Our Faith
Not a denomination's fine print. Just the foundations of the Christian faith, stated plainly and honestly.
What follows are our Articles of Faith — the core convictions that historic Christianity has held in common across centuries, traditions, and denominations. These aren't distinctives of any one group. They're the foundations of the faith itself.
We hold these things not because a denomination told us to, but because we believe them to be true. Our identity is rooted in Jesus and the gospel, not in a label or a tradition.
What unites us here is not complete agreement on every theological question. What unites us is Jesus Christ and the gospel. Everything else is held with grace, humility, and a commitment to unity over uniformity.
Articles of Faith
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inerrant, inspired, and infallible Word of God. The Bible is our final authority for faith and life — not tradition, not culture, not personal preference.
We believe there is one God, who has revealed Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. One God, three distinct persons — each fully God, in perfect unity. This is the doctrine of the Trinity, one of the most foundational beliefs of the Christian faith.
We believe humanity was created in the image of God, and that Adam's sin created an eternal divide between God and man. Every person is born with a sin nature — a bent toward self and away from God. You can't understand the gospel without understanding this first.
We believe the only way to a forgiven relationship with God is through Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross. Jesus is not one path among many. He lived the perfect life we could never live and died the death we deserved to die.
We believe Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary and conceived by the Holy Spirit. This is not mythology. It is history. And it matters because it tells us Jesus is not merely a great man — He is God come in the flesh.
We believe Jesus became man without ceasing to be God. Fully human, fully divine — not a mixture of the two, but both at the same time. This is one of the most profound mysteries of the Christian faith, and we hold it without apology.
We believe in the literal, physical resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The resurrection is not a metaphor. It happened. And everything depends on it. As Paul wrote, if Christ has not been raised, our faith is worthless. But He has been raised.
We believe in the literal, physical return of Jesus to judge the living and the dead. History is going somewhere. Justice will ultimately be done. What we do in this life matters eternally. Jesus is coming back.
We believe God offers eternal life as a free gift, received by faith alone through grace alone. Salvation is not earned. It cannot be. Once received, it is permanent. And genuine faith will always show itself over time in a changed life.
We believe the church of Jesus Christ is a local body of believers on mission to enlarge God's kingdom. The local church is autonomous, self-governing under the lordship of Christ. No denomination or outside organization holds authority over us.
We believe the Lord's Supper and believer's baptism are the two ordinances of the church. Neither saves — both proclaim. Baptism is the public declaration of faith. The Lord's Supper is a regular remembrance of what Christ did and a proclamation of His return.
We are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, not because denominational identity is central to who we are — it isn't — but because the SBC provides access to some of the most effective missions organizations in the world.
We employ a Great Commission Giving strategy, directing our missions funds directly to SBC missions agencies rather than through the Cooperative Program. Our goal is never to make Southern Baptists. Our goal is to make disciples and reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
"We are not a group of Southern Baptist Christians who happen to meet in Pleasant View. We are a local community of Christians who choose to associate with a denomination for the purpose of missions."
We're happy to talk. Reach out and let's have a real conversation.