Statement of Faith

We subscribe to the ancient formularies of the historic Christian church, including:

Additionally, we hold the following beliefs:

God

God is Love (1 John 4:8,16).
God is Trinity – One God in three persons (Luke 3:21-22; Eph 1:17; Eph 2:14-17a; Eph 5:18-20). The three persons of the Trinity exist in an eternal, mutually indwelling, self-giving relationship of love within the Godhead.
The three persons of the Trinity were and are co-equally involved in all acts of creation, redemption/salvation, resurrection, and re-creation.

The Father is love (1 John 4:8,16).
The Father, in love, sent Jesus into the world to save the world through him. (John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 1 John 5:11-12).
The Father is our origin and destination. Jesus is the way to the Father (John 14:6).

Jesus is love (1 John 4:8,16).
Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6).
Salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone and comes by grace through faith (Acts 4:12; Rom 3:23-24; Rom 5:1-2; Gal 2:15-16; Eph 2:4-5; 1 John 5:11-12).
Jesus solved once and for all the problem of sin and death (Rom 3:23-24; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 2:14-15). Sin separates us from the Father and leads to death (Rom. 6:23).
Jesus is not the Father but is the perfect and exact representation of the Father (John 14:9-11; Col 1:15; Heb 1:3).

The Holy Spirit is love (1 John 4:8,16).
The Holy Spirit marks believers as the Father’s own beloved sons and daughters (Rom 8:15-16)
The Holy Spirit dwells in the hearts of believers (Rom. 5:5; Gal. 4:6).
The Holy Spirit works in the hearts of believers through sanctification to conform them into the likeness of Jesus (1 Cor 6:11; 2 Thess 2:13; Rom 8:29; Col 3:9-10).
The Holy Spirit empowers believers for Kingdom life and ministry (Luke 10:19; John 20:21-23; 1 Cor 12:1-11).
The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to believers for proclaiming the Kingdom (Luke 10:9) and for building up the body of Christ in love (1 Cor 12:7-11).
Healing, prophecy and the sign gifts are as available today as they were for Jesus and the early church (1 Cor 14:1; 1 Cor 14:39).

Those who are in Christ are sons and daughters of the Father and co-heirs with Jesus of the Father’s Kingdom (John 1:12-13; Rom 8:14-17; Gal 4:4-7; 1 John 3:1).
As sons and daughters of the Father indwelt by the Holy Spirit, Christians have everything they need in Jesus to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom with love, power and authority (Luke 10:19; Mt 28:18-20; John 14:12).
As sons and daughters, believers have worth and value in the Father’s eyes and are not under wrath and condemnation from God (Rom 8:1). Believers still do sin, but have the promise of forgiveness if they turn to God and repent (1 John 1:9).
Believers are called and designed by God to live in love and unity as one body (1 Cor 12:12-26), quick to forgive each other as they have been forgiven by God (Mt 18:21-22; Luke 17:4; Eph 4:32; Col 3:13).

Scripture is God-breathed and reveals the way to salvation through Jesus Christ (1 Tim 3:16).
Scripture speaks to the heart, revealing the heart condition of every human being, and pointing the way to heart healing, transformation, wholeness, freedom. (Heb 4:12).
Scripture reveals the heart of our loving heavenly Father and is a record of the Father’s acts in history to restore his wayward children to Himself.

The primary mission and call of the Body of Christ is to abide in Jesus (John 15:1-17) and follow the most excellent way of love (1 Cor 13; 14:1) by:

Loving God (Deut 6:5; Mt 22:37-40).
Loving our neighbor (Lev 19:18; Mt 22:37-40).
Loving one another as Jesus loves us (John 13:34).
Proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of love by word and action (Luke 9:1-2; Luke 10:8-9).
Making disciples of Love (Mt 28:18-20; John 13:34-35).

True love can only flow from a heart that is united with the heart of the Father. Hearts filled with love naturally overflow and give birth to good works like evangelism, mission, discipleship and care for the poor and downtrodden. Hearts on fire with love result in healthy churches, unity in the Body of Christ, revival and the dynamic expansion of the Kingdom of God.
God designed the Body of Christ to live in the unity that comes from love. God is love and love is the source of true unity. Unity in the body of Christ directly testifies to who God is and what he is like (John 17: 20-23; Phil 2:1-4; Col 3:12-14).