Our Basic Beliefs.
The Bible
We believe that the Bible is the primary form of communication from God (on "God," see below). There are many ancient books in existence today, but since Moses first began writing his part of it thousands of years ago, multitudes of people have discovered divine power at work through the words of the Bible. In particular, we believe that God has caused the sixty-six books of the Bible to be preserved over the ages. This is so that what God has revealed to Jesus and his chosen messengers (Apostles) could be available for the remainder of history.
Therefore, the Bible is uniquely authoritative for everything having to do with religion and faithful living. Really, we hold it to be instructive for all of life. Many of our gatherings are to hear God's messages written in the Bible.
Therefore, the Bible is uniquely authoritative for everything having to do with religion and faithful living. Really, we hold it to be instructive for all of life. Many of our gatherings are to hear God's messages written in the Bible.
Jesus of Nazareth
One of the main messages of the Bible is that God's plan to bless all of humankind centers on Jesus of Nazareth. Before Jesus was born, the Jewish nation was looking for great, royal leader to save them from oppression by their enemies, the Romans. Their sacred writings (the Old Testament, or Hebrew Bible) had much to say about God's promise to restore their greatness as a nation, and to bless all the nations on earth through them. They knew that the Anointed One (God's chosen one to save them, also known as "Christ," or Messiah) would be like Moses in some ways, and like King David in many other ways. They knew that the Savior would have to suffer in order to accomplish his mission. They also knew that God would make him successful. When God fulfilled all of these promises in the life of Jesus of Nazareth, God far surpassed their expectations.
The writings of Jesus' apostles (and those who heard their message) contained in the New Testament of the Bible tell us that Jesus of Nazareth is truly the Savior, the Messiah, hoped for by the Jewish people for so many centuries. He was like Moses, because his teachings are the words of God that we are to pay close attention to. He was like King David, because God put him in charge of everything (really, the whole world!). Also, like David, Jesus lived far more godly than most. In fact, in Jesus' case, he never did anything immoral at all!
Most of all, the Jewish people hoped for God to someday raise the dead back to life in order to enjoy the promised blessing of living in God's presence forever. When Jesus came teaching and doing many miracles, many people hoped that he would be the one to begin that special time of blessing, and their loved ones would be raised to join them in the kingdom of God. But then Jesus' enemies succeeded in having Jesus crucified to death by the Romans. It seemed as though their hopes were misplaced--that perhaps Jesus was not The One after all. But, then, on the third day after his death, Jesus' apostles met him alive again. Over the next forty days Jesus continued to meet with them and teach them how to better understand what was going on. Soon, they watched him leave the realm in which we live, though he is still alive today.
Because the life of Jesus of Nazareth is so full of signs of God's special choice of him to teach and to lead God's people, we are part of a long tradition of those who try to follow those teachings. In fact, we understand that in a very real sense we can still follow Jesus himself even today.
The writings of Jesus' apostles (and those who heard their message) contained in the New Testament of the Bible tell us that Jesus of Nazareth is truly the Savior, the Messiah, hoped for by the Jewish people for so many centuries. He was like Moses, because his teachings are the words of God that we are to pay close attention to. He was like King David, because God put him in charge of everything (really, the whole world!). Also, like David, Jesus lived far more godly than most. In fact, in Jesus' case, he never did anything immoral at all!
Most of all, the Jewish people hoped for God to someday raise the dead back to life in order to enjoy the promised blessing of living in God's presence forever. When Jesus came teaching and doing many miracles, many people hoped that he would be the one to begin that special time of blessing, and their loved ones would be raised to join them in the kingdom of God. But then Jesus' enemies succeeded in having Jesus crucified to death by the Romans. It seemed as though their hopes were misplaced--that perhaps Jesus was not The One after all. But, then, on the third day after his death, Jesus' apostles met him alive again. Over the next forty days Jesus continued to meet with them and teach them how to better understand what was going on. Soon, they watched him leave the realm in which we live, though he is still alive today.
Because the life of Jesus of Nazareth is so full of signs of God's special choice of him to teach and to lead God's people, we are part of a long tradition of those who try to follow those teachings. In fact, we understand that in a very real sense we can still follow Jesus himself even today.
God
We believe that there is one God, who alone is the Creator of everything that exists. God not only created all things, but all things--including ourselves--continue only because God sustains all existence.
In light of Jesus' teachings and certain events of his life (especially his resurrection from the dead) we believe that the one God is an interrelation of three "persons." (The persons of God are not like you are a person and I am a person, and we are thus two persons. God is not "three" persons like that. Yet, somehow, God has revealed through the history of God's actions that there are three who are the One God.) Jesus revealed himself to be "the Son." He is also known as "the Word," because whatever God has to say is given through the Son.
That there is a "Son" in God implies a father. Indeed, God includes "the Father" as well as the Son. Jesus confessed a number of times that he voluntarily submits himself to the will of the Father. That relationship is consistent with Jesus, the Son, speaking only what the Father gives him to say.
Finally, Jesus also taught that God includes "the Spirit." Unlike the Father and the Son, the Spirit is not experienced personally. However, it is only through the work of the Spirit of God that anyone can come to believe in the Father and in the Son. In other words, God is known through the Spirit of God, even though the Spirit does not reveal himself to us.
In light of Jesus' teachings and certain events of his life (especially his resurrection from the dead) we believe that the one God is an interrelation of three "persons." (The persons of God are not like you are a person and I am a person, and we are thus two persons. God is not "three" persons like that. Yet, somehow, God has revealed through the history of God's actions that there are three who are the One God.) Jesus revealed himself to be "the Son." He is also known as "the Word," because whatever God has to say is given through the Son.
That there is a "Son" in God implies a father. Indeed, God includes "the Father" as well as the Son. Jesus confessed a number of times that he voluntarily submits himself to the will of the Father. That relationship is consistent with Jesus, the Son, speaking only what the Father gives him to say.
Finally, Jesus also taught that God includes "the Spirit." Unlike the Father and the Son, the Spirit is not experienced personally. However, it is only through the work of the Spirit of God that anyone can come to believe in the Father and in the Son. In other words, God is known through the Spirit of God, even though the Spirit does not reveal himself to us.
History & Future
We believe, according to God's word in the Bible, that God has a definite plan for the history of this world. That plan began when God created the cosmos, and God plans for there to be an end someday to the entire universe. History in the sense of life as we know it in this world, in this universe, approaches its completion with every passing day. This life is passing away.
However, God's plan for us, for humankind, does not end with the end of history. In fact, we believe that the plan God is working out through the history of this world is precisely so that as many as possible can live with God forever in the new world God will make.
"As many as possible" means that not everyone will receive that eternal blessing of life with God. God's plan is to save everyone who will submit to the Lord Jesus in this world. Whoever will not, however, refuses God's gracious offer. They choose to remain God's enemy, and so they cannot look forward to eternal life with God. After history, their rebellion will cost them eternal suffering. (Don't let yourself be one of them! Contact us, and we'll talk more about how to be saved from this.)
However, God's plan for us, for humankind, does not end with the end of history. In fact, we believe that the plan God is working out through the history of this world is precisely so that as many as possible can live with God forever in the new world God will make.
"As many as possible" means that not everyone will receive that eternal blessing of life with God. God's plan is to save everyone who will submit to the Lord Jesus in this world. Whoever will not, however, refuses God's gracious offer. They choose to remain God's enemy, and so they cannot look forward to eternal life with God. After history, their rebellion will cost them eternal suffering. (Don't let yourself be one of them! Contact us, and we'll talk more about how to be saved from this.)
Simply "Christians"
We believe that Jesus is Lord, the Savior of all who will come to him and trust him for salvation. We believe that Jesus, by God's will, is the only savior that there is. Many make promises, but they cannot keep them.
Therefore, we are grateful to God to be counted among millions of people following the way of Jesus--his teachings, his example, and that of his apostles. We firmly believe that everything we need to know about how to be faithful to God in the name of Jesus is given in the Bible. So, we gather regularly to study the Bible in order to help one another live according to what God has said he wants from his people.
We want no other name than "Christians," because there is no other name than Jesus Christ by which to be identified as God's saved people. Maybe you would like to join us?
Therefore, we are grateful to God to be counted among millions of people following the way of Jesus--his teachings, his example, and that of his apostles. We firmly believe that everything we need to know about how to be faithful to God in the name of Jesus is given in the Bible. So, we gather regularly to study the Bible in order to help one another live according to what God has said he wants from his people.
We want no other name than "Christians," because there is no other name than Jesus Christ by which to be identified as God's saved people. Maybe you would like to join us?
Questions? Let's Talk!
We have tried to keep these things concise. So, we have not listed all of the Bible passages and historical details that support these beliefs. We would love to go deeper with you, if you are interested!
Use any of the resources we have made available on this web site to contact us. We will respond as soon as possible.
Use any of the resources we have made available on this web site to contact us. We will respond as soon as possible.