose to life, ascended to heaven, and is seated on the right hand of the Father, until He returns to earth to establish His everlasting kingdom. The Bible calls Him: Messiah, High Priest, the Greatest Prophet, the Eternal King, the Light of the World, the Lamb of God, Prince of Peace, and many more. (See Philipians 2:6-11; Hebrews 2:5-18; see the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)
We believe the Holy Spirit is God’s presence in all believers. The Holy Spirit restores, transforms, guides, and teaches us. The Holy Spirit equips us for holy living, individually and collectively, and empowers us to participate in God’s mission to restore the world. (See John 14:16-17; John 16:7-11; Romans 8:9-17)
The Word of God | The Bible
We believe the Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God - absolute in authority and complete in revelation. The Holy Spirit helps us to understand the divine truth of the Bible. God’s plan of redemption through the work of Jesus Christ is the central theme of the Bible.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” - 2 Timothy 3:16
God's People | The Church
We believe God created us for genuine and true community that is relational and characterized by love, forgiveness, care, support and prayer for each other. The Bible calls this kind of community “church.” We believe that Jesus calls each local church to partner with Christians worldwide to share the Gospel in word and deed. As a church, we celebrate what Jesus has done for us through the sacraments of baptism and communion. (See Hebrews 10:24-25; Romans 12:10; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Proverbs 27:17; Matthew 28:19-20)
We believe Jesus will return to earth, personally, bodily, and visibly. The Bible calls this the day of judgement where those who do not believe will be separated from God’s presence. But those who have believed in Jesus will live and reign with Him forever. Jesus will gather His global church of believers to be with Him for eternity in His new creation. (See Hebrews 9:27-28; Revelation 21:1-22:5)
