Every individual and organization has core beliefs. They shape who we are, how we act, and what we champion.

At TCALF, we believe that every person matters to God. That cuts across political, racial, and denominational lines and any other lines that divide us. If you are looking for a place to belong, a place FOR you, we hope that TCALF can become that place. You don’t have to agree with us 100% to belong here, to be accepted here.

At the same time, there are things that we believe to our core that we cannot compromise. We will always put The WORD over the World, so when what the World accepts or promotes contradicts what God’s Word teaches, we will always go with The Word.

While a short list could not contain everything The Word teaches, here are our core beliefs:

We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are God’s revelation of Himself to mankind. They were written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit, with the result that Scripture is God’s Word—entirely true and without error. They are the supreme and final authority for Christian beliefs and living. We further believe that the focus of all Scripture is the person and work of Jesus Christ.

(2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 119:11, 89, 105, 160; Jude 3; Romans 15:4; Titus 1:1-3)

We believe there is one living and true God, who is the Creator, Preserver, Redeemer and Ruler of the universe. He is infinitely perfect in every way and eternally exists as three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (in a relationship known as the Trinity). We believe these three are co-equal, are one God, and each possesses fully the nature, attributes and perfections of deity.

(Genesis 1:1; Psalm 90:2; Isaiah 6:1-3; 40:12-28; 45:5-7; Jeremiah 10:10;Matthew 28:19; Acts 17:24-25; Romans 11:33-36; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 3:20)

We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father while simultaneously submitting himself to the will of the Father. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary—a miraculous process by which he received a human body and a sinless human nature. He is fully God and fully human in one person. We believe He lived a sinless life of perfect obedience to the law of God. Through His death on the cross, He made provision for the salvation of sinful people. We believe He was raised from the dead to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended into heaven where He rules over the universe and will one day return visibly to earth.

(Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 24:14-43; John 1:1, 14; Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Colossians 1:15-22; 2:9; Titus 2:13-14; Hebrews 1:1-3; 7:25; 1 Peter 2:21-24)

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with God the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. We also believe the Spirit inspired the scripture and fuels the mission of the church. He administers spiritual gifts to believers when they are saved for the building up of the body of Christ . The Holy Spirit empowers believers to overcome the power of sin and transforms us into the likeness of Christ as we seek to live under His control daily.

(John 10:28-29; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 1:8; 2:12; 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:16)

Humans of every nation, race, and ethnic background are the special creation of God, made in His own image. Men and women are His crowning work, the gift of gender being part of the goodness of God’s creation. In the beginning humanity was innocent of sin and was endowed by God with freedom of choice. By this free choice, man and woman sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Man sinned when he disobeyed the command of God. As sinners, humanity requires a Savior, which is Jesus Christ. Only by the grace of God, through the sacrifice of Jesus, can an individual be restored to holy fellowship with God. However, the sacredness of human personality is evident because God created man in His own image and because Jesus Christ died for humanity; therefore, every person of every race possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love. 

(Genesis 1:26-30; 2:5-22; 3; Psalms 1; 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Matthew 16:26; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18,23; 5:6,12,19; 6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18,29; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19,21-22; Ephesians 2:1-22; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11)

Salvation is God’s free gift to all who confess that Jesus is Lord and believe in their hearts that God raised him from the dead. We can never make up for our sin by self- improvement or good works. Only by trusting Jesus Christ as God’s offering of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. We believe Jesus paid the full penalty for man’s sin by his death on the cross. We believe forgiveness of sin is based on grace alone, in Christ alone, and through faith alone. Salvation is not based on good works or human efforts.

(John 3:16, 18, 36; 14:6; Romans 4:25; 5:1, 6-9; 6:23; 8:1; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 21; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:8-9; Colossians

1:13-14; Titus 3:5)

• Everyone is a sinner: “We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Romans 3:22-23
• The penalty for sin is death: “For the wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23a
• Jesus died to pay our debt, so that we could live eternally: ” . . . but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23b
• You can accept Jesus’ gift: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ” Romans 10:9

• “Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Ephesians 2:9
• “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” 1 John 1:9

We baptize by fully immersing someone under water because Jesus was baptized that way, along with everyone in the New Testament. All who have trusted Jesus Christ as Savior should be baptized by immersion as a symbolic testimony to their participation in the death and resurrection of Christ. As Christians, we follow the example set by Christ, who also instructed us to be baptized. Through baptism, we are publicly identified with Christ.

(Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:19; Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12)

We believe that marriage is a picture of Christ’s relationship with the Church and that the relationship between husband and wife should reflect the covenant relationship of Christ and the Church. We believe the word “marriage” means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife.

(Matthew 5; Colossians 3; Song of Solomon; Ephesians 5)