What We Believe

River Church affirms the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message as our basic statement of faith. (see http://www.sbc.net/bfm/bfm2000.asp)

Our beliefs include the following:

The Bible

River Church believes the Bible is the inerrant word of God given through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in order that we might come to faith in Christ and live in a manner that pleases and glorifies Him.

We take the Bible seriously by teaching it as accurately and clearly as we are able, with the ultimate purpose of practicing it in our daily lives and relationships. Thus, our teaching seeks to stress both the explanation of the scriptures and the application of the truths we study.

God

There is one God—spiritual, eternal, sovereign, infinitely wise, holy and loving. He is the source of love, life, joy, wisdom and wellbeing. He also is worthy of all worship, all devotion, and is to be sought and loved with all of our heart, mind and physical strength.

We believe the Bible describes God as triune (Trinity), existing as Father, Son and Holy Spirit without division of essence, nature or being.

Man

Man was created by God and in the image of God so that both might enjoy delight in one another. Man, however, sinned against God, and falls short of the glory endowed to him. Only by the grace of God is man able to return to fellowship with God and fulfill his original purpose.

We believe that all races and ethnic groups possess dignity, worthy of respect and love.

Salvation

We believe the death of Christ is the sufficient atonement for the sins of the world and is available to all who confess Him to be Lord and believe Him to be raised from the dead.

We affirm that there is no other way to be saved from sin but through Jesus Christ.

The Church

The church is a unique and wonderful body of people who are introduced into it by faith in Christ, baptized as a testimony of their faith.

The church disciples its members through the teaching of the Bible, through the ministry of spiritual gifts by the members to others in the church, and by the shared sacrificial love of the members.

The mission of the church includes witnessing to the resurrection of Christ, ministry to the brokenness of the community they reside in, and spreading the message of Christ to the nations of the world.

Last Things and Eternity

We believe that Jesus Christ will bodily and gloriously return to set up His kingdom on earth.

We believe that mankind will be judged for their sin. Those who have not accepted Christ’s forgiveness will be assigned to eternal punishment in hell. Those who have accepted Christ’s atonement for sin will be welcomed into eternal fellowship with God in a new heaven and earth.

Stewardship

We believe that God gives us all things to enjoy and to use to bring Him glory. Thus, we owe all to Him and we are stewards of all we have been entrusted with.

We believe that generosity is a basic way of honoring Christ and loving others. In fact, it is more blessed to give than to receive. We contribute joyfully, generously and regularly to the body of Christ and His work in the world.

Marriage and the Family

We believe that God created mankind, male and female, and intended marriage to be a covenant relationship between one man and one woman till death separates them.

We believe children are a gift from God and are persons from the moment of conception until death. A family may include adopted as well as naturally born children. Children are to honor their parents.

Parents are responsible to protect, provide for and train up children in the way of Christ so that they might continue to follow Him throughout their adult lives.

Calling and Work

We believe that man was created to care for the creation of God and to use God-given talent to cultivate a beautiful, productive earth. All honorable work, we believe, is worthy of heartfelt engagement by the one doing it. God is glorified by it, others are enriched by it, and the one doing the work is satisfied and rewarded by it.