The following statement of faith is evangelical in a broad sense. These are beliefs we hope and expect our partners to believe in. Beyond this statement of faith, we also hold to a number of theological and ministry distinctives.

The Bible

We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired, and without error in the original manuscripts. It was written under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct (2 Timothy 3:16).

God

We believe in the Trinitarian God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – one God existing in three persons, together eternal, together equal in power (2 Corinthians 13:14) and of the same nature. We affirm the truth of God’s omniscience (He knows everything), His omnipresence (He is everywhere), His omnipotence (He has all power) and His holiness (He is separate from His creation and He is without sin).

The Person and Work of Jesus

We believe Jesus is the Son of God, fully God and fully man. He is proof that God, who is Holy and above creation, wanted to be with His creation to save it. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, died a bloody and awful death on the cross, and miraculously rose from the dead. Jesus paid the full penalty for our sin (penal substitutionary atonement), suffering the wrath of God (propitiation), and removing our shame (expiation) according to God’s predetermined plan. He has triumphed over the powers of Satan, sin, and death (Colossians 2:15).

Jesus is the perfect sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 10:10-14)
Jesus is our faithful High Priest who both advocates and intercedes for us (Hebrews 3:1)
Jesus is the Head of the Church (Colossians 1:18)
Jesus is King of Kings who sits at the right hand of the Father and has all authority in heaven and earth (Ephesians 1:20-23, Daniel 7:13-14)
Jesus holds all things together (Colossians 1:17)
Jesus is the Way, The Truth, and The Life (John 14:6)
Jesus is the great warrior who came to destroy the works of the devil and is currently ruling in the midst of His enemies (1 John 3:8, Psalm 110:1-3)

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity and came into the world to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit works to execute God’s mission of redemption.

The Holy Spirit convicts (Acts 2:37)
The Holy Spirit regenerates (Titus 3:5)
The Holy Spirit indwells (1 Corinthians 3:16)
The Holy Spirit gives gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1-11)
The Holy Spirit seals (Ephesians 1:13-14)
The Holy Spirit guides (Galatians 5:18)
The Holy Spirit teaches (John 14:26)
The Holy Spirit helps (John 16:7)
The Holy Spirit empowers for witnessing (Acts 1:8)

Eschatology (Last Things)

We believe Jesus will return visibly and bodily on the last day at which time the final judgment of all men will take place, and the Kingdom will be delivered back into the hands of the Father. Jesus’ Kingdom has already begun with His first coming and will be fully consummated with His second coming. Those who have put their faith in Jesus will reign with Him in His New Heavens and New Earth and those who reject Jesus will suffer eternal separation from God in Hell.

Humanity

We believe God has placed great value on human life as evidenced by the birth, death and resurrection of His only Son, Jesus, so that humanity could be adopted into His family. We believe mankind was created in the image of God distinctly male and female, but through Adam’s sin all of mankind fell (became separated from God by sin). As a result, men and women are born sinful, are radically bent towards evil and rebellion, are under the wrath of God and they cannot save themselves. Everyone is in need of salvation that can only be supplied by the grace of God as it is revealed in the gospel. Our view of humanity is shaped by two truths.

First, Imago Dei: Man is made in God’s image and because of that all human beings have value and worth.

Second, Total Depravity: All humans are sinners by nature (birth) and choice. This does not mean all people are as wicked as they could be; but it does mean that every part of every human is broken by sin and therefore in need of salvation.

Sexuality, Marriage, and Singleness

We believe marriage between one man and one woman is a picture of the covenantal relationship between Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:22-33). We believe God made humanity in the complementary and biologically distinguishable sexes of male and female. All mankind is meant for loving covenantal relationships, but sexual intimacy is a gift restricted to the permanent marriage union between one man and one woman (Matthew 19:4-6). Additionally, we do not believe that either marriage or singleness holds more value than the other. We believe that both marriage and singleness are gifts from God, and that both are a means to put the glory of God on display (1 Corinthians 7).

Salvation Through The Gospel

Gospel simply means “good news.” We believe Jesus is the Gospel and that this good news is revealed through His birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension. Jesus’ crucifixion is at the heart of the gospel. Because of this, we believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received through faith in Jesus Christ whose blood was shed on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins (Ephesians 2:8). Through the death and resurrection of Jesus we can be set free from sin, Satan, and death.

The Church

We believe the Church is not simply a building, a religious institution or a denomination. Rather, the Church is made up of the people who have been saved by Jesus. We believe in both the Universal Church and the Local Church. The Universal Church is comprised of all believers in the entire world throughout all history. This is why the Bible describes the Universal Church as a chosen race, a holy nation, the body of Christ, the temple of God and the bride of Jesus (1 Peter 2:9, Hebrews 12:22-23, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, Ephesians 2:21, Revelation 21:2). The Local Church is characterized by:

Regenerated members (Acts 2:41)
Biblical leadership (1 Timothy 3:1-13)
God-given gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1-31)
Gathering for worship, edification and training (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Visible signs of God’s grace which are baptism (Acts 2:38, Romans 6:3-4) and communion (1 Corinthians 11:23-29) (also called ordinances or sacraments)
Unity in the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:1-4)
Commitment to growing in holiness (1 Timothy 4:6-7)
Discipline for the purity of the church and the protection of the believers (1Corinthians 5:9-13, Matthew 18:15-20)
Sacrificial Love for One Another (Acts 2:42-47, Colossians 3:14)
Making disciples of Jesus (Matthew 28:19)