Riverview exists to proclaim the liberating power of the Gospel as we grow, serve, and go.
Our Vision:
We believe that Jesus Christ has set us free from the eternal consequences, guilt, and power of sin. No longer enslaved to our own sinful desires,
we are set free to walk in step with the truth of the Gospel;
we no longer live for ourselves, but for the name of Jesus, for the glory of God the Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit;
we will proclaim this message of freedom until every man, woman, and child in the Greater-Lansing area has repeated opportunities to hear and respond to Jesus;
we will plant churches throughout the state of Michigan, proclaiming the message of the Gospel from there to our nation and world.
Our Beliefs:
We believe the Gospel should be passionately proclaimed to all people, so that all who believe may be saved.
We believe in one God in three distinct persons: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit – each of whom possesses all the attributes of Deity and characteristics of personality.
Continue...We believe in the Deity of Jesus, His virgin birth, sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death as a substitute, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the Father’s right hand, His personal return in power and glory.
We believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit, His work to reveal Christ to the world, to convict people of their sins, His indwelling presence in every one who believes, which enables that believer to grow in godliness in respect to his or her salvation.
We believe the Bible is inspired by God, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God. It is composed of the 66 books of the Old and New Testament, and was written without error in the original manuscripts. It is the highest authority over all other forms of revelation.
We believe God created heaven and earth, man and woman in sinless perfection with dignity of life, in his image.
We believe the worship of God is the end for which people are created and abiding joy is only found in God through this life.
We believe all followers of Jesus have been assured of salvation.
We believe there is no opportunity for salvation following physical death.
We believe in the salvation of all who believe by grace alone through faith alone. God declares righteous all who put their trust in Christ alone.
We believe every follower of Jesus should be baptized by immersion as a symbol of their new birth in Christ.
We believe every follower of Jesus should participate in the Lord’s Supper as a symbol of remembrance of Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection; to celebrate our unity in Christ; and to anticipate His return in victory.
We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in Jesus Christ our Lord.
We believe in the resurrection of both the lost and the saved after physical death. The believer goes immediately into the presence of the Lord, and waits for their body to be resurrected to eternal blessing and glory with God. The unbeliever waits for their body to be resurrected to eternal suffering, judgment and condemnation.
We believe Jesus is coming back to judge all people.
We believe when Jesus comes back, He will set up His kingdom on earth and rule until a new heavens and new earth are created to be the final eternal home of all who have believed.
We believe that the Church
must be faithful to unchanging Biblical doctrine.
must be faithful to minister in the context of a continually changing culture.
has a mission to train people who respond to the Gospel to go into the culture as missionaries with the Gospel, using the gifts and talents God gave them.
exists for the redemption of lost people.
is made up of all believers worldwide and should meet together in local churches for worship, prayer, teaching, and mission.
should be actively involved in planting new churches.
We believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which declares that
God created heaven and earth, man and woman in sinless perfection with dignity of life, in His image.
Since Adam sinned, now all are sinners by nature and choice. All human beings are born with a corrupted nature and without spiritual life, and are totally incapable of pleasing God in and of themselves.
God is not obligated to save any person, all deserve the just punishment of hell. But in His love, God chose to elect people for salvation. That election was fore-ordained before the creation.
Jesus died for all, however, forgiveness of sins is given only to those who respond in belief.
Our Philosophy of Ministry
We do not retreat from culture, but use discernment so as not to compromise the Gospel.
We cannot isolate ourselves and families from the evil in this world, nor from other believers with whom we may disagree.
We believe that the order of creation determines roles of masculinity and femininity based on our sex. We believe that God revealed himself as Father, and is to be honored by that name.
We believe marriage is an institution created by God that involves the union of one man and one woman in permanent sacred fidelity. This belief does not, however, allow for bigotry or hate, which are sinful attitudes.
We do not believe in Open Theism (that God doesn’t know the future), nor Universalism (that in the end, all people will be saved).
We are not nationalists, only desiring one nation to improve. The church has no political affiliation or agenda. Though, individuals in the church may participate in the political governing process to pass laws that are just and moral.
We are not moralists, only trying to make people “good.” We are evangelists laboring to bring the Gospel to people so that they may be saved.
We believe Satan and demons are created beings who have fallen, and are now enemies of God. Though they are presently at work in the world, in the end they are all subject to God. We believe that the preaching and propagation of the Gospel is the church’s mandate to defeat the forces of evil.