This page is designed to share with you the basis of our beliefs. On this
page we will share with you the scriptures prompting and supporting these basic
beliefs. We strive for our beliefs to be based solely on the Word of God and not
on man's opinions. Though sometimes we fail, we strive to study together to
avoid these mistakes or to make the necessary corrections. We invite you to
study with us.
The Basis of Our Beliefs:
Our beliefs are based upon the faith that there is one God who created the world, sent His son to live in the form of man and to die for our sins, and has established the church to be his elect people. With this belief, comes the trust that the Bible is the inspired word of God (II Timothy 3:16-17). By inspired we mean that God gave His message to man through the biblical writers in a way that pleases Him and conveys the truth of His creation of, interaction with, and wishes for mankind. With this faith in His inspired word, we believe that we are able to search through the pages of the Bible and determine what God desires of us today.
We believe that God's desire for mankind today is the same as it has been since Adam and Eve first sinned in the garden of Eden (Genesis 3). From the time that man fell under the curse of sin (which brings about a spiritual death -- Romans 6:23), God has sought to restore the relationship between Himself and man (I Timothy 2:3-4). This process began with animal sacrifices under the Patriarchal age, the time when God expressed directly to the patriarch of the family His desires, blessings, and commands.
God then chose the nation of Israel to be His special people, the result of a promise to the patriarch Abraham (Genesis 15). This was the second step in preparing the world for His plan to restore a relationship with mankind through the forgiveness of sin. To this special nation, God gave a set of laws through Moses. These laws were in place until they were fulfilled by God's son, Jesus (it is important to note that we believe that Jesus was deity from the beginning with God (John 1:1-4) as part of the godhead. He came to earth and took on the form of man ( John 1:14) in order to bring our salvation (Romans 3:21ff)).
Jesus fulfilled the laws given through Moses by living in complete accordance with the law. He willingly went to the cross, complete with all the shame and pain that it placed upon him, in order to be the perfect sacrifice. The blood of animals had never been able to pay the price for sin, and only served as a temporary means of receiving God's forgiveness. The same was not true of the blood of Jesus. His life was offered in order to pay the wages of sin for all time. A gift of love that is offered to all who will believe in him and will repent of their sins (Acts 2:38) and who willingly place there sins upon Jesus by joining in his death, burial, and resurrection through baptism (Romans 6:1ff).
This willingness allows a person to enjoy the type of relationship with God that man first experienced with God in the garden. This relationship is facilitated through God adding that person to the church (Acts 2:47; we do not add members to our church, God does). Through this relationship in the church, God provides the love and help of other members, as well as His Spirit, needed to continue developing oneself into the image of Jesus, as a Christian. This relationship also involves the sharing of one's faith with others, so that they too may receive the blessings of Jesus' sacrifice.
All of our efforts are directed toward glorifying God because of the love that He has shown toward us. "For while we were yet sinners Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). This was a love so great that it was expressed toward us while we were considered enemies of God (Romans 5:10). This love motivates us to express our love toward him through obedience. Jesus said that the world would know that we love Him if we keep his commandments (John 14:15). Those who fail to obey do not love Jesus (John 14:24). We want the world to know that we love Jesus.