Hope Statement of Faith:
God
We believe in one God who exists in three persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All are fully God but each has a unique and distinct role. Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19
God the Father
We believe in a perfect, holy, just, merciful and loving God who created the world and everything in it. We believe God operates throughout history and is actively involved in our lives to fulfill his purposes.
Genesis 1:1, 27; Deuteronomy 32:4; Isaiah 42:5; Jeremiah 10:12; Revelation 4:8
Jesus, the Son
We believe that Jesus is the son of God who became flesh. Jesus was fully human and fully God. Jesus lived a perfect life and voluntarily paid the price for our sin by dying on the cross. After three days in a tomb, he rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and now sits at the right hand of God. We believe that Jesus is our Savior and Lord. We are called to not only believe in him, but also to follow him and live out his teachings.
Matthew 4:19; John 3:16-18; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 4:15; 1 John 4:10
Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit dwells in all who put their faith in Christ to lead, teach, empower, and transform them to live godly lives and to serve him fully. The Spirit also distributes gifts to believers to build up the church for the common good.
John 16:7-15; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 12:4-14; Ephesians 4:11-13
Bible
We believe all 66 books of the Bible are the inspired Word of God, written by human authors moved by the Spirit of God. The Scriptures carry the authority of God and also reflect the culture, backgrounds, and language of these authors. The Bible is the foundation for what we believe and how we live, and within it, God reveals himself and his redeeming plan for the world.
Matthew 5:18, 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Hebrews 4:12
Hope (The Hope Found in Jesus Christ)
We believe that every person was created in the image of God to be in a relationship with him. However, sin has broken that relationship. We believe that trusting in the death and resurrection of Christ is the only means for the forgiveness of sins. Salvation is a free gift of grace from God and cannot be earned on the basis of merit or work. Each person has the choice to accept Christ’s atoning work on the cross on their behalf. Those who reject God will face eternity apart from him. Those who trust in Christ will spend eternity in joyful communion with him. We believe that Christ is the only source of lasting hope for the world, and it is our hope that every person would choose him.
Ecclesiastes 7:20; John 3:16-17; Romans 3:21-28, 6:23,10:9-10; 2 Corinthians 5:20-21; Ephesians 2:8-9
Church
We believe the church is the body and bride of Christ. The church is comprised of the people of God who have come to saving faith in Christ. We believe the church includes people of all ages, backgrounds, and races united by their identity in Christ.
The purpose of the church is to glorify Christ and make him known to the world. The church body is called to gather for worship, prayer, fellowship, the teaching of the Word, and to observe baptism and Communion. God, in his wisdom, chose imperfect people to use their spiritual gifts to build the church. The church is to share the good news of the gospel, to respond tangibly and sacrificially to the needs of our neighbors, and to extend compassion and grace to a hurting world. Christ loves the church and gave himself as a sacrifice for her. One day there will be a great celebration when Christ returns, never to be apart from his church again.
Matthew 28:19-20; John 17:20-23; Acts 2:42-47; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31; Galatians 3:26-28; Ephesians 2:19-22; Hebrews 10:24-25; Revelation 7:9, 19:7-8
Baptism
We believe baptism symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Once a person has accepted Christ’s work on the cross on their behalf and has made a commitment to live for Christ, baptism is a way to publicly declare that faith. Baptism also follows the example of Jesus who was baptized before beginning his public ministry.
Matthew 3:13-17, 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21