Our History

The Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible are God-breathed and useful for teaching, critiquing, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. The Bible is perfect in its ability to reveal God and his mission to humanity. We believe it is the final authority on all matters to which it speaks. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21)

Our God eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are equal in divine perfection and perform distinct but harmonious roles. (Matthew 28:19)

God the Father is an infinite, holy, personal deity. He is the creator of all things and the author of life itself. He is perfect in goodness, power, wisdom, justice, and love. He is personally concerned with the affairs of all humanity, hears and answers prayer, deserves perfect obedience, and by the work of Jesus, he saves people from sin and death (Acts 17:24-28)

Christ Jesus has precisely the same nature, attributes, and divinity as the Father and Holy Spirit. He is truly God and truly human, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. We believe that through his sinless life, his death on a cross, and his bodily resurrection, that he has achieved the possibility for all humans to find salvation from sin. This possibility is realized by entering into the family of God through faith in the lordship of Christ Jesus. We believe that Jesus is alive today, that he ascended into Heaven and sits beside the Father as High Priest to his people, and that he will physically return from Heaven in the last days to judge the living and the dead. (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-20)

The Holy Spirit has precisely the same nature, attributes, and divinity as the Father and Son. We believe the Holy Spirit is present among humanity today as helper, advocate, teacher, and intercessor. The Spirit fulfills its role by dwelling within the people of God, thus regenerating and transforming them into holy people. Through this work the Spirit progresses the mission of God by empowering God’s people to spread the Gospel of Jesus by the gifts given to them. (John 14:16-17, 26; 1 Corinthians 2:10-11)

The mission of God is ultimately concerned with saving humanity from sin. We believe sin is the greatest threat to life, bringing about suffering and death. We also believe that without intervention from God, there is no hope for ever ridding the world of sin. We believe that by the grace of God, he has decided to save humanity from sin. By faith in the lordship of Christ Jesus we are reconciled to God in relational unity. Being united with Jesus, the people of God are given power over the forces of sin, transformed into a sinless creation, and promised eternal life. By the power of God, we believe the whole world will be rescued from sin. By the grace of God, we believe the people of God can look forward to a time when they will live forever in God’s restored and perfect kingdom. (Ephesians 2:1-10; Colossians 1:21-23; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Revelation 21:1-4)

The people of the church make up the body of Christ. As such, we acknowledge that Christ Jesus, himself, is the ultimate authority over the church. Those who make up the church are united by their confession of faith in the lordship of Jesus. Local assemblies are made up of members who proclaim faith in Jesus, work to spread the gospel, and gather regularly for worship. As part of our proclamation and worship, 1st Street Church engages in two ordinances: believer’s baptism by immersion in water, and the Lord’s Supper. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

We believe all people are called to obedience to God. We do not believe the life we live can free us from sin, but we do believe that Jesus has freed his people from the power of sin. By proclaiming Jesus as lord, we recognize that his ways are better than our ways. Therefore, we believe all of God’s people ought to strive to live in obedience to God. Though we all fail to live in perfection every day, we entrust ourselves to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. As such we believe all Christians should work towards being good stewards of money, resources, and possessions. They ought to defend the flourishing of life, reject the perpetuation of abuse, and encourage proper sexual expression. All this is to be done in the interest of loving our neighbor as we love God—with love, selflessness, and generosity. We believe such conduct spreads the hope of the Gospel. (1 John 1:5 – 2:2)

The return of Jesus is eminent and will bring about the bodily resurrection of everyone who has experienced death. Upon resurrection, Jesus will judge all people. Out of an abundance of grace and generosity, he will grant eternal life in his perfect kingdom to those who have been made innocent by faith in his lordship. Those who reject the lordship of Jesus will be exiled to Hell in accordance with his perfect justice. (1 Corinthians 15:21-28)