What We Believe
by Jim Holston
WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT GOD
We believe that there is one true God, creator of heaven and earth, eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-wise, holy, and loving (Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 6:3; I John 4:8; Jude 20-21).
The one God exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; I Peter 1:2; John 1:1; Colossians 1:15-20). We do not fully understand this; it is hidden in the mystery that is God, but we believe this truth as it is revealed in the Scriptures.
What we believe about Jesus
Jesus Christ is the one and only Son of God, literally God in the flesh, fully God and fully human, who died for our sins and arose from the dead (John 1:1-5, 10-14; 3:16; I Corinthians 15:1-8).
Jesus is the promised Servant-Messiah of Israel, who has fulfilled the ancient prophecies and brought the kingdom of God into the world for all people (Isaiah 53; Daniel 7:13-14; Mark 1:14-15).
God was in Christ reconciling the rebellious world to himself, making peace with the rebels (II Corinthians 5:18-21).
After His resurrection the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to God the Father, but will return to earth one day to save His people and judge the world (Acts 1:1-11; Philippians 3:20-21; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Acts 17:31).
What we believe about the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person in the three-fold nature of God and that He is offered as a gift to live in the individual Christian (Acts 2:38; 5:32; I Corinthians 6:19).
The Holy Spirit brings the love of God into our hearts, produces godly qualities in our lives, guarantees our salvation, is the sign that we are children of God, comforts, helps, and strengthens us in ways we do not fully understand (Romans 5:5; Galatians 5:22-25; II Corinthians 1:22; Galatians 4:6; John 14:16; Romans 8:26; Ephesians 3:16).
What we believe about the Bible
The Bible is the inspired, authoritative word of God—revealing the heart and mind of God and giving us guidance in this life (II Timothy 3:16; Psalms 119:105; Hebrews 4:12-13).
We are a back-to-the-Bible movement. We seek to dig through the dust and debris of two thousand years and return to the simple biblical faith of the early church.
We look to the New Testament to see what the original church was like and by extension what it is meant to be like throughout the ages.
What we believe about sin
Sin is rebellion against God, disobedience to His revealed will (Genesis 3:1-6; I John 3:4).
Every person has been created in the image of God and has great value to Him, but all sin and fall short of the glory of God, and this brings eternal death upon us (Genesis 1:27; Romans 3:23; 6:23).
WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT SALVATION
We believe that we are saved by grace—God’s free, undeserved, unearned mercy (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life are available to those who respond to God’s grace by trusting in
Christ as Saviour and Lord, repenting of their sins, confessing their faith, and being baptized by immersion into Christ
(Romans 6:23; John 3:16; Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 6:1-11).
What we believe about the church
The Church is the body of Christ on earth, empowered by the Holy Spirit to evangelize the lost and edify the saved (Ephesians 1:21-22; 4:1-16; Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:18-20).
The Church is a vital part of God’s plan for human beings and must be continually restored and preserved in its original purity (Ephesians 3:20-21; Acts 2:42; Jude 3).
We believe that by its very nature the church is meant to be undenominational. There were no denominations in the original church of the New Testament.
We are an independent church in the world-wide undenominational fellowship of Churches of Christ.
What we believe about worship
We believe in restoring the simplicity of the worship revealed in the New Testament.
Our worship is therefore simple, non-liturgical, and participatory.
In worship we praise, adore, and reverence God, and we encourage each other in our faith
(Hebrews 10:24-25; Ephesians 5:19-20).
We gather to worship regularly to sing, pray, participate in the Lord’s Supper, collect an offering for the work of the congregation, and listen to the word of God proclaimed in Scripture and sermon
(Colossians 3:16; I Timothy 2:1-2; I Corinthians 11:23-26; 16:1-2; II Timothy 3:16-4:2).
Our main assembly is on Sunday morning—the first day of the week, the day on which Jesus was raised from the dead
(Luke 24:1-7; Acts 20:7).
WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
We believe that all of life is meant to be lived under the lordship of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9; Philippians 2:5-11).
We believe that Jesus lived the perfect human life and we strive to imitate him in our daily lives
(Matthew 16:24; I Peter 2:21).
We are serious about developing holiness (righteousness) and love in our lives (II Corinthians 7:1; I John 3:2-3; 4:7-21).
We seek to serve the needs of others in Jesus’ name (Mark 10:42-45; II Corinthians 4:5).
It is important to us to build each other up in our faith and to pass on the faith to the next generation.
To that end we have regular group Bible study for all ages, small group home meetings, and special activities.
What we believe about community outreach
We believe people matter to God and therefore they matter to us (John 3:16).
We are concerned not only for ourselves but for the needs of others and so we are regularly involved in local and world-wide relief efforts
(Galatians 6:10; I John 3:16-18).
We also look for opportunities to share the good news of what God has done in Christ with our friends and neighbours, because we want everyone to have the peace, love, salvation, and meaning for life we have found in Jesus Christ
(Matthew 28:18-20; I Peter 3:15).
© James E. Holston 2005
