What we believe…
TRIUNE GOD.
God is one God in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
(Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 18:30-31, 147:5; Matthew 28:19; Mark 12:29; Luke 3:22; John 4:24, 5:23, 10:30, 14:9; Acts 5:3-4; II Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:1-3)
SCRIPTURE.
The writings in the Old Testament and New Testament are the inspired Word of God.
(Matthew 5:18; John 17:17; II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
SIN.
While human beings were intended to bear the image of God, all humans are sinners for whom that image is distorted. Sin estranges us from God and corrupts human nature such that we cannot heal or save ourselves. (Genesis 1:26-28, 2:7, 18-24, 3:1-24, 9:6; Matthew 19:4; Mark 7:21-23; John 8:42-44; Romans 1:18, 3:10, 23, 5:1; Ephesians 2:1-3)
SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
God’s redeeming love is active to save sinners through Jesus’ incarnate life and teachings, through his atoning death, his resurrection, his sovereign presence through history, and his promised return.
(John 1:11-13, 3:16, 5:24, 10:28-30, 14:6; Acts 16:31; Romans 3:23-26, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 7:24-25; I Peter 1:18-19, I John 5:11-13)
SANCTIFICATION.
The grace of sanctification draws one toward the gift of Christian perfection, which John Wesley described as a heart “habitually filled with the love of God and neighbor” and as “having the mind of Christ and walking as he walked.”
(John 3:5, 14:16-17, 26, 15:26-27, 16:7-15; Acts 1:8, 5:3-4; Romans 8:9, 14; I Corinthians 2:10-11, 6:11, 19, 12:4-13; II Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:16-18, 22-23; Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30, 5:18-21)
SACRAMENTS.
We recognize two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion. In Baptism, the Church believes that Baptism is not only a sign of profession but it is a mark of difference whereby Christians are distinguished from others that are not baptized. We do not hold to transubstantiation or consubstantiation. The church believes that the bread is a symbol of His body crucified on the cross and the cup is a symbol of His blood shed for humanity. The church holds that the celebration of the Lord’s Table is an anamnesis of Jesus’ death, yet with the very presence of God, and practices open communion.
(Matthew 28:16-20; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:41, 10:47-48; I Corinthians 11:23-29)
FREE WILL.
We believe that people, while corrupted by sin, are free to make their own choices because of God’s divine grace enabling them, and that people are truly accountable before God for their choices.
(John 1:11-13, 3:16, 5:24, 10:28-30, 14:6; Acts 16:31; Romans 3:23-26, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 7:24-25; I Peter 1:18-19, I John 5:11-13)
GRACE.
We believe that God gives unmerited favor freely to all people, though it may be resisted.
(Isaiah 53:5-6; Luke 24:36-43; John 1:18, 3:16, 20:25-28; Acts 1:6-11; Romans 3:21-26; I Corinthians 15:3-8, 20-23; Galatians 3:13; Colossians 1:13-14; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; I Peter 1:18-19, 2:24; I John 2:1-2; Revelation 20:6)