What We Believe
When We Meet
Where We Meet
How We Serve
Photo Album
Resources
Events
Prayer
Links
Home
The Bible
God
Salvation
Jesus Christ
The Christian Life
The Church
Faith and Practice
|
What We Believe: The sole basis for our belief is the Bible, which is uniquely God-inspired, without error, and the final authority in faith and living. As the Bible teaches, there is one God, eternally existing in three persons Father, Son and Holy Spirit each possessing all the attributes of deity. The sole basis of our belief is the Bible, composed of the 66 books of the Old and New Testament. We believe that Scripture in its entirety originated with God and that it was given through the instrumentality of chosen men. Thus, Scripture simultaneously speaks with the authority of God and reflects the backgrounds, styles and vocabularies of the human authors. We hold that the Scriptures are infallible and inerrant in the original manuscripts. They are the unique, full and final authority on all matters of faith and practice, and there are no other writings similarly inspired by God. (2 Timothy 3:16,17; Isaiah 8:20; and I Thess. 5:21) God We believe that there is one true, holy God, eternally existing in three persons-Father, Son and Holy Spirit-each of Whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality. In the beginning, God created out of nothing the world and all the things therein, thus manifesting the glory of His power, wisdom and goodness. By His sovereign power, He is operating throughout history to fulfill His redemptive purposes. (John 4:24; Psalms 83:18, Ex. 15:11; Mark 12:30; Matt. 28:19; John 10:30; Eph. 2:18) Salvation The central purpose of God's revelation in Scripture is to call all people into fellowship with Himself. Originally created to have fellowship with God, man defied God, chose to go his independent way. Thus, he was alienated from God and suffered the corruption of his nature, rendering him unable to please God. The fall of man took place at the beginning of human history, and all individuals since have suffered these consequences and are in need of the saving grace of God. The salvation of mankind is, then, wholly a work of God's free grace. It is not the result, in whole or in part, of human works or goodness, and it must be personally appropriated by repentance and faith. When God has begun a saving work in the heart of any person, He gives assurance in His Word that He will continue performing it until the day of Christ's return. (Eph. 2:8; John 3:16; Phil. 2:16,17; Heb. 2:18; 7:25; Col. 2:9; Isaiah 53:4,5) Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the eternal second Person of the Trinity who was united with a true human nature by a miraculous conception and virgin birth. He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father and voluntarily atoned for the sins of all mankind by dying on the cross as their substitute. He, thereby, satisfied divine justice and accomplished salvation for all that trust in Him alone. He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died. He ascended into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of the Father, where He, the only Mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own. He shall come again to earth, personally and visibly, to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. (John 1:1,2; Heb. 4:15; Lk. 1:30-35; Jn. 17:4; 1 Cor. 15:17; 1 Jn. 2:2) The Christian Life (The Holy Spirit) The essential accompaniment of a genuine saving relationship with Jesus Christ is a life of holiness and obedience, attained by believers as they submit to the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity. He was sent into the world by the Father and the Son to apply to mankind the saving work of Christ. He enlightens the minds and hearts of sinners, awakens in them recognition of their need of a Savior and regenerates them. At the point of salvation, He permanently indwells every believer to become the source of assurance, strength and wisdom, and He uniquely endows each believer with gifts for the upbuilding of the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit guides believers in understanding and applying the Scripture. His power and control are appropriated by faith, making it possible for the believer to lead a life of Christ-like character and to bear fruit to the glory of God. (Matt. 12:28; Titus 3:5; Rom. 15:1; 2 Tess. 2:6,7; Jn. 14:16-17; 16:7-11; Eph. 1:13-14; Acts 6:3; 13:2-4) The Church Union with Jesus Christ is that all believers become members of His body, the church. There is one true church universal, comprised of all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The Scripture commands believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, observance of baptism and the Lord's Supper (communion), fellow-ship, service to the body through the development and use of talents and gifts, and outreach to the world. Whenever God's people meet regularly in obedience to this command, there is the local expression of the church. Under the watch-care of elders (Pastors) and other supportive leadership, its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the one ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ. (Eph. 1:22-23; 1 Cor. 1;2; 16:19; 1 Tim. 3; 6:3-5; 1 Cor. 11:23-29; Rom. 13:1-7) Faith and Practice Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. This church recognizes that it cannot bind the conscience of individual members in areas where Scripture is silent. Rather, each believer is to be led in those areas by the Lord, to whom he or she alone is ultimately responsible. |
2100 Petaluma Hill Rd.