What We Believe
The Gospel
We believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Unlike the holy and righteous God, we are sinful and depraved. Thus, we need a Lord and savior to rescue us by becoming a perfect sacrifice that satisfies the wrath and justice of God. Jesus did that by becoming man for us, making it possible for him to suffer and die on the cross. Then, by dying at the hands of humankind, he became our propitiation* and savior. But death did not ultimately conquer him. God also raised him from the dead, eternally sealing a victory over Satan, sin and death. Consequently, Jesus was exalted over everything to become Lord of all. Thus, he is most worthy to be enjoyed and worshipped. *The term “propitiation” (hilasmos) means “satisfaction,” “appeasement.” Theologically, propitiation means that God’s wrath against sin, demanded by His justice, is appeased on account of the death of Christ for sinners.
The Bible
The Bible is God’s words1 revealed in the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments2. These texts were written by men who were directed by the Holy Spirit3. Therefore, the Bible is infallible4 in all of its teachings about faith and practice5. As such, it is authoritative over all humans. The Bible is centrally about God6. By the Spirit of God, what it testifies about Jesus7 leads men and women to salvation8.
1 2 Peter 1:21. 2 1 Corinthians 2:6-7. 3 1 Corinthians 2:13-16. 4 By implication, the Bible is also inerrant; Psalm 19:7-9. 5 2 Timothy 3:16, 17. 6 Genesis 1:1; Revelation 22:13. 7 John 5:39; Acts 18:28. 8 John 20:31; Acts 10:43.
God
God is holy1, righteous2, just3, merciful4, long-suffering5, wise6, loving7, good8, wrathful9, truthful10, faithful11, and jealous12. He alone13 is omniscient14, omnipotent15, omnipresent16, eternal17, everlasting18, immutable19, incomprehensible20, self-existent21, self-sufficient22, infinite23, transcendent24, and sovereign25. He is the creator and ruler of all things.
1 Exodus 15:11; Leviticus 19:2; Isaiah 6:3; Job 34:10; Luke 1:49 2 Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 119:142 3 Numbers 14:18; Psalm 89:14 4 Psalm 116:5; Romans 9:14-16 5 Numbers 14:18; 2 Peter 3:9 6 Isaiah 40:28; Daniel 2:20 7 Jeremiah 31:3; Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:8 8 2 Chronicles 5:13; Psalm 25:8; Psalm 106:1; Psalm 145:9; Nahum 1:7 9 Exodus 34:6-7; Romans 1:18 10 Titus 1:2 11 Deuteronomy 7:9; Lamentations 3:22-23; 2 Timothy 2:13; Hebrews 10:23 12 Exodus 20:5; Nahum 1:2 13 These are God’s incommunicable attributes 14 Psalm 139:1-6; Psalm 147:5 15 Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:17; Job 42:2 16 Proverbs 15:3; Jeremiah 23:23-24; Psalm 139:8 17 Deuteronomy 32:40; Isaiah 57:15; Daniel 4:34; Deuteronomy 33:27 18 Genesis 21:33; Isaiah 40:28; Psalm 90:1-2; Jude 1:25 19 Psalm 102:25-27; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8; Romans 11:29 20 Job 11:7; Job 26:14; Romans 11:33 21 Exodus 3:14; John 5:26 22 Psalm 50:12; Acts 17:24-25 23 1 Kings 8:27; Psalm 145:3; Job 5:9; Job 9:10 24 Isaiah 55:8-9; Isaiah 40:22; Psalm 40:5 25 Psalm 135:6; Ephesians 1:11; Isaiah 46:9-11; Daniel 4:32; Daniel 4:34-35
The Trinity
There is only one living and true God who exists as three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Each person is coequal and co-eternal in the Godhead. That being said, the Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Spirit and the Spirit is not the Father.
Sin
Sin is the transgression of God’s moral law1. This law is God’s revealed will2 for us to be perfectly3 holy4 in act, attitude, and nature5 to the glory of God6.
1 1 John 3:4 2 Romans 5:13 3 Matthew 5:48 4 1 Peter 1:16 5 Ephesians 2:1-3 6 1 Corinthians 10:31
Salvation
Only God’s free grace1 can save sinners from the consequences of sin, namely God’s wrath and eternal punishment. He does this by sending his only Son to die a penal substitutionary death on the cross2. In other words, Jesus takes the penalty for our sin by becoming sin for us; in exchange, he imputes his righteousness to us3. This sacrifice is vicarious for those that have faith4. It is our only justification before God5.
1 Romans 5:15-17 2 Galatians 3:10-14 3 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24 4 Romans 3:25-26 5 Romans 5:1; Romans 5:9