Our Mission: Pursue HOLINESS TOGETHER
Our Vision: Making the real Jesus KNown in the valley and among the nations
STATEMENT OF FAITH
Scripture
The Scriptures, as defined as the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament, are the only truly inspired and genuinely canonized portions of divine written revelation of God. These Scriptures are true, finally authoritative, and totally sufficient. This same inspiration and exhalation from God gave life to Adam in the Garden of Eden and continues to wake humanity day by day. It is an all sustaining inspiration, producing nothing except perfect accuracy and demanding authority from all that it comes into contact with (Psalm 19:7-11; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
One True God
There is only one true God, Creator of the heavens and the earth, who eternally exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This Trinitarian God contains all attributes that are perpetually existent which without them, He would cease to exist as revealed in the Scriptures (Genesis 1:26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-6; 46:9-10; ; Psalm 45:6-7; 110:1; Malachi 3:6; Matthew 3:13-17; 28:17-20; John 17:3; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; 12:4-6; 1 Timothy 2:5).
All things exist for the glory of God. This is accomplished through faith, because whatever is not of faith is sin (Psalm 148; Proverbs 16:4; Isaiah 61:3; Romans 11:33-36; 14:23; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 2 Corinthians 5:15; Ephesians 1:3-14).
All things exist for the glory of God. This is accomplished through faith, because whatever is not of faith is sin (Psalm 148; Proverbs 16:4; Isaiah 61:3; Romans 11:33-36; 14:23; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 2 Corinthians 5:15; Ephesians 1:3-14).
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity. He is the eternal Son of God, was born of a virgin, and is both fully deity and fully human. This unification of natures is ineligible for separation. By necessity, Christ’s nature is how the cross became effective (Matthew 1:20; Luke 2:52; John 1:1-4, 14; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:1-3).
Jesus Christ died as the perfect sacrificial substitute, the propitiation, to pay the payment for the sinfulness of those who believe in Him (John 1:29; 10:1-18; Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4; 1 Peter 3:18).
Jesus Christ died and rose physically from the dead, ascended into heaven, and will one day return to earth (Matthew 28:1-20; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-53; ; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 15:12-34; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Hebrews 9:28; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 1:7).
Jesus Christ died as the perfect sacrificial substitute, the propitiation, to pay the payment for the sinfulness of those who believe in Him (John 1:29; 10:1-18; Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4; 1 Peter 3:18).
Jesus Christ died and rose physically from the dead, ascended into heaven, and will one day return to earth (Matthew 28:1-20; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-53; ; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 15:12-34; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Hebrews 9:28; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 1:7).
Humanity
All humanity, Christ excluded due to His hypostatic union with the perfect nature of the God, is sinful by both conception and action (Genesis 6:5; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:23; 5:8, 12-21; 7:18; Ephesians 2:1-3; Hebrews 1:3).
The deserved payment for sin is physical and spiritual death, similar in effectiveness to that of Adam and Eve in their blatant disobedience to the word of God in the Garden (Genesis 2:15-17; 3:19; Romans 5:12; 6:23; James 1:14-15).
The deserved payment for sin is physical and spiritual death, similar in effectiveness to that of Adam and Eve in their blatant disobedience to the word of God in the Garden (Genesis 2:15-17; 3:19; Romans 5:12; 6:23; James 1:14-15).
Men and Women
Men and women are equal in essence and value, but are different by design. As part of God’s creation, men and women are to have different, yet complementary roles and responsibilities in the home and church, specifically when concerning teaching of the Scriptures and spiritual authority (1 Corinthians 11:2-16; 14:33-35; Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 3:18-19; 1 Timothy 2:8-15; 1 Peter 3:1-7).
The Gospel
The gospel is the good news of God’s grace infiltrating the wicked darkness of this world. Christ’s crucifixion is the focal point of the gospel. His resurrection is the future power of the gospel. It satisfies God’s holy justice and His holy wrath. There is no other name by which men can be saved. At the heart of all sound doctrine is the cross of Jesus Christ and the infinite privilege that redeemed sinners have in glorifying God because of what He has accomplished (Acts 4:12; Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 15:2-4; 1 John 4:9-10).
Salvation
Only through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ, and repentance from sin can one be reconciled to God and experience true life and joy in this temporal life and the eternal state (John 3:18; 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:21-26; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6)
Sanctification
Sanctification is the active participation we possess in our journey of spirituality. It is the continuation of our spiritual growth into more “Christ-likeness.” Our minds are renewed, and we are conformed to the image of Christ. All believers are to continue to persevere in the faith, knowing they will be required to give an account to God for their every thought, word, and deed (Romans 8:29; 1 Corinthians 3:13; 6:11; Galatians 2:20; 5:16; Philippians 4:12).
Future Reality
There will be a future resurrection of the dead. Only those who turn from their sin and towards Jesus in faith and repentance will be finally resurrected to eternal life with Christ. Those who do not turn from sin and towards Jesus will be raised to eternal punishment. Eternal existence will be experienced for both those with the Lord’s love and grace as well as with the Lord’s wrath, discipline, and justice (Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15).
The Church
Due to the nature, personhood, existence, necessity, and divinity of the godhead, when Christ left the earth in His ascent into heaven, His single living organism established was the institution of the church. We, the church, are the body and bride of Christ. Christ is the image of the invisible God, His representation when Jesus was on earth. Now that Jesus Himself is enthroned, the church is the representation of the character of the divine presence. The universal church is the community of true believers around the world who purposefully and through faith uphold the authority and practices of the Bible. The local church is the meeting together of a select group of these individuals in physical relationships encouraging and assisting each other to grow and remain in Christ (Psalm 111:1; Matthew 16:18; Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12; Colossians 1:18; 1:24; ; Hebrews 10:24-25).
The church is the community, or household, of God consisting of all true Christian persons globally with the express purpose of knowing the depths and riches of God and being consistently conformed to the image of the Son (Genesis 12:1-3; Matthew 28:18-20; John 1:12; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 2:21; 4:4).
The local church is a communal gathering of devoted and committed persons who have made volitional decisions to worship, commune, and pour themselves out in a particular group of true Christian believers in the geographic vicinity in which they live (Acts 11:22; 14:23; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Hebrews 13:17; 10:24-25; James 5:14).
The church is the community, or household, of God consisting of all true Christian persons globally with the express purpose of knowing the depths and riches of God and being consistently conformed to the image of the Son (Genesis 12:1-3; Matthew 28:18-20; John 1:12; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 2:21; 4:4).
The local church is a communal gathering of devoted and committed persons who have made volitional decisions to worship, commune, and pour themselves out in a particular group of true Christian believers in the geographic vicinity in which they live (Acts 11:22; 14:23; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Hebrews 13:17; 10:24-25; James 5:14).
Baptism & the Lord's Supper
We believe that baptism and the Lord’s Supper (communion, Eucharist, et al.) are ordained by the Lord Jesus Himself. The former is connected with entrance into the new covenant community, the latter with ongoing covenant renewal. The two signify a means of grace provided by God to his people as a public expression of glory and devotion to Him and the sacrifice Christ made.
Baptism is a biblical part of the response man is to have to the Gospel. It is a way of demonstrating our devotion and union with Christ in his crucifixion and resurrection. Baptism is only intended for individuals who have received the saving benefits of Christ’s atoning work and are intent on being His disciple. Having been unified with Christ in His death through faith, baptism is a visual expression of a person’s union with Christ in the reality of His death and resurrection. It acts as a crisis of cleansing from former sins, that sinful way of life has been put to death and buried, and that the individual is raised to a new life. It also expresses a person’s release from the dominion of sin and participation in the new creation of God that began with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12)
The Lord’s Supper is to be participated in only by those who have become true followers of Christ. The elements of this meal symbolize the breaking of Christ’s body and the shedding of His blood for the sins of His people and is to be participated in repeatedly throughout the Christian’s life as a sign of continued union with the atoning benefits of Christ’s death and community with one another through sharing in this common meal. As we take of the Lord’s Supper in faith, we remember and exclaim the death of Christ, receive spiritual nourishment for our souls, and should always consider how what Christ did for us should affect the way we live toward one Another. (Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:24-28; 10:16-33; Hebrews 4:15)
Baptism is a biblical part of the response man is to have to the Gospel. It is a way of demonstrating our devotion and union with Christ in his crucifixion and resurrection. Baptism is only intended for individuals who have received the saving benefits of Christ’s atoning work and are intent on being His disciple. Having been unified with Christ in His death through faith, baptism is a visual expression of a person’s union with Christ in the reality of His death and resurrection. It acts as a crisis of cleansing from former sins, that sinful way of life has been put to death and buried, and that the individual is raised to a new life. It also expresses a person’s release from the dominion of sin and participation in the new creation of God that began with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12)
The Lord’s Supper is to be participated in only by those who have become true followers of Christ. The elements of this meal symbolize the breaking of Christ’s body and the shedding of His blood for the sins of His people and is to be participated in repeatedly throughout the Christian’s life as a sign of continued union with the atoning benefits of Christ’s death and community with one another through sharing in this common meal. As we take of the Lord’s Supper in faith, we remember and exclaim the death of Christ, receive spiritual nourishment for our souls, and should always consider how what Christ did for us should affect the way we live toward one Another. (Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:24-28; 10:16-33; Hebrews 4:15)