Statement of Faith

A Statement of Faith is our beliefs as a church. Our theology is not innovative. If you are familiar with historical Christian doctrine, you’ll find these statements are rooted in the Bible. There are many doctrinal issues on which people hold divergent views. Our core beliefs are centered in Christ and His message as supported by Scripture. More obscure doctrine or controversial issues about which the Bible is silent are left to individuals to sort out on their own. On these issues The River takes no official position.

We believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of all things visible and invisible.
We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the eternal Word, the one and only Savior.
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, both fully human and fully divine; Who lived a sinless life; Who suffered and was crucified as an atonement for sin; Who rose again bodily from the dead on the third day; Who ascended into Heaven; and Who will return in victory to rule forever.
We believe in the Holy Spirit.
Who convicts of sin; Who indwells every Christian; Who helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us in prayer; and Who empowers us to Live and Lead like Jesus.
God the Father: Genesis 1:1; Exodus 20:2-3; Isaiah 43:10-13; 1 Timothy 1:17; Matthew 6:9; Romans 1:7; 2 Corinthians 1:2-3
God the Son: John 1:1-4, 1:14-18; Colossians 1:15-20; Matthew 1:18-23; Matthew 3:16-17; John 3:16-17; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Corinthians 15:1-9; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 2:1-2; Acts 1:6-11
God the Holy Spirit: John 14:16-17, 26, 16:7-8; Romans 8:1-39; 1 Corinthians 2:10-13; Galatians 5:16-25
We believe God inspired the original writings of the Scripture and those original writings were consequently without error.
We believe that the Bible is the final authority for all matters of faith, truth, morality, and Christian living.
We believe the Bible teaches that God is the Creator and Sustainer of human life; that God creates each person in His image; and that life is therefore sacred, from conception to natural death. We believe that God creates each person as male or female; that these two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the "image of God" in humankind; and that each person's biological gender is an intrinsic, immutable aspect of his or her nature and identity.
We believe the Bible teaches that God established marriage in the beginning as a lifelong, exclusive relationship between one man and one woman; that He has reserved sexual intimacy as an expression of love and commitment between married couples; and that any intimate expression of sexuality outside of Biblical marriage is sin.
The Word of God: 2 Timothy 3:14-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 2:14; 2 Timothy 4:1-5
Life and Marriage: Genesis 1:26-27, 2:18, 2:21-25; Psalm 139:13-16; Matthew 19:1-9; 1 Corinthians 7:1-5; Ephesians 5:21-32; Hebrews 13:4
That man, created by God, willfully sinned against God and is consequently lost and without hope apart from Jesus Christ.
That salvation—the forgiveness of sins—is only by grace through the blood of Jesus Christ.
That one receives salvation by putting faith in Christ, repenting of sin, confessing Christ, and being baptized by immersion.
That those who have received salvation through faith in Jesus Christ become disciples who are then sent into the world to proclaim the Gospel and to love and serve the world just as Jesus Himself did.
Sin and grace: Romans 1:18-32, 3:10-26; Ephesians 1:3-10, 2:1-10; Titus 3:3-8
Receiving salvation: John 3:16-18; Romans 3:22-26; Acts 2:36-41; Acts 3:17-20; 2 Peter 3:9; Matthew 16:13-17; Romans 10:8-13; Acts 16:25-33; Acts 8:34-36; Acts 22:11-16; Colossians 2:11-14; Romans 6:1-11; Galatians 3:24-29; 1 Peter 3:18-21
Being sent: Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:7-8; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Matthew 5:13-16
We believe in the Church of Jesus Christ, founded on the Day of Pentecost, consisting of all Christians everywhere, and organized into local gatherings, called churches.
We believe the Bible teaches that every Christian should be an active participant of a local church.
We believe that the Elders of the church are the overseers of its affairs and the shepherds of the local church. They are the final interpretive authority of the Bible's meaning and application for the local church; and that they are responsible for the oversight, instruction, edification, discipline, and restoration of church participants.
We believe that the Bible instructs church participants to:
Meet together regularly for fellowship, worship, teaching, and the Lord's Supper. Use our natural abilities and spiritual gifts to serve one another.
Love one another, bear with one another, accept one another, and forgive one another.
Seek unity, agreement, and peace with one another.
Encourage and build up one another.
Bear one another's burdens and pray for one another.
Spur one another to love and good deeds.
Submit to the authority of the elders of the church.
Consistently and generously give financial support to the church.
Pursue personal holiness and obedience to God's Word.
Strive together to fulfill the Great Commission.
The Church and Elders: Acts 2:41-47; Acts 11:25-26; Acts 14:21-27; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-7; Ephesians 4:11-16
Church participants: Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 12:1-27; 1 Peter 4:10-11; Ephesians 4:1-6; Romans 12:10, 12:16, 13:8, 15:7; Ephesians 4:2, 4:32; Colossians 3:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:18, 5:11; Hebrews 10:24; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 4:7; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 2:13; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15, 9:6-15; Acts 2:43-47, 4:32-37; 1 Peter 1:13-25; John 14:15-17, 14:23-27; Matthew 28:18-20