Epic beliefs (expanded)

In essential beliefs we have unity.
In nonessential beliefs we have liberty.
In all our beliefs we show love.

Our Essential Beliefs:

We believe in One God who rules the earth as Creator and King.
We believe God exists in 3 persons: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – known as the trinity.
We believe these three persons are distinct in function and role and yet comprise one God.
We believe that the trinity is the only character in the story of life that always does what is good, right and perfect.

We believe God the Father is the first person of the trinity relationship.
We believe God is a loving God who cares deeply for all humanity.
We believe God is a very active and personal God.
We believe out of His passionate love God desires for all of humanity to be restored to a right relationship with Himself.

We believe Jesus is the second person of the trinity.
We believe Jesus is God and wrapped Himself in human form while on the planet Earth.
We believe Jesus lived a sinless life while on the earth.
We believe Jesus’ mission on the earth was to restore all of humanity to a right relationship with God the Father and that He accomplished that through His death, burial and resurrection.
We believe Jesus rose from the dead and defeated the curse of sin and death over humanity.
We believe Jesus is the only way to be restored to God the Father.
We believe that one day Jesus will return and call all of His followers back to heaven to be with Him forever.

We believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the trinity relationship.
We believe the Holy Spirit is co-equal with God the Father and God the Son.
We believe the Holy Spirit is God’s active force in the world today – guiding us, teaching us, convicting us, empowering us, comforting us, and always pointing us towards the work of Jesus on the cross.
We believe that the Holy Spirit takes up residence within the hearts of every person who believes that Jesus is Lord and Savior.
We believe the Holy Spirit empowers Christ followers to live a God honoring life.

We believe the Bible is God’s love letter to us.
We believe the Bible is inspired by God and without error.
We believe the Bible is the supreme source of truth.
We believe the Bible is God’s instructions to show us the best possible way to live.

We believe humans were created by a loving God and were made in His image.
We believe humans are the supreme object of God’s affection out of all creation.
We believe God has given humans the task of caring for all of God’s creation.
We believe humans turned against God in disobedience in the Garden of Eden and that decision brought a curse of sin and death onto the world.
We believe that all humans have chosen to disobey God.
We believe the only hope for humans to be restored to a right relationship with God is through belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

We believe God wants every human to be restored to a right relationship with Himself.
We believe there is only one way to be restored to God and that is through belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
We believe salvation is God’s free gift and that all humans are given the opportunity to accept or reject that gift.
We believe those who accept God’s free gift of restoration will spend eternity with God.
We believe those who reject God’s free gift of restoration will spend an eternity apart from God.
We believe once someone has been restored to God through Jesus they are secure in that for all of eternity.

We believe God’s plan for restoring the world to Himself is to use local churches gathered together as the global Church worldwide.
We believe the churches mission is to help restore people to God by telling them about Jesus the Savior and Lord.
We believe the church is a group of imperfect people in an imperfect world serving a perfect God.

We believe in a real being that hates God and anyone who desires to follow Him.
We believe that Lucifer was created as God’s most beautiful angel.
We believe Lucifer turned against God and convinced 1/3 of heavens angels to join him in rebellion against God.
We believe Lucifer’s name was changed to Satan (meaning Adversary) and was kicked out of heaven along with his fallen angels (now called demons).
We believe that Satan and his demons are defeated foes and yet are still doing everything within their limited power to stop people from being restored to God and to keep Christ-followers / churches from being effective in restoring the world to God.

We believe in a literal heaven and hell.
We believe heaven was created for those who receive God’s free gift of salvation and are restored to God.
We believe heaven is a place of eternal peace and perfection and is beyond what the human mind can comprehend.
We believe heaven is a reward for believing in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
We believe that all who are restored to God through Jesus will spend an eternity with God in heaven – a place of perfection.
We believe hell was originally created for Satan and his demons and was not originally created for humans.
We believe that all who reject Jesus will spend an eternity apart from God in hell.