our beliefs

About Jesus Christ?

We believe that Jesus Christ is both God and human. God loves people so much that he sent his son Jesus Christ to make it possible for anyone to have a relationship with God.

In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. [2] He was in the beginning with God. John 1:1-2John 1:1-2
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
The Word of Life ^{1 1} In the beginning was the one who is called the Word. The Word was with God and was truly God. ² From the very beginning the Word was with God.

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The Word became flesh and blood,and moved into the neighborhood. John 1:14John 1:14
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
14 The Word became a human being and lived here with us. We saw his true glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. From him all the kindness and all the truth of God have come down to us.

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Jesus Christ willingly died on the cross and rose again so that we could experience and receive God’s forgiveness and have new life; by this act alone, people can once again experience a personal relationship with God.

What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:172 Corinthians 5:17
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
17 Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new.

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We believe in one true, holy God eternally existing in three persons: Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer.

You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness. Ephesians. 4:5-6Ephesians. 4:5-6
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
5 We have only one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. ⁶ There is one God who is the Father of all people. Not only is God above all others, but he works by using all of us, and he lives in all of us.

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In the beginning God perfectly created all things and continues to sustain and rule over God’s creation by God’s sovereign will.
Before the mountains were created, before you made the earth and the world, you are God, without beginning or end. Psalm 90:2Psalm 90:2
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
2 You have always been God— long before the birth of the mountains, even before you created the earth and the world.

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We believe that God created humanity to have a relationship. Humanity chose the path of independence and disobeyed God. Since then, all humanity has been broken, fragmented, filled with sin, and unable to experience true life and relationship with God or others. This separation leads to complete and utter brokenness and spiritual and eternal death. So, we can only have real life and relationship with God through a gracious act of God. God has sought throughout history to bring us back into relationship with God.

All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and God, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. [19] God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. 2 Corinthians 5:18-192 Corinthians 5:18-19
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
18 God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others. ¹⁹ What we mean is that God was in Christ, offering peace and forgiveness to the people of this world. And he has given us the work of sharing his message about peace.

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About the Bible?

We believe that the Bible is God’s message to us about how to live in relationship with God and others. It is our guide to a faithful relationship with God. Inspired by God’s Spirit, the Bible teaches us how to live lives pleasing to God; how to follow God’s way of living and how to serve God with our lives.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. [17] It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do. 2 Tim. 3:16-172 Tim. 3:16-17
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
16 Everything in the Scriptures is God's Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live. ¹⁷ The Scriptures train God's servants to do all kinds of good deeds.

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About God’s Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit makes all of humanity aware of God’s presence.  The spirit delivers God’s free gift of grace and lives in us. The Holy Spirit reveals truth and enables us to understand and receive the teaching of the Bible.  The Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to become more like Jesus and equips us to do God’s work in the world.

“But I will send you the Counselor—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will tell you all about me. John 15:26John 15:26
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
26 I will send you the Spirit who comes from the Father and shows what is true. The Spirit will help x help: See the note at . you and will tell you about me.

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unpacking our beliefs/convictions

We all fall down

We’re all imperfect. It’s a no brainer really that none of us is perfect. We all make mistakes, we all have shortcomings, we all sin, we all fall down. We may work hard to correct our mistakes after we make them, but no one can say “I’ll never make another mistake.” We don’t have that ability. That is the human condition. We will and do make mistakes. We do things that don’t please God. They hurt our relationship and disconnect from God. They are barriers that prevent us from connecting to God (Acts 16:14Acts 16:14
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
14 One of them was Lydia, who was from the city of Thyatira and sold expensive purple cloth. She was a worshiper of the Lord God, and he made her willing to accept what Paul was saying.

WP-Bible plugin), they keep our minds from focusing on God (2 Corinthians 4:62 Corinthians 4:6
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
6 . The Scriptures say, “God commanded light to shine in the dark.” Now God is shining in our hearts to let you know that his glory is seen in Jesus Christ.

WP-Bible plugin), they cause us to not hear God’s voice (Matthew 13:1-17Matthew 13:1-17
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
A Story about a Farmer ^{13 1} That same day Jesus left the house and went out beside Lake Galilee, where he sat down to teach. p sat down to teach: See the note at . ² Such large crowds gathered around him that he had to sit in a boat, while the people stood on the shore. ³ Then he taught them many things by using stories. He said: A farmer went out to scatter seed in a field. ⁴ While the farmer was scattering the seed, some of it fell along the road and was eaten by birds. ⁵ Other seeds fell on thin, rocky ground and quickly started growing because the soil wasn't very deep. ⁶ But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched and dried up, because they did not have enough roots. ⁷ Some other seeds fell where thornbushes grew up and choked the plants. ⁸ But a few seeds did fall on good ground where the plants produced a hundred or sixty or thirty times as much as was scattered. ⁹ If you have ears, pay attention! Why Jesus Used Stories ¹⁰ Jesus' disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you use nothing but stories when you speak to the people?” ¹¹ Jesus answered: I have explained the secrets about the kingdom of heaven to you, but not to others. ¹² ; ; . Everyone who has something will be given more. But people who don't have anything will lose even what little they have. ¹³ I use stories when I speak to them because when they look, they cannot see, and when they listen, they cannot hear or understand. ¹⁴ . So God's promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah had said, “These people will listen and listen, but never understand. They will look and look, but never see. ¹⁵ All of them have stubborn minds! Their ears are stopped up, and their eyes are covered. They cannot see or hear or understand. If they could, they would turn to me, and I would heal them.” ¹⁶ . But God has blessed you, because your eyes can see and your ears can hear! ¹⁷ Many prophets and good people were eager to see what you see and to hear what you hear. But I tell you that they did not see or hear.

WP-Bible plugin), or see God (John 9:35-41John 9:35-41
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
35 When Jesus heard what had happened, he went and found the man. Then Jesus asked, “Do you have faith in the Son of Man?” ³⁶ He replied, “Sir, if you will tell me who he is, I will put my faith in him.” ³⁷ “You have already seen him,” Jesus answered, “and right now he is talking with you.” ³⁸ The man said, “Lord, I put my faith in you!” Then he worshiped Jesus. ³⁹ Jesus told him, “I came to judge the people of this world. I am here to give sight to the blind and to make blind everyone who can see.” ⁴⁰ When the Pharisees heard Jesus say this, they asked, “Are we blind?” ⁴¹ Jesus answered, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty. But now that you claim to see, you will keep on being guilty.”

WP-Bible plugin). Because we have fallen and we are broken and we can’t put ourselves back together. We can’t be whole again without God’s help.

It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. Ephesians 2:1Ephesians 2:1
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
From Death to Life ^{2 1} . In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God.

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God chooses us

God chooses to love us despite our imperfections. God’s choice to love us isn’t based on anything we do or say. God’ s only motivation to love us is God. Despite our condition and our inability to stop falling, God chooses to love us and reclaim a relationship with us. This is God’s solution to our fallen condition. Our human brokenness separates us from God. But there is a solution. Before the creation of the world, God chose us to be members of his family. Just as an adoptive couple selects a child to love, God chose us to be adopted into his spiritual family. God chooses us despite our flaws. God’s choice is a gift and not based on anything we say or do (1 Corinthians 2:141 Corinthians 2:14
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
14 That's why only someone who has God's Spirit can understand spiritual blessings. Anyone who doesn't have God's Spirit thinks these blessings are foolish.

WP-Bible plugin). It gives God joy to choose to love us. (Ephesians 1:5Ephesians 1:5
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
5 God was kind b holy and innocent and loving people. ⁵ God was kind: Or “holy and innocent people. God was loving ⁵ and kind.” and decided that Christ would choose us to be God's own adopted children.

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Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) Ephesians 1;:4-5 (Message Bible)

Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! 9We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! 10No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing . Ephesians 2:8-10Ephesians 2:8-10
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
8 You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. e treats us much better than we deserve: The Greek word charis, traditionally rendered “grace,” is translated here and other places in the CEV to express the overwhelming kindness of God. This is God's gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. ⁹ It isn't something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about. ¹⁰ God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That's why he sent Christ to make us what we are.

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Intentionally re-connected

Jesus intentionally sacrificed his life to reconnect us to God. Because we are unable to stop ourselves from falling, Jesus God’s son, took the fall for us. Jesus willingness to do so is a measure of God’s love. God loves people so much that God sent God’s son Jesus Christ to make it possible for anyone to have a relationship with God. Jesus sacrifice is the only thing that could bring us back into relationship with God. It is the only thing that can make us one with God. It is for everyone who responds to God’s love and adoption.

“No one can come to me unless the Father draws him. . .” (John,6:44). The Father draws people to believe in Jesus.

“I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own sheep and my own sheep know me. In the same way, the Father knows me and I know the Father. I put the sheep before myself, sacrificing myself if necessary. John 10:14-15John 10:14-15
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
14 I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and they know me. ¹⁵ ; . Just as the Father knows me, I know the Father, and I give up my life for my sheep.

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But God was merciful! We were dead because of our sins, but God loved us so much that he made us alive with Christ, and God’s wonderful kindness is what saves you. God did this so that in the future world he could show how truly good and kind he is to us because of what Christ Jesus has done. Ephesians 24-5, 7

We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done. Romans 3:22Romans 3:22
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
22 . God treats everyone alike. He accepts people only because they have faith in Jesus Christ.

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The power to change

God’s spirit gives us the power to change. The spirit changes us spiritually from the inside out. This change is not so much about what we do, but what God does in us through God’s spirit. The Holy Spirit changes us in a way that we cannot change ourselves. The Holy Spirit delivers God’s free gift of grace and lives in us. The Holy Spirit reveals truth and enables us to understand and receive the God’s message to us from the Bible. The Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to become more like Jesus. God’s Spirit equips us to do God’s work in the world.

Jesus said, “You’re absolutely right. Take it from me: Unless a person is born from above, it’s not possible to see what I’m pointing to—to God’s kingdom.” John 3:3John 3:3
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
3 Jesus replied, “I tell you for certain that you must be born from above k from above: Or “in a new way.” The same Greek word is used in verses ⁷,³¹. before you can see God's kingdom!”

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And now you also have heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us everything he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. This is just one more reason for us to praise our glorious God. Ephesians 1:13-14Ephesians 1:13-14
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
13 Christ also brought you the truth, which is the good news about how you can be saved. You put your faith in Christ and were given the promised Holy Spirit to show that you belong to God. ¹⁴ The Spirit also makes us sure that we will be given what God has stored up for his people. Then we will be set free, and God will be honored and praised.

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Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! Ephesians. 2:8-9Ephesians. 2:8-9
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
8 You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. e treats us much better than we deserve: The Greek word charis, traditionally rendered “grace,” is translated here and other places in the CEV to express the overwhelming kindness of God. This is God's gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. ⁹ It isn't something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about.

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a lasting loving relationship

God’s great desire is to have an ongoing, lasting, loving relationship with us. When we trust God with our lives, God’s love continues to draw us closer and deeper into relationship with God. God sees us not as disconnected but as reconnected and holds us together in that relationship. Scripture reminds us of God’s promise to hold securely to us. The joy and peace of following Jesus comes from knowing that our salvation from beginning to end is completely the work of God.

Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; [ know them and they follow me. [ give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand" (John 10:27-28John 10:27-28
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
27 My sheep know my voice, and I know them. They follow me, ²⁸ and I give them eternal life, so that they will never be lost. No one can snatch them out of my hand.

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That's plain enough, isn't it? You're no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You're no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He's using us all--irrespective of how we got here--in what he is building. Ephesians 2:1Ephesians 2:1
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
From Death to Life ^{2 1} . In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God.

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For my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. So no one can take them from me. John 10:29John 10:29
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
29 Ws . My Father gave them to me, and he is greater than all others. w he is greater than all others: Some manuscripts have “they are greater than all others.” No one can snatch them from his hands,

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(high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. Romans 8:39Romans 8:39
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
39 and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God's love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!

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