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What We
Believe at
New Life Community Church
"In
the essential beliefs, we have unity. In the non-essential
beliefs, we have liberty. In all our beliefs, we show charity.
(love)" St. Augustine
God desires for all
of His people to walk in unity and love (John 17).
Unfortunately, church history reveals that God's people have
often allowed doctrine to divide and alienate those that God
calls "brothers in Christ".
Our ministry identity
is not based on divisive non-essential issues. Rather it is
focused on "essential beliefs"; those beliefs
necessary to experience spiritual "new birth"
(salvation from sin and fellowship with God) and Christian
growth and maturity. (Ephesians 4:4-6; Romans 14:1,4,22; I
Corinthians 13:2).
We attempt to teach
from every part of the Bible, and do so with intent of
practical personal application.
The Essentials
We Believe
God is
the creator and the ruler of the universe. He has eternally
existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit (often referred to as the Trinity). Those three are
co-equal with God and are one God. (Genesis 28:19; I Peter
1:2; II Corinthians 13:14)
Jesus Christ is
the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. He was born of
a virgin and lived a perfect, sinless human life. He offered
Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by
dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days,
ascended into heaven, and will return again someday to reign
as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Matthew 1:22,23; Isaiah
9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; I Corinthians
15:3-4, Acts 1:9-11; I Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13)
The Holy Spirit
is co-equal with the Father and Son. 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 believer with power for living, understanding
spiritual truth, wisdom, and guidance for doing what is right.
As Christians, we seek to live under his guidance daily. (II
Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13; 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; I
Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25;
Ephesians 5:18; Acts 2:4)
The Bible
is God's Word to us. It was written by human authors under the
supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit, often called
inspiration. It is the supreme source of truth for all
Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God,
it is the truth without any mixture of error. (II Timothy
1:13, 3:16; II Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 119:105; 160, 12:6;
Proverbs 30:5)
People
are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in
character. People are the supreme objects of God's creation.
Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all
of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God
called "sin". This attitude separates people from
God and causes many problems in life. (Genesis 1:27; Psalm
8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2)
Salvation
is God's free gift to us, but we must accept it. We can never
make up for our sins by self-improvement or good works. Only
by trusting Jesus Christ as God's offer for forgiveness can
anyone be saved from sin's penalty. When we turn from our
self-willed life and turn to Jesus in faith, we are saved.
Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into
his life by faith. (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6,
1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1)
Eternity
- The soul of every human being was created to live forever.
We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or
eternally with God through salvation and forgiveness. Hell is
eternal separation from God. Heaven is eternal union with God.
Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence. (John
3:16; 2:25, 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; Matthew
1:8; 2:44-46) |