Who is Jesus? What is a Christian? In today's world these questions can evoke a spectrum of responses depending on who you ask - but we're glad you're asking. The answers are important, and while many more qualified theologians have written extensively on these topics, we hope to give you a starting point while you’re here by addressing some of the most important questions below.
Our answers are informed by our Statement of Faith, which is based in scripture. You can find that and more at the bottom of this page.
Jesus is the only son of God. He has always existed with God as part of God, and all things were created by him. Because of God's great love for us and our need for a savior, Jesus was born of a virgin, fully God and fully man. He lived a sinless life, was crucified on a cross as the ultimate sacrifice for the sin of mankind, rose from the grave on the third day, and later ascended to heaven. Some day he will return. While Jesus was on the earth, he fulfilled over 300 prophecies that were written hundreds of years before his birth. The truth of these claims were verified by eyewitnesses who were persecuted and killed because they refused to deny their testimony of Jesus Christ.
(John 1, Luke 1, 4:14, Philippians 2, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 9:14, Romans 8:34, Isaiah 11)
Because YOU matter. You are not an accident. In perfect love, God created us with the freedom to choose him or refuse him. Anything less would not be love. Love also requires justice. It is not loving toward a victim for there to be no consequence for the wrong done against them, and we are all guilty of sinning against God and others. God satisfies both the freedom of love and the justice of love by giving us the choice to accept his offer of forgiveness through his Son or to refuse it. Jesus paid the penalty of our sin with his life so we wouldn't have to. He made a way for everyone, regardless of what they have done or where they come from, to have their sin “washed” away with his blood. We just have to believe it and accept Him as our savior and Lord. (Psalm 139:13-16, Romans 3:23-25)
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
To reject Jesus means we do not want a relationship with Jesus or with Father God. God will not force himself or an eternity with him on anyone. It means that we would rather accept the punishment of our sin than to submit our will and lives to his authority. To reject Jesus is to choose an eternal separation from God and all that comes from God like love, peace, hope, joy, and “every good and perfect gift”. God sets the standard and definitions for right and wrong, and the cost for sin is death and separation from him. The question is, who will pay for your sin? (James 1:17, Romans 6:23)
To accept Jesus is to believe he is who he says he is, to recognize his authority over your life, to acknowledge your need for him and ask for his forgiveness.
“Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, and you will be saved.” Romans 10:9-10.
Lord and Savior. When through faith we accept Jesus as our Lord, or the authority in our lives that we submit to, he also becomes our Savior. He makes us come alive spiritually, rescuing us from the judgment of our sin. His sacrifice was more than enough to atone, or pay for, the sin of the whole world, but it only covers our sins when we confess our need and accept him as our Lord. We not only receive forgiveness of our sins, our spirits receive new life - immortality as adopted children of God and co-heirs with Christ. We are given the Holy Spirit to live inside us to teach, guide, comfort, and empower us to do the will of God. So rather than receiving the punishment our sins deserve (mercy), we are given the joy we don't deserve (grace) - an eternity in a relationship of love and joy with our Creator where there is no more sickness, pain, sadness, or death. As the only son of God, Jesus is the only one qualified to provide forgiveness of sins and the only way to eternal life, but his offer is for everyone, without exception, who believes in Him as Lord and Savior.
“For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” Romans 10:13
The Bible is the uniquely inspired, written Word of God to mankind. It contains history, law, poetry, prophecy, and a variety of literary styles that together paint a picture of who God is, who we are, why and how we were created, the righteous justice of God, our need for God, his incredible love for us, his redemption plan through his son, Jesus, how to live with God, and our hope for the future. There are 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament; the delineating feature being the incarnation of his son, Jesus Christ, to earth. The books of the Bible were written by 40 different authors as God led them over a period of about 1500 years with gaps of time between writings of up to hundreds of years. Even so, there is remarkable consistency throughout the entirety of the Bible, which is evidence in itself of its divine origin. Furthermore, God has preserved these holy scriptures through time. They have been shared and tested through millennia and continue to demonstrate their authenticity as divinely inspired. While there are many ancient writings of various kinds, only the books found within the Bible are considered God-breathed, inspired, and the final and ultimate authority for truth, faith and life.
2 Peter 1:21 says, "For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."
2 Timothy 3:16 says, "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."
Christian literally means "little Christ" or those that imitate Christ Jesus. Christians are intended to re-present who Jesus is to the world through yielding to the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Unfortunately, it is impossible to do this perfectly because all believers are, in varying degrees, still becoming more like Jesus. Many claim the name of Christian without really knowing Christ or much about him. Some with good intentions lack the knowledge and conviction to live for Him or represent His name well. Still others are Christians in name only and do not even attempt to know or represent Him. Whatever the case, even the lives of Christians who really do know and love God still demonstrate our need for him.
Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Yet there is grace for those who call on the name of Jesus with a sincere heart.
(see Romans 10:13) (Hebrews 10:14, Philippians 3:12-14)
We understand the word Christian to mean those that have recognized their own sin and separation from God and their need for forgiveness, who have repented of their sin, who believe Jesus is who he says he is, and who gave their lives to Jesus, recognizing him as their "Lord", meaning surrendering their lives to his authority. This transfer is depicted by the idea of dying to self and becoming a new creation in Christ Jesus. He makes us alive spiritually. This creates an inner desire to know and be like Christ, and his promise of eternal life with him in paradise is sealed by God through the gift of the Holy Spirit, who confirms His promises in our hearts and helps us in our weakness. (Ephesians 2:1-10, 2 Corinthians 5:17)
It is our desire to do our best to represent Jesus well, but necessary to point people to Jesus himself and His Word (the Bible) to get to know him. Judging Jesus on the basis of imperfect followers will lead to a misunderstanding of who he really is!
He not only forgives our sins, adopts us into God’s family, makes us a new creation, and secures an eternity in Heaven with him, he also gives us his Holy Spirit to help us begin our new life with him now. The Holy Spirit is how God can be with us, in all places, at all times, and for all people who accept him. If we continue to submit to him, the Holy Spirit desires to teach us, comfort us, lead us, provide for us, empower us, and transform our minds to be more like him.
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches…” John 15:4-5 ESV
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 ESV
Read scripture in a variety of translations and compare them, search by topic or key words, take notes, highlight, and follow a plan.
Compare texts in many translations, examine the text in its original languages, read commentaries of storied theologians.
Cover the foundations of the faith through this book for both new and seasoned believers, and establish spiritual roots, endurance and personal growth.
Our statement of faith covers the most foundational aspects of our faith in Christ. These are great statements to start asking questions about to learn more.
Our Statement of Faith presents the foundational principles that anchor our lives and work and inform our decisions. It is here you will find our Why and our How. Our belief in Christ and love for him drives us to seek to know him and follow his ways. He in turn empowers us with this Holy Spirit to carry out the work he calls us to. For us, our beliefs are a mindset and a way of life. In Christ, we have a relationship, a partnership, and a greater purpose. This is who we are and we invite you to join us in following Jesus.
We acknowledge and respect there are topics and interpretations on which not all believers agree, but we invite you to come together on the foundational principles that unite us in our love for God, his son Jesus, and his creation.
There is only one God. He is Holy and the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has and does exist eternally as three, co-equal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is God's Son. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, fully God and fully man, lived a perfect and sinless life, was crucified on a cross, rose from the grave after three days, and later ascended to heaven where he now sits at the right hand of God the Father. Jesus died to pay the penalty for the sin of mankind. Some day he will return to rule and reign in righteousness.
The Holy Spirit is the third person in the Trinity of God along with God the Father and God the son, Jesus Christ. He is given to believers in Jesus as a seal of the promises of God. Believers need to be baptized with water and be filled and baptized with the Holy Spirit to be enabled to operate in the Holy Spirit’s power for life and godliness. The Holy Spirit gives gifts as he pleases for the equipping and edification of the Church and for the advancement of the Gospel.
The Biblical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments in their original writing are fully inspired by God and are the words of God, and God is able to preserve them through time. They are the full and final authority for faith and life. They are supreme over every tradition of mankind.
God created man as male and female in His image for relationship with Him and to have dominion together over creation. God created the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman as a demonstration of the relationship he desires with mankind. Man sinned and thereby justly incurred the penalty of physical and spiritual death. All mankind inherits a sinful nature which results in transgression, guilt, and separation from Holy God.
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and the wages of sin is death. Forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life are available to everyone who trusts Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Jesus is the only way to redemption and relationship with God. Those desiring salvation need only to believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died and was raised, to repent of their sin, and to confess Jesus as their Lord. The first act of obedience demonstrating Christ’s lordship is for the believer to be baptized into Him. All who repent of their sin and receive Jesus Christ as Lord by faith are born again of the Holy Spirit, made alive spiritually, and become children of God and co-heirs with Christ.
The Church is the collective of believers that make up the body of Christ on earth until his return. There is both great power in and a great need for the church to be unified and regularly meet together for fellowship, teaching, worship, and prayer. As believers individually yield to and follow God, he equips them and leads them so they can achieve His purposes for their lives.
