Doctrinal Statement
The following is simply an effort to quickly familiarize you with our general teaching and emphasis. We believe it is faithful to God’s revelation though it will never be a guide for our beliefs or practices as a church—that is reserved for the Bible. We have tried to both capture our current understanding and emphasis on these points as well as to allow for some room to grow and deepen in our views. While we affirm this document as true, we do not do so as though it were a document to be believed alongside of the Bible, nor as though it were a church covenant requiring adherence, nor as an interpretive lens through which to read the Bible, but rather as nothing more than a fair representation of our current understanding of the Bible. Obviously, we cannot include everything that we believe or the document would no longer be brief. We desire to sharpen our understanding in every truth.
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Gospel
The primary message of our church is God’s plan of salvation for sinners through the death and resurrection of his son Jesus Christ, according to the Scriptures. a
a 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
Bible
We believe and teach the Biblea is the self-attesting word of Godb and that the God who communicates through itc is the sole authority of His creationd and alone is the fountainhead of truth.e Therefore His Word is a sure guide and the supreme and sufficient standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions must be tried.f The Bible is without error in the original manuscripts, being written by human authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Through human authors using human means and methods, God guided the writing of the Bible so as to reliably communicate to mankind.g This word is still reliable todayh We believe the Old Testament is an incomplete revelation, finding its completion and fulfillment in the New Testament.i
a The 66 books of Holy Scripture. b Meaning the Bible is of such a nature that it does not look to a higher authority for verification because there is no higher or independent authority which could judge it. Its own beauty, profundity, scope, power, penetrating depth of discernment, and power to provoke faith within people who were once indifferent or opposed to its message are undeniable proof that it is the very word of God; it carries its own credentials. Scripture proofs follow. Hebrews 6:13; John 1:4, 9, 14; Rom.1:32; 2:14-15, John 7:17; 1 Thess. 2:13 c Acts 1:16; Amos 3:7-8; Hebrews 1:1-2; Acts 10:44; Romans 10:17 d Daniel 4:35; Isaiah 14:27; Psalm 115:3; Proverbs 30:5-6 e Isaiah 45:19; John 14:6; John 17:17; Romans 1:18-19, 3:4 f Acts 4:19; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; John 8:31; Psalm 119:105, Isaiah 8:20 g 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 1:11; Acts 3:18 h Psalm 119:89; 1 Peter 1:24-25; I Matthew 11:13; John 5:39, 46; Luke 24:25-27; 24:44-49; 1 Peter 1:10-12; Hebrews 1:1-2
We believe and teach the Bible is the self-attesting word of God and that the God who communicates through it (4) is the sole authority of His creation(5) and alone is the fountainhead of truth.(6) Therefore His Word is a sure guide and the supreme and sufficient standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions must be tried.(7) The Bible is without error in the original manuscripts, being written by human authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Through human authors using human means and methods, God guided the writing of the Bible so as to reliably communicate to mankind.(8) This word is still reliable today(9) We believe the Old Testament is an incomplete revelation, finding its completion and fulfillment in the New Testament.(10)