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Statement of Beliefs
This Statement of Faith describes our core beliefs as a church.
There is nothing new or revolutionary about them. The primary,
authoritative source of our beliefs is the teaching of Scripture
(the Bible). Thus, these essential or core beliefs are
non-negotiable, unwavering commitments. Because we believe that the
following are consistent with the Scripture, we hold to and claim
the belief statements of the historic Apostle’s Creed, Nicene Creed,
and traditional and official Doctrinal Standards of the United
Methodist Church.
The Bible
The
Bible is God's inspired, infallible, and perfect Word to all
people. Comprised of 66 Old and New Testament books, the Bible
describes God’s loving initiative in drawing us back into
relationship with Him and each other. No other writings are so
inspired by God. The Bible is the supreme source of truth for
Christian beliefs and living. (Isa. 40:8; II Tim. 3:16-17; II
Peter 1:20-21; Rev. 22:19)
God
There is
one true, eternal, holy, and living God, existing in three separate
persons: God the Father as Creator, God’s only Son Jesus Christ as
Redeemer and Savior, and God the Holy Spirit as Counselor and
Sustainer of life. This is known as the “Trinity.”All three are
equal in worth, distinct but inseparable, forming a perfect and
eternal love-relationship. (Gen. 1:1; Mt. 28:19; II Cor. 13:14)
Jesus Christ
Jesus
Christ, the Son of God, is the eternal second member of the
Trinity. Fully God and fully human, He lived a sinless
life. Through his voluntary death on the cross, Jesus paid in full
the debt of our sin, bridging the gap between God and people for
everyone who believes in Him. After three days, Jesus rose from the
dead. Soon after, He ascended to heaven, and is now praying for His
Church. He will physically return to earth to reign as King of
Kings and Lord of Lords. (Jn.1:1, 14; Heb. 1:8; I Pet. 3:18; I
Tim. 2:5-6; I Cor. 15:1-8; Acts 1:9-11; I Thess. 4:13-17)
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the
Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to both make
men aware of their need for and, through other Christians, invite
them into a relationship with Jesus Christ. He lives in every
Christian from the moment of salvation, providing the Christian with
guidance and power for Christ-like living. He gives every believer
spiritual gifts to build up the Church. As we daily yield to the
Holy Spirit, Christ lives his life in and through us transforming us
into His image. (Acts 5:3-4, Jn. 6:44; 16:8-11; I Cor. 12:7-12;
II Cor. 3:17-18; Gal.5: 16-23)
Salvation
God, Who
is love, seeks and pursues all people, urging them to enter a
new-life relationship made possible through Jesus Christ. Originally
created to live in perfect harmony with God, we have all chosen to
go our own way (sin) and have thus become separated from God. As
such, we are unable to restore this relationship by ourselves.
Thankfully, out of sheer love, God freely offers us His salvation:
an act wholly initiated by God that is not earned, or added to by
any act of human goodness. Anyone may receive this gift of
salvation by receiving Jesus Christ, surrendering to Him and
trusting Him to save him/her through His sacrifice on the Cross and
resurrection. We are saved to know and become like Christ. (Jn.
1:12-13; 3:16; Rom. 3:23; 5:8; 10:9-10, 13; Eph. 2:8-10)
Human
Destiny
God
desires that each person live eternally with Him; so much so, that
Jesus Christ died for every person. God calls all; all may come.
However, God loves and respects us too much to force anyone into a
surrendered love-relationship with Him. Thus, depending upon one’s
choice/ response (or lack of) to Christ, each person will either
exist eternally separated from God by sin, or in union with God
through His salvation and forgiveness. To be eternally separated
from God is hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life
(begins at conversion; culminates in heaven). Heaven and hell are
places of eternal existence. (Deut. 30:19; Mt. 25:46; Jn. 3:36;
14:1-6; Rev. 20: 11-15)
The Church
The Church is comprised of all who receive and know Jesus Christ as
Lord and Savior. Under the authority of the Bible and empowered by
the Holy Spirit, the Church is called to exalt and embody Jesus
Christ by bringing the Kingdom of God to the world. In Christ’s
Name, the Church invites, worships, prays, disciples, preaches the
Word, serves and loves one other and the world, shares communion and
baptism (the two sacraments of the church), and works to make
disciples of all nations. The Church is not a fortress, where people
hide, or a country club that exists to serve itself, but a
Spirit-empowered, disciple-making force through which God lives and
transforms the world. As such, all are welcome. (Mt. 16:15-19;
Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23-32; I Tim. 3:15)
For a complete
Doctrinal Statement, click here (requires Acrobat Reader)
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