What We Believe...
...and why we believe it
What we truly believe truly changes how we live.
God
Yes, there is a God.
We believe God is real, and He has revealed Himself in creation, in Scripture, and ultimately in Jesus Christ. God created all that there is. In Him, we find our origin, meaning, purpose, and destiny; or to put it another way, He tells us where we come from, gives us meaning and purpose for our lives, and tells us where we are going. God's nature is to be relational because He is relational within Himself. God is One Being and three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Spirit.
Moral truth exists because God is real. The definition of right and wrong ultimately stems from God's character. Therefore, belief in God will make a difference in our choices and priorities.
The Bible
We believe in God's Word
The Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, were written by people over the course of about 1400 years. These writings were inspired by God and are therefore inerrant, infallible, and authoritative.
This belief is not blindly accepted. Among ancient documents, the Bible has some of the strongest historical and archaeological evidence for its authenticity and reliability.
The Word of God teaches us what we need to know, shows us where we fail, gives us corrections for our failures, and provides a plan to succeed. Trusting in God's Word makes a difference in daily life.
Jesus Christ
Jesus is the only way to be right with God.
We believe Jesus is God the Son in the flesh, fully God and fully human. He was born to a virgin mother. He lived life among humanity in the first-century AD in Roman-occupied Israel. He was tempted in every way we are, but He never sinned. He was rejected and scorned by those who did not accept who He was. He was crucified and died on a Roman cross. In doing so, He took upon Himself the wrath and justice we deserve for our sins. He was buried, and on the third day He rose bodily from the tomb, declaring victory over sin and death. He later ascended to heaven, and He will come again.
Our sin has estranged us from God. The only way we can be reconciled to God is through what Jesus did for us at the cross and tomb. His shed blood paid the penalty for our sin. What you believe about Jesus makes all the difference for today and eternity.
Humanity
We are made in God's image...
We believe humanity was created in the image of God. This gives all human life intrinsic value. We were created to have fellowship with God and glorify Him with our lives. When humanity sinned, we rejected our Creator and our purpose. While humans can still accomplish some good things, we now have a sinful nature that taints our choices and motivations. We know right from wrong, yet we regularly choose wrong. This tendency is known as the depravity of humankind.
God loves us so much, that He sent His Son to set us free from this depravity. We were dead in the trespasses and sins in which we once walked, but Christ makes us alive in Him. We can truly be restored to our relationship with our Creator and to our purpose. Having a Biblical understanding of humanity means we are to treat all people with dignity. This understanding also helps us see our need, as well as our neighbor's need, for Jesus.
Salvation
Salvation is true change.
Everyone needs salvation. Salvation means we are transformed from a life of separation from our Creator to a life in relationship with our Creator. This life is eternal and will not stop after we die a physical death on earth. Our sins separate us from God, and this is what the Bible means when it says we are "dead in our trespasses and sins." If we do not accept Jesus' offer of salvation, we will spend eternity separated from God in a literal place called Hell.
However, Jesus' died on a cross to pay the penalty our sins deserve so we would not have to be separated any longer. There is no other path to God. Jesus is the only way to be reconciled to God. He is the only source of true salvation. Salvation is transformation that starts the day we trust in Christ as Lord and Savior, and this transformation continues for the rest of our lives. It is a daily experience of putting off our old, sinful self through the power of Christ, and becoming the new person God always intended for us to be. Salvation means you are no longer under God's just condemnation for your sins because you have trusted that what Jesus did at the cross and tomb paid that debt. It also means you are becoming a new person, and your daily life and choices are guided by Christ and His priorities, not the world's. Salvation also includes the truth that you will spend eternity with God in heaven.
If you are not sure that you have ever received the gift of salvation, click here to learn what you must do to be saved.
For More Depth...
These are some bedrock beliefs we hold, but there are more. Ultimately, Scripture guides what we do as a church. The way in which Scripture guides us is reflected in both our By-Laws and in our affirmation of the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message. These documents are helpful descriptions, but they do not replace Scripture or hold the same authority as Scripture. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us for more information on what we believe and why.