What We Believe
“In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love.”
About God
God is the loving creator and ruler of the universe. He created the world good and humanity in His image. He eternally exists in three persons: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These are co-equal and are one God.
About Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father, fully God, fully human. Jesus lived a sinless life and modeled for us the best way to live as people created in the image of God. He offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on the cross. He arose from the dead, demonstrating His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again to judge the world.
About the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make humanity aware of their need for salvation in Jesus Christ. He works in the church and in the lives of every Christian to provide the spiritual power and resources needed for ministry and holiness. He is a deposit, guaranteeing our salvation.
About the Bible
The Bible is God’s inspired word. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for beliefs and living of the Christian life and the life of the church.
About Humanity
God created human beings in His image to enjoy intimate relationship with Him and with one another, and to care for His creation as imitators of Him. He deserves all our worship and praise. But we sin against God, each other, and all he has made. Our sin separates us from relationship with God and the rest of creation. God’s gracious work of salvation is to repair all that was broken, to “reconcile to Himself all things” (Colossians 1:20).
About Grace
Grace is a loving, merciful gift shown without regard to the worth or merit of the one who receives it and in spite of what that person deserves. Grace is one of the key attributes of God who is “merciful and gracious, long-suffering and abounding in goodness and truth” (Exodus 34:6). The grace of God was supremely revealed and given in the person and work of Jesus Christ (John 1:14). By His death and resurrection, Jesus restored the broken fellowship between God and humanity. The only way of salvation for any person is “through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 15:11). It is the grace of God that motivates and sustains the new life to which God calls us and for which He recreates us (Eph 2:8-10).
About Faith
Faith is belief in God involving commitment to His will, and a willingness to put belief into action even in the face of uncertainty (Hebrews 11). Faith is more than mere intellectual agreement to a truth (James 2:19). Genuine Christian faith is a personal reliance on and commitment to Christ. Faith involves depending on the finished work of Christ’s sacrifice as the only basis for forgiveness of sins, transformed life, and eternal life. Faith is also a personal commitment of one’s life to obeying His commands. Our faith is enabled and sustained by the faithfulness of God.
About Baptism
Baptism is an obedient faith response to God’s gracious provision of Jesus Christ. Baptism is participation with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection so that we die to sin and are raised to new, transformed, eternal life in Christ (Romans 6). With baptism, we repent of sin and embrace the good news, that salvation is found in Christ alone. With baptism, God adopts us as his children, Christ cleanses us of our sin, and the Spirit claims us for new, eternal life in God’s name. With baptism, we join with God’s people, the church, in God’s mission to reconcile all creation.
About the Christian Life
The Christian life seeks through the grace of God and the power of the Spirit to live out the way of Jesus every day. We are a flawed, imperfect people, but God in his mercy is transforming us more and more into His image. Together as a church, we cling to the story of the cross of Christ. This is at the center of our life together as we allow the cross to shape what it means to be the people of God in sacrifice, service, and self-emptying love. We are a servant people who seek daily to announce the coming of God’s kingdom in Jesus Christ. Our life together is an exciting adventure. We invite you to journey through life with us. Come find life in the shadow of the cross. Come experience new life in the kingdom of God. Come receive the love of Christ through fellow travelers at Chenal Valley Church.