God always has been and always will be. He created life and sustains life. He has no equal. He exists in three distinct and equal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. This reality is often referred to as the Trinity. We believe in One God, co-equal, eternal and creator of all. He is an unchanging Father who passionately desires a relationship with all people. Jesus Christ has always been and yet lived on earth during the first century A.D. Throughout His earthly life, he was completely God and completely human. After living a perfect, sinless life, Jesus offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for every human being who has ever lived by dying on a cross. He remained in the grave for three days and then defeated sin and death by rising from the tomb. He then ascended to Heaven and will return to earth one day to reign as King. The Holy Spirit is an equal part of the Trinity. He works in the world to make all people understand their need for Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer upon his or her faith in Jesus Christ. The Spirit gives us the strength to live a life that pleases God.

 

The Bible reveals to us God’s character, His plans, and His purpose for our lives. Each book was written by ordinary men who wrote under the direction of the Holy Spirit. More than a “how to” book, the Bible is a love letter that can be completely trusted. It is the source of final authority in our lives. All statements of belief, including this one, are secondary to, and should be examined in light of, Scripture. We believe the Bible is the complete written word of God and is without error. The Holy Scriptures reveal God’s nature and purpose and has the power to lead us to an eternal relationship with our Creator. The appropriate lens through which we understand scripture is the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Scripture cannot be interpreted independently of either Jesus Christ or the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

 

Humans have been made in the image of God to have fellowship with Him, but became alienated in that relationship through sinful disobedience. As a result, humanity is incapable of regaining a right relationship with God through our own efforts. Apart from Jesus, all humanity is spiritually dead. Salvation is out of our own reach. Our disobedient nature has eternally separated us from our Creator. No matter how hard we try, we can never earn our way back into God’s presence. Our only hope is to trust Jesus as God’s solution for our disobedience. We believe that the blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, provides the sole basis for the forgiveness of sin.  Therefore, salvation occurs when people place their faith in the death and resurrection of Christ as sufficient payment for their sin.

 

The most comprehensive confession of faith in which most University Avenue members would find agreement is the 1963 Baptist Faith & Message.