WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?
At our church, you will hear the word “gospel” repeatedly because it is the most important truth that we can know and experience. The gospel is not merely a message that needs to be shared with non-Christians, but also with Christians. It is not something that mature Christians move on from, but rather something that they move deeper into. The gospel is the lens in which we should view theology, ministry, and all aspects of life.
The Apostle Paul defined the word “gospel” concisely in 1st Corinthians 15:3-5 when he wrote, “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.” Simply put, the gospel is all about Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, and the implications it has for us.
The word “gospel” literally means “good news.” It is the good news of God taking on flesh through the person Jesus Christ and rescuing mankind by His perfect life that we could never live, His substitutionary death that we deserved, and the resurrection that now gives us true life through His Spirit. While the gospel can be stated in a sentence, it is also the grand narrative that is told throughout the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation. The gospel is the glorious story of how God is reconciling the whole world back to Himself through the life, death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. It is personal, yet cosmic. It is simple, yet infinite.
THE BIBLE
We believe the Bible, the Old Testament and New Testament, to be the inspired, infallible and authoritative Word of God.
2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21, Psalm 119:89
THE TRINITY
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Deuteronomy 6:4, John 10:30, 2 Corinthians 3:17
THE WORK OF JESUS CHRIST
We believe in the Deity and humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ, that He was born of a virgin, led a sinless life, performed miracles, died on our behalf reconciling us by His shed blood, was bodily resurrected, ascended into Heaven, and will personally return in power and glory.
John 1:14, Colossians 2:9, Isaiah 7:14, 1 John 3:5, Acts 2:22, Romans 5:9-10, Acts 2:24, Acts 1:9-11, 1 Thessalonians 4:16
SALVATION
We believe that as sinners we are saved by the grace of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and that this salvation is eternally secure.
Ephesians 2:8, Romans 3:22-24, Romans 10:9-10, 1 John 5:13, John 3:36, John 10:27-29
HOLY SPIRIT
We believe the Holy Spirit indwells believers and enables them to live godly lives.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22, John 14:16-17, Joel 2:28
RESPONSE AND ETERNAL DESTINY
We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost: the saved to enjoy eternal life with God in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, the lost to suffer eternal damnation.
John 3:16, 1 Corinthians 15:20-22, Revelation 20:11-15
SPIRITUAL UNITY
We believe in the spiritual unity of those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. This unity transcends all worldly differences.
Ephesians 4:3-6, Galatians 3:27-28
THE CHURCH
We believe the Church is the body of believers of the Lord Jesus Christ, with Christ as the head. This body pledges to God and one another to live according to the example of Jesus Christ and His teachings. This local body is fully equipped by God to fulfill His good purpose. It is governed by its members under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-16, 1 John 2:6, Matthew 18:19-20
BAPTISM
We believe in the Biblical practice of baptism as an identification of the confessed believer into the Lord Jesus Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
Romans 6:1-6, Matthew 28:19-20
LORD'S SUPPER
We believe the Lord's Supper, observed through the symbols of the bread and the cup, is a thankful remembrance of Jesus Christ and His sacrificial death on the cross, a blessed assurance of His return, and a joyous fellowship with the living Christ and His people.
I Corinthians 10:16-17, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Luke 22:14-20