Beliefs

What I Believe:

This personal statement of faith expresses my individual Christian convictions, doctrinal foundations, and commitment to walk with Christ. It serves as my personal anchor for daily living, discipleship, and spiritual accountability, reflecting my alignment with the scripture-based truth taught and practiced within the church family.

Personal Statement of Faith

1) God the Father & The Holy Trinity

I believe in the triune God. There is one, true, Holy God who exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God in being, character, power, and eternal qualities.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, author of the universe. In the beginning, God created the universe out of nothing. By God’s sovereign power, creation is continually sustained, and God’s redemptive purposes are being fulfilled.

2)  Jesus Christ

I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. On the third day He rose again, making it an empty tomb. Jesus physically rose from the dead after three days, demonstrating God’s power over sin and death.

Jesus ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to claim His own and disperse with the others. Jesus Christ is the unique Son of God, co-equal with the Father and Holy Spirit. He lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all by dying on the cross. He ascended into heaven, where He rules as my Lord and mediates between God and people. He will return again to earth in the future to establish God’s perfect peace and justice for eternity.

3) The Holy Spirit

I believe in the Holy Spirit, who is co-equal with the Father and Son. The Holy Spirit is present in the world to make people aware of their sin and their need for Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit lives in me from the moment of my salvation, providing me with power for living, knowledge of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing God’s will. The Holy Spirit is involved in continually transforming me into the image of Christ, and is actively working within the Christian community to bring about God’s plan of redemption for all people and all creation.

4) The Human Condition

I believe that human beings are the supreme object of God’s creation, made in the image of God to be like God in character. Although I have tremendous potential for good, I am marred by an attitude of rebellion toward God called sin, which separates people from God. As a human being, I am incapable of beginning or maintaining a relationship with God through my own knowledge or effort.

5) Salvation & Eternal Life

I believe that people are created to exist forever. Every person will either exist eternally in union with God through salvation offered only through Jesus Christ (heaven), or exist eternally separated from God by sin (hell). I believe in an eternal, everlasting life with Jesus and all the faithful.

Salvation is a gift from God to all people. I can never cancel my sin debt through self-improvement or by good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior can I be forgiven of my sins and the penalty of sin, enjoying instead the blessing of a personal relationship with God through Jesus.

6) The Universal Church & Communion of Saints

I believe in the global church—God’s universal family of all true believers. I believe in the deep spiritual community and unity we share as God's people. I believe that through Jesus Christ, my sins are completely forgiven, and I look forward to the day when God will physically raise us from the dead to live forever in renewed, immortal bodies.

7) The Sacraments

I believe in two sacraments: Holy Baptism and Holy Communion (the Lord’s Supper), which were both practiced by Jesus. The sacraments are to be celebrated within the gathered Church. Holy Baptism and Holy Communion are both signs and means of God’s grace, helping me to remember and to experience the love, acceptance, and forgiveness of God through Jesus Christ.

Holy Baptism: Holy Baptism is the sacrament that I receive once during my life. While Baptism only occurs once, I affirm that it is good to periodically renew my Baptismal Vows. By renewing my vows, I publicly recommit myself to living in imitation of Christ, walking in His Light and Wisdom, and rejecting Satan and his evil ways at all costs. Renewing my Baptismal vows strengthens my resolve, reaffirms who I am as a member of Christ, and puts everything into perspective, reordering my heart, mind, and soul. Baptism connects me with God’s mighty acts of salvation and His Church. I am not “saved” at the moment of Baptism; rather, salvation happens when I invite Jesus into my life as my Lord and Savior. Once I make that commitment, Scripture calls me to publicly profess my faith through Baptism. Though I still sin after Baptism, I renew my faith by confessing my sins to God, turning away from that sin, and reaffirming my faith in Christ alone.

Holy Communion: Holy Communion reminds me of the Last Supper that Jesus shared with His disciples in the Upper Room as He prepared them for His death on the cross. The bread and the wine (juice) are symbols of Jesus’ body and blood, which were broken and shed for my sin. Communion is not only a time for me to remember Christ’s death, but it is also an anticipation of Christ’s second coming—a time when we will sit at His table and enjoy fellowship with Christ and His Church in the Kingdom of Heaven. Holy Communion is open to anyone, regardless of age or church membership.

8)  Christian Marriage

I believe that a Christian marriage is a sacred, lifelong covenant designed by God. Rooted in Scripture, it unites a man and a woman as "one flesh" in permanent faithfulness. This holy partnership is built on mutual sacrifice and unconditional love, serving as a living reflection of Christ’s profound devotion to the Church.