About briarlake church

God is the designer, creator, and sustainer of the universe and all that exists. He is characterized by love, purity, and power. He is without origin, has always existed, and will remain in control of all things throughout eternity. He is revealed in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, which have been described as the Trinity. 

We believe in one God who exists in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each person of the Trinity is fully God, yet the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct in their roles and functions.

Genesis 1:1-2; Genesis 1:26; Genesis 3:22; Psalm 110:1; Isaiah 63:10; Hebrews 1:8; I Peter 1:2; Jude 1:20-21

God the Father is spirit in form without a body, though sometimes the Bible uses human characteristics to describe him. When the Bible speaks of God’s face (Exodus 33:20), or Him wiping away tears (Isaiah 25:8), it does so to teach us about God’s nature in ways that we can understand. God the Father is sovereign over all things and yet shares His authority with God the Son. Jesus modeled submission to the will of God the Father, directed His prayers to God the Father, and acknowledged the Heavenly Father as the source of His miracles. 

John 4:24; Exodus 33:15; Exodus 33:20; Isaiah 25:8; John 14; John 16:15; Matthew 6:9-15

Jesus Christ is the Son of God, fully divine and fully human. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, died on the cross for our sins, and rose from the dead, demonstrating His victory over sin and death.

John 1:1-3; Luke 2:1-20; Luke 2:52; John 14:9-10; John 19-20; John 20:30-31; Philippians 3:20; Hebrews 7:25; I John 2:1

We affirm the active ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. The Spirit empowers, guides, comforts, and convicts us. The Spirit also bestows spiritual gifts for the edification of the Church.

Genesis 1:2; John 16:7-13; 1 Corinthians 2:12 & 3:16; Romans 8:9; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 1:13 & 5:18

The Bible is the inspired and authoritative Word of God. It serves as our ultimate source of truth, providing guidance for faith and practice. We seek to study, understand, and apply its teachings in our lives.

2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:9-11; Proverbs 30:5

Man was made in the image of God with the ability to reason, the need to relate with God, and the capacity to live eternally. He is the supreme creation of God’s created order. The creation story relays the act of disobedience toward God of the first human beings. All of humankind has inherited a nature flawed by sin and even the best efforts of human beings bear the marks of our imperfection. Only through God’s grace and forgiveness extended through Jesus Christ can human beings experience liberty from sin and reconciliation to God. 

Genesis 1:27 & 3:1-8; Psalm 8:3-6; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-7; Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:17

Salvation is a gift from God, not something earned through human effort. It is received by faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Through His atoning sacrifice, we are reconciled to God and granted eternal life.

Romans 6:23; Hebrews 9:2; Romans 2:4; Psalm 51:17; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3: 7-8; Mark 1:15

Believing that salvation is a result of the new birth initiated by the Holy Spirit, the follower of Christ is held secure in that salvation for eternity. What God truly initiates, He truly maintains. Having been born of the Spirit, the follower of Christ is a child of God for eternity. God’s sovereignty over all things, including the salvation of His people, ensures their place in the family of God. Though believers are fallible and still struggle with sin and obedience to God, He loves and disciplines those that are His. It is the responsibility of the believer to pursue God and serve Him faithfully in this lifetime which will result in present blessings and rewards in the life to come. 

John 10:27-29; Philippians 1:6; Ephesians 1:4-6, 11-14; 2 Timothy 1:12; I Peter 1:1-5; Hebrews 12:5-10

The Bible teaches that while we were created for eternity, our physical bodies wear out and are limited to the lifespan afforded us by the timing and will of God. At death, the believer’s soul goes to heaven in the presence of Christ. In contrast, the souls of the disobedient and unbelieving are separated from God in hell. At a time appointed by God, there will be a final judgment of the dead where the unbelieving will be dismissed into the lake of fire. A new heaven and new earth of incomprehensible magnitude, beauty, and pleasure will become the eternal residence of God’s redeemed people.            

John 3:16; Luke 16:19-31; Matthew 25:31-46; 1 John 5:11-13; Revelation 20:15 & 21:1-8

We believe that the Church is not a building, but a community of believers united by their faith in Jesus Christ. The Church exists to worship God, nurture spiritual growth, and carry out the Great Commission.

The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ will return to judge the living and the dead. His return will culminate in the establishment of God's eternal kingdom.

Salvation should precede a believer’s baptism. Baptism does not save someone but symbolizes the washing away of our sins. We practice believer's baptism as an outward expression of faith and identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.

If you would like to talk to someone about baptism, please contact Shirley Poulton at s-poulton@briarlakechurch.org.

Communion is a remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice and a celebration of our unity in Him. Communion is not a means of salvation; it is a testament of a believer’s faith in the atoning work of the cross. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, we invite you to participate in remembering His sacrifice with us.