2022 River Lake Church Annual Report click here

Beliefs

Relevant - Simple - Real

WE BELIEVE GOD IS FATHER AND CREATOR

We believe in the God who is all-powerful, all knowing, ever present, unchanging, trustworthy, and above all, holy. It is in Him that we live, move, and exist. God is both Great and Good at the same time. He is loving, compassionate, and faithful to His people and His promises.


(Exodus 3:14Numbers 23:19Leviticus 11:44-4519:2Psalm 11:4-6Malachi 3:6John 3:164:245:2614:1Acts 17:28Romans 3:3-4)

WE BELIEVE JESUS IS GOD

We believe Jesus Christ is completely human and, at the same time, completely God. He is the only way to bring people who are far from God back into a right relationship with God. Jesus lived a sinless and perfect life so that He could be a substitution for us. We believe He died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected three days later. He defeated death in His resurrection so that we could have eternal life with Him.


(Isaiah 7:1453Matthew 1:18-233:178:2914:3316:1628:5-6Luke 22:7024:46-47John 1:11410:3011:25-2717:1-5Acts 1:92:22-247:55-56Romans 1:3-43:23-26;8:1-310:41 Corinthians 8:62 Corinthians 5:19-21Gal 4:4-5Philippians 2:5-11Colossians 1:152:91 Timothy 2:5-63:16)

WE BELIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVES IN US

We believe the Spirit is always present in the lives of believers. He guides our daily lives by convicting us of our sin, reassuring us of our salvation, and directing us into God’s righteousness. He comforts us, gives us spiritual gifts, and makes us more like Christ. We believe it is the Holy Spirit who convicts the hearts of those who are not yet believers.


(Genesis 1:2Psalms 51:11139:7 ff.Isaiah 61:1-3Joel 2:28-32Mark 1:10Luke 1:354:111:1312:12John 15:2616:7-14Acts 1:82:1-413:2Romans 8:9-1114-1626-271 Corinthians 3:16Ephesians 1:13-142 Peter 1:21Revelation 22:17)

WE BELIEVE GOD IS THREE IN ONE

We believe God has existed for all eternity. He exists as one God in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Each member has the same essence yet they each have different functions within creation.


(Deuteronomy 6:4Isaiah 61:1Matthew 28:19Mark 1:9-11Luke 1:35John 5:21-2314:1016Romans 8:9-111 Corinthians 8:62 Corinthians 13:14Hebrews 1:8-10

WE BELIEVE THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD TO US

We believe the Bible is God’s Word and communicates His love to His creation. Each book was written to a specific people, in a specific place in time, for a specific purpose. Because God, through His Holy Spirit, inspired the Bible it communicates exactly what God intended.  It is without any error and is completely relevant to our daily lives.


(Deuteronomy 4:1-2Psalms 119:1189105Isaiah 40:8Matthew 22:29John 5:3916:13-1517:17Romans 15:42 Timothy 3:15-17Hebrews 1:1-24:121 Peter 1:252 Peter 3:16)

WE BELIEVE SALVATION IS THE ONLY WAY TO GOD


We believe the blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, provides the only way of salvation through the forgiveness of sin. Salvation occurs when we place our faith in the death and resurrection of Christ as sufficient payment for our sin. Salvation is a gift from God, and it cannot be earned through our own efforts.

(Isaiah 1:1853:5-655:7Matthew 1:2127:22-6628:1-6Luke 1:68-692:28-32John 1:123:16365:24Acts 2:214:1216:30-31Romans 1:16-183:23-255:8-1061 Corinthians 1:182 Corinthians 5:17-20Galatians 2:203:13Ephesians 2:8-10Philippians 2:12-13Hebrews 9:24-28Revelation 3:20)

WE BELIEVE WE ARE CREATED IN GOD’S IMAGE

We believe people are made in the image of God and are the supreme objects of His creation. We were created to have fellowship with God but became separated in that relationship through sinful disobedience. As a result, we cannot attain a right relationship with God through our own efforts. Every human person is uniquely created, possesses dignity, and is worthy of respect and Christian love.


(Genesis 1:26-302:718-223Psalms 8:3-632:1-551:5Isaiah 6:5Jeremiah 17:5Acts 17:26-31Romans 1:19-323:10-18235:66:67:14-251 Corinthians 1:21-3115:19,21-22Ephesians 2Colossians 1:21-223:9-11)

WE BELIEVE IN HEAVEN AND HELL

We believe mankind is eternal. We will exist either eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is Heaven.


(John 3:1636Romans 6:231 John 2:255:11-13Revelation 20:15)

WE BELIEVE THE CHURCH IS THE HOPE OF THE WORLD

We believe the Church is God’s plan to bring about Heaven here on earth. It made up of people unified through faith in Christ. It is committed to the teachings of Christ and obeying all of His commands, and it seeks to bring the Gospel to the world. The Church works together in love and unity, intent on the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ.


(Matthew 16:18-1918:15-20Acts 2:41-475:11-1413:1-314:2316:520:28; 1 Corinthians 7:179:13-1412Ephesians 1:22-232:19-223:10-125:22-32Colossians 1:183:15;1 Timothy 4:141 Peter 5:1-4Revelation 21:2-3)