The Word of God
November 17, 2002 Sermon

Holy Spirit
January 5, 2003 Sermon

The Bible

We believe that the 66 books of the Old and New Testament are the inspired Word of God. The Bible was inspired by God; it reflects the backgrounds, styles, and vocabularies of the authors. We believe the Scriptures are infallible and without error in the original manuscripts. The Scriptures are the only divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life.

2 Tim 3: 16; 2 Peter 1: 21.

God

We believe there is one true holy God existing in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit - each of Whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality. God is the Creator; he created the world out of nothing. His glory, power, wisdom, and goodness are reflected in His creation. He operates throughout history reconciling people to Himself.

Isaiah 6: 1-8; 40-31; John 4: 24; 1 John 1: 5; Ephesians 3: 20-21; Jude 24-25.

Salvation

Small falls, like the stubbing of a toe, do not receive much attention. But the Bible records a gigantic fall. In Genesis 3, human rebellion is recorded graphically. Human beings chose to turn away from God and go their own way. That decision opened Pandora's Box. Injustice, evil, chaos, havoc and death erupted. We are all born into a fallen world. We are all born into an unjust, unfair world. The wages of sin is death. God is in the business of reconciling rebels to himself. God delights in redeeming people who have sold out to sin. This process the Bible calls salvation. We cannot save ourselves. We must throw ourselves totally upon God's free grace. Repentance and faith are the appropriate human responses to God's amazing grace.

Romans 3: 23; 6: 23; 5: 8; 10: 9; 12: 1-2; Luke 19: 10; Ephesians 2: 8-9; 2 Corinthians 5: 17.

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the eternal God. He humbled himself and became a human being. He was born of the Virgin Mary and lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father. He died on the cross to pay the penalty of human sin. He offers us forgiveness. He rose from the dead. His resurrection is the basis for our hope. He promises eternal life to those who trust in Him. He ascended into heaven and is with the Father. He has promised to return a second time. It is His second coming that is the basis of our optimism regarding the future.

John 1: 12; 3: 3,16; 14: 1-6; 1 Corinthians 15: 3-8.

Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is not an "it" but rather a personal being who is part of God. The Holy Spirit gives us a sense of God's presence, convicts us of sin, draws us to Jesus, makes us spiritually alive, and helps us to grow in Christ-like character.

John 14: 15-31; 16:5-16; Galatians 5: 22-23.

Human Destiny (Eternity)

We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead. Those who have put their faith in Christ will enjoy eternal life in heaven.

1 Corinthians 15:51-54; John 3:36.

We believe that Jesus Christ will return a second time in power and great glory.

1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18; Matthew 25: 31-46.

Sacraments of Baptism and Communion

We partake of the two primary sacraments that Jesus left us. Baptism, for the public acknowledgement of Christ's atonement for our sins, and Communion, to regularly remember what he did for us on the cross.

Matthew 28: 18-20; Romans 6:1-7; Luke 22: 7-22; ICor 11: 17-32.