ONE SPIRIT, ONE BODY, MANY PARTS
In essential beliefs – we have unity
“There is one Body and one Spirit… there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God and Father of us all…” Ephesians 4:4-6
In non-essential beliefs – we have liberty
“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters… Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls... So then each of us will give an account of himself to God… So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.” Romans 14:1, 4, 12, 22
In all our beliefs – we show charity
“…if… I hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but also the very secrets of God, and if I also have that absolute faith that can move mountains – but have no love, I amount to nothing at all…” 1 Corinthians 13:2 (Phillips)
THE ESSENTIALS WE BELIEVE
• We believe that the Bible is the
divinely inspired Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice.
• We believe in one God, eternally
existent in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – one in essence and
community.
• We believe in God the Father, the
almighty Creator of heaven and earth.
• We believe that Jesus Christ our
Lord is the Word made flesh – fully God and fully man. We believe He was conceived by the Holy
Spirit, was born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, was crucified, died,
and was buried, rose again on the third day, and ascended into heaven.
• We believe in the divinity of the
Holy Spirit, who indwells the believer.
The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, enables the believer to live a holy
life, comforts, teaches, and bestows spiritual gifts.
• We believe humanity is created in
the image of God, has fallen into sin, and can be born again by the Spirit,
justified freely by grace, and saved through the atoning work of Jesus Christ
alone.
• We believe that the Church is the
body of Christ, the people of God, whose mission is to make disciples of all
nations and to be salt and light in the world.
• We believe baptism, the Lord’s
Supper, and feet-washing to be ordinances of the Church.
• We believe in the return of Jesus
Christ, the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, everlasting life, and
a new heaven and new earth.