TRC Statement of Faith
One God
We believe there is one God, eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are equal in power, glory, and majesty and are worthy of all worship, obedience, and praise.
Key Scriptures: Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14, John 14:16, Matthew 3:16
God the Father
We believe God the Father is sovereign over all creation and lovingly governs history according to His purposes. He is holy, just, merciful, and faithful. Through Jesus Christ, He adopts believers into His family and calls them His children. There is one only and true God, but in the unity of the Godhead there are three coeternal and coequal Persons, the same in substance but distinct in subsistence.
Key Scriptures: Ephesians 1:3-6; Romans 8:14-17; Matthew 6:9
Jesus Christ
We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully God and fully man. Conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, He lived a sinless life, fulfilled the Law, died as the substitutionary sacrifice for sinners, physically rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and now reigns at the right hand of the Father.
We believe salvation is found in Christ alone and that His life, death, resurrection, and future return are central to God's redemptive plan.
Key Scriptures: John 1:1-14; Colossians 1:15-20; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Hebrews 7:25
The Holy Spirit (Distinctive)
We believe the Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus Christ and applies the work of redemption to believers. He convicts the world of sin, regenerates those who believe, indwells every Christian, empowers holy living, equips believers with spiritual gifts, and unites the Church.
We affirm that the gifts of the Spirit continue to operate today under biblical authority and discernment. However, we recognize that the Spirit distributes each gift as He determines, and that none of us indefinitely “has a gift.” We encourage believers to pursue the fullness of the Spirit while recognizing that Scripture, not experience, remains the ultimate authority for doctrine and practice.
Key Scriptures: John 16:7-15; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 12-14
God Revealed
Through Scripture: We believe the Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God. It is without error in its original manuscripts and serves as the final authority for faith, doctrine, and practice. Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, God speaks through His Word to transform His people and reveal His redemptive plan centered on Jesus Christ.
Through Creation: We believe that God has made Himself known to His creation. He has revealed Himself to us in His Son, the incarnate Word (Heb.1:1-2), in Scripture, the inspired Word (2 Tim. 3:16), and in creation (Ps. 8; Rom. 1:20)
Through Jesus Christ: We believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the perfect revelation of who God is. Jesus Christ is the “image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15), “the exact imprint of his nature” (Heb. 1:3) and a perfect reflection of God the Father (John 5:19).
Key Scriptures: 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 19:7-11; Hebrews 4:12
Humanity/Sin
We believe all people are created in the image of God and therefore possess inherent dignity and worth. Because of Adam's sin, humanity is fallen, separated from God, and unable to save itself. Every person stands in need of God's grace and redemption through Jesus Christ.
Key Scriptures: Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12
Salvation
We believe salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. Through repentance and faith, sinners are forgiven, justified, reconciled to God, adopted into His family, and given eternal life. This adoption is permanent and secure.
Salvation is entirely the work of God's grace and results in a transformed life characterized by obedience, holiness, and growing conformity to Christ.
Key Scriptures: Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:4-7; Romans 5:1; John 3:16
The Church
We believe the Church is the body of Christ, composed of all believers united by faith in Jesus Christ. The Church exists to glorify God through worship, discipleship, fellowship, evangelism, and service.
We believe the local church should be led by biblically qualified elders who shepherd the congregation and deacons who serve its practical needs. Every believer is called to participate in the mission of God and use their gifts for the building up of the body.
Key Scriptures: Ephesians 4:11-16; Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; 1 Peter 5:1-4
His Kingdom Come
We believe that Jesus Christ is returning to the world in the future to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the future resurrection of both the saved and the lost, the final judgment, the eternal blessing of God's people in the new heavens and new earth, and the eternal separation of those who reject Christ. His Kingdom has been inaugurated, but not yet fully realized.
While faithful believers may differ on certain details of the end times, we affirm the future return of Christ, the bodily resurrection, and the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom.
Key Scriptures: John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 19-22
Complementarianism (Distinctive)
Men and women are absolutely equal in essence, dignity and value but are distinct by divine design. As part of God’s good created order, men and women are to have different yet complementary roles and responsibilities in the home and church. As it relates to the church, men and women are both expected to lead; however, the office of elder is reserved for qualified men.
Key Scriptures: (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1)
Ordinances (Distinctive)
We believe that the Lord, Jesus Christ instituted two ordinances for the church: the full-immersion water baptism of believers and the Lord’s Supper.
Key Scriptures: (Matthew 28:19; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:38; I Corinthians 11:23-26).