Our Purpose

We believe in the divine inspiration and authority of the Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments.  We believe the Scriptures are inspired by the Holy Spirit and are the only infallible rule of faith and practice for Christians. (II Tim. 3:16- 17; II Pet. 1:19-21; Prov. 3:5-6)

We believe in One God, who exists eternally as one Being and three Persons  –  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Exodus 20:2-3; Matt. 3:16-17, 28:19)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, was born of the Virgin Mary, and is fully God and fully man.  He was crucified and died on our behalf. On the third day He was resurrected.  He ascended into heaven and will one day return to judge all people and will reign as the King for all eternity.  (John 1:14, 3:16; Gal. 4:4; Rom. 5:8-9; I Pet. 1:18-21; I Cor. 15; Heb. 9:24; I Tim. 2:5; I Thess. 4:13-18, 5:1-11)

We believe in the Holy Spirit who is the third person of the Holy Trinity. He is sent by the Father to draw the world to Christ, to indwell all believers, to shape Christians into the image of Christ, and to equip the church with spiritual gifts. (John 14:15-31; Acts 2:4-5; I Cor. 12:1-11).

We believe that all people are created in the image of God. All people are also born with a depraved nature due to sin. Sin separates humanity from God, and all people are separated from God through their sins. This separation from God will continue into eternity for those who have not received God’s salvation. We also believe in real spiritual beings created by God, some of which have fallen from God and wage war against God’s people. The chief of these demonic spiritual beings is Satan (Gen. 3:1-6; Rom. 3:10-19, 23; 5:12; 6:23; Isa. 14:12-16; Luke 4:1-13; Eph. 2:2; I Cor. 5:5, 7:5; II Cor. 11:13-15; Heb. 2:14; I Pet. 5:8; I John 3:8; Jude 9; Rev. 12:9; 20:10).

We believe that salvation is a gift of God by grace alone, is given to people without any merit of their own; that all who repent of their sins and by faith receive the Lord Jesus Christ are born again by the power of the Holy Spirit and become children of God. Justification is the act of God at the point of salvation in which Christ’s righteousness is imputed to the person who has saving faith. Following the new birth a person is made a partaker in the divine nature and is given a new life by the Holy Spirit. Evidence of this salvation is seen in the person’s repentance, faith, and transformed life. (Eph. 1:7, 2:8-9; Tit. 3:4-7; Rom. 3:21-30, 4:1-25 John 1:7, 12, 14, 3:3-16; Eph. 2:1-9; Acts 20:21; Rom. 6:23; Col. 2:13; II Cor. 5:17; II Peter 1:2-4)

We believe that each Christian is called by God to live a Spirit filled life.  The Spirit filled life results in ongoing faith, discipleship, and transformation in the life of the believer. (Romans 8, I Cor. 13; John 14:16-17; Acts 1:8, 2:4; James 4:7)

We believe that the universal church is composed of all Christians who have received salvation. Christ is the spiritual head of His body, the church. Christ established the church on Pentecost, and the church will continue His work until He returns. Local churches exist to proclaim the gospel of Christ, to disciple believers, and to carry out Christ’s work until He comes again. It is the local church’s duty to administer the Christian sacraments. At Riverview we practice Christian baptism by the immersion of new believers in water following their profession of faith. We practice the Lord’s Supper to celebrate the broken body and shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ in death. Only those who have saving faith should receive this sacrament. (Acts 2:1-4; I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 2:19-20; 20:17-28; Matt. 5:13-16, Matt. 26:26-28; I Cor. 11:23-28; Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42, 8:36-39)