OUR APOSTOLIC FAITH
Our beliefs. A foundation for life.
Explore the convictions that shape our worship and life together, with Scripture as our starting point.
Choose a belief to explore its explanation and Scripture passages.
Scripture selections: King James Version (KJV). Ellipses (…) mark omitted words or verses. Open a reference to read the full passage.
01 / OUR BELIEFS
The Bible
We receive the Bible as God’s inspired, infallible Word.
Explore this beliefShow less
Why we believe this
We begin with Scripture when we ask what to believe and how to live.
02 / OUR BELIEFS
One God. Manifested in Jesus.
We believe in one God, manifested as Father, in the Son and as the Holy Spirit. Jesus is fully God and fully human.
Explore this beliefShow less
Why we believe this
The oneness of God and the fullness of God in Jesus anchor our understanding of who Jesus is.
One God throughout Scripture
The God who called Israel to love Him with all their heart is the same God manifested in Jesus. Isaiah declares that there was no God before Him and there will be none after Him; He alone is Savior. Our faith rests on this one God, not on several gods.
The fullness of God in Jesus
John identifies the Word as God and declares that the Word became flesh. Jesus is the incarnation of the one God: fully God and fully human, come to redeem us from sin. When we speak of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we confess the one God manifested as Father, in the Son and as the Holy Spirit. The fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily in Jesus, and we are complete in Him.
03 / OUR BELIEFS
Baptism in Jesus’ name
We believe in water baptism by immersion in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, following repentance.
Explore this beliefShow less
Why we believe this
In Acts 2:38, Peter calls people to repent and be baptized in Jesus’ name. Acts 19:5 records disciples being baptized in the name of Jesus. We follow this apostolic teaching and example.
A response of faith and obedience
Water baptism follows repentance and expresses faith in Jesus. We teach it as part of the biblical response to the gospel and God’s promise of salvation, not merely an outward ceremony. In Acts 2:38, Peter commands baptism in Jesus’ name for the remission of sins. Mark 16:16 joins believing and being baptized in the promise of salvation.
Why baptism is by immersion
We baptize by fully immersing the person in water. The biblical accounts describe baptism in water, and Colossians 2:12 describes it as being buried and raised with Jesus through faith in the power of God. Baptism points to His burial and resurrection and to the new life He gives.
Why we baptize in Jesus’ name
We follow the teaching and practice of the apostles. Those who received Peter’s message were baptized; believers in Samaria and Ephesus were baptized in Jesus’ name. Even after Cornelius and his household received the Holy Spirit, Peter commanded water baptism. Acts 19 distinguishes John’s baptism of repentance from baptism in the name of Jesus. Our confidence is in Jesus, the Savior whose name we call upon.
Forgiveness through the risen Savior
The forgiveness promised in Acts 2:38 is God’s work. First Peter 3:21 explains that baptism is not the washing of dirt from the body, but the answer of a good conscience toward God through the resurrection of Jesus. We trust His saving power as we obey His Word. If you have questions about baptism or your next step, we welcome a conversation.
04 / OUR BELIEFS
Life in the Holy Spirit
We believe in receiving the Holy Spirit, with speaking in tongues as the initial sign.
Explore this beliefShow less
Why we believe this
The Pentecostal experience takes its name from the outpouring recorded in Acts 2.
Receiving the Holy Spirit
At Pentecost, believers were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. The accounts of Cornelius’s household and the disciples at Ephesus also connect receiving the Spirit with speaking in tongues. We believe speaking in tongues is the initial sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer and personal devotion
Life in the Spirit continues beyond that first experience. Paul describes praying with the spirit and praying with the understanding. Speaking to God in tongues in personal prayer builds up the believer; we also pray and sing with understanding as we grow in our relationship with Him.
Spiritual gifts that build up the church
The Spirit gives gifts for the good of the body of Jesus, including wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, discernment, prophecy, tongues and interpretation. Personal prayer in tongues and a message in tongues addressed to the congregation have different purposes. A public message requires interpretation so the church can understand and be edified. Paul directs speakers to take turns; without an interpreter, the speaker should keep silent in the church and speak to himself and to God.
05 / OUR BELIEFS
Grace and a new beginning
Salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. We respond with repentance, water baptism in Jesus’ name and receiving the Holy Spirit.
Explore this beliefShow less
Why we believe this
Acts 2:38 connects repentance, baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Grace that calls us to respond
We cannot earn salvation; it is God’s gift through Jesus. Our response of faith includes turning from sin, being baptized by immersion in Jesus’ name for the remission of sins and receiving the Holy Spirit. These belong together in the apostolic message of Acts 2:38. Our trust rests in Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection and in His power to give us a new beginning.
06 / OUR BELIEFS
Faith lived every day
We seek holiness within and without, loving God and our neighbors. We believe God still heals and gives spiritual gifts.
Explore this beliefShow less
Why we believe this
Faith becomes visible in our worship, relationships and care for others.
One body, many gifts and backgrounds
Following Jesus shapes how we treat people across cultures and languages. Every person is created in God’s image and deserves dignity and care. Jesus crossed cultural barriers in His conversations with the Samaritan woman and the Roman centurion. His call to make disciples of all nations leads us to welcome people beyond our own cultural circle.
Listening, learning and serving together
We seek to listen before speaking, recognize our own assumptions and learn from one another. Different backgrounds and gifts can strengthen one church united in Jesus. Our Spanish- and English-speaking church seeks to help people participate in worship, discipleship and community life. Please tell us about language questions or needs before your visit so we can help you prepare.
07 / OUR BELIEFS
Hope in Jesus’ return
We await Jesus’ return, the resurrection and final judgment: eternal life for the righteous and eternal death for the unrighteous.
Explore this beliefShow less
Why we believe this
Jesus’ promised return gives our lives lasting purpose and hope.
Keep exploring. Keep asking.
Have a question about our beliefs or the Bible passages shared here? We welcome a conversation about faith.
Spanish Scripture quotations: Reina-Valera 1960 ® © Sociedades Bíblicas en América Latina, 1960. Copyright renewed © Sociedades Bíblicas Unidas, 1988. Used by permission.