What We Believe
This is not a complete listing of everything that we believe, but it covers the essential doctrines of the church. Believers Church is a main-stream, Evangelical, Grace-filled, Spirit-led church. The basis for the formation of our doctrine is a conservative view of scripture which believes that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Where the Bible is clear, we strive to be clear. Where the Bible is unclear, we steer away from developing dogma. Paul gave young Timothy a good piece of advice: "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." 1 Timothy 4:16 NIV
God, the Father
Christians identify the creator as "Our Father, which art in heaven." He has existed from the beginning and will forever rule over all that He has created. There is one word that best describes our heavenly Father, it is the word "love." God is love and He loved the world so much that He sent Jesus to rescue us from our sin. (Genesis 1:1; Matthew 6:9-13)
The Bible
The Bible contains the exact information that God desires to reveal to mankind. It is the truth that guides us and the final authority upon which we build our lives. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
God, the Son (Jesus Christ)
Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit in an Israelite virgin named Mary. Jesus was God in the flesh, and yet, He experienced all the temptations and difficulties that are common to all. He lived His life without sin, was crucified on a cross for the sins of the world and rose in triumph over death. He is now ruling at the right hand of our heavenly Father, acting on behalf of those that believe in Him. One day Jesus will return to the earth to rule. (Hebrews 1:3; 3:1; 7:23-25: 9:24: 12:2; 1 John 2:1-2)
God, the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is a person, is God and performs a ministry of conviction, regeneration and sanctification. He indwells every believer (John 3:8; 15:26, 27; 16:7-15; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18). The Holy Spirit equips the members of Christ's body today for ministry through the importation of spiritual gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:1-11)
Man and Salvation
Man was created in the image of God; he sinned, and consequently experienced not only physical death but also spiritual death which is separation from God. Every human being is born with a sinful tendency, and when he reaches moral responsibility, he becomes a sinner in thought, word and deed; but may receive salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, as a gift of God's grace and not the result of any human effort or merit. (Genesis 1:26; 3:1-24; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:8; John 1:12)
The Christian Life
Every believer in Christ should be committed to the Lordship of Christ and growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ. (Romans 12:1, 2; Galatians 5:15, 25; 2 Corinthians 12:12.13)
The Church
The church is the body and bride of Christ. It is a spiritual organism made up of believers in Christ and manifested in local congregations. (Ephesians 1:22, 23; 1 Corinthians 12:12, 13)
Church Ordinances
The two ordinances of the church are baptism and the Lord's supper. Baptism should be administered to believers upon their verbal confession of faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The ordinance of the Lord's supper should be observed regularly in remembrance of Christ's death and in anticipation of His return. The elements of the Lord's supper are symbolic of His body and blood. (Matthew 28:19, 20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
Satan
Satan is a real and personal being. He is the adversary of God and His people. He is not all powerful. He is not all present and he is not all knowing. (Matthew 4:1; 1 Peter 5:6)
Spiritual Warfare
All of mankind is in a battle for their spiritual souls. Christ has assured us that because He was victorious on the Cross those who believe in Christ will be victorious as well. (Romans 8:32-39; 1 Corinthians 15:54-57; Ephesians 6:10-18; 1 John 5:4; Revelations 3:5)
The Eternal State
Both believers and unbelievers will be bodily raised and all men will appear before Christ to be judged. The saved will experience everlasting blessedness in eternal life with God; the lost will experience everlasting conscious punishment in eternal separation from God. (Philippians 1:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelations 20:11-15)
Christians identify the creator as "Our Father, which art in heaven." He has existed from the beginning and will forever rule over all that He has created. There is one word that best describes our heavenly Father, it is the word "love." God is love and He loved the world so much that He sent Jesus to rescue us from our sin. (Genesis 1:1; Matthew 6:9-13)
The Bible
The Bible contains the exact information that God desires to reveal to mankind. It is the truth that guides us and the final authority upon which we build our lives. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
God, the Son (Jesus Christ)
Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit in an Israelite virgin named Mary. Jesus was God in the flesh, and yet, He experienced all the temptations and difficulties that are common to all. He lived His life without sin, was crucified on a cross for the sins of the world and rose in triumph over death. He is now ruling at the right hand of our heavenly Father, acting on behalf of those that believe in Him. One day Jesus will return to the earth to rule. (Hebrews 1:3; 3:1; 7:23-25: 9:24: 12:2; 1 John 2:1-2)
God, the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is a person, is God and performs a ministry of conviction, regeneration and sanctification. He indwells every believer (John 3:8; 15:26, 27; 16:7-15; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18). The Holy Spirit equips the members of Christ's body today for ministry through the importation of spiritual gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:1-11)
Man and Salvation
Man was created in the image of God; he sinned, and consequently experienced not only physical death but also spiritual death which is separation from God. Every human being is born with a sinful tendency, and when he reaches moral responsibility, he becomes a sinner in thought, word and deed; but may receive salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, as a gift of God's grace and not the result of any human effort or merit. (Genesis 1:26; 3:1-24; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:8; John 1:12)
The Christian Life
Every believer in Christ should be committed to the Lordship of Christ and growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ. (Romans 12:1, 2; Galatians 5:15, 25; 2 Corinthians 12:12.13)
The Church
The church is the body and bride of Christ. It is a spiritual organism made up of believers in Christ and manifested in local congregations. (Ephesians 1:22, 23; 1 Corinthians 12:12, 13)
Church Ordinances
The two ordinances of the church are baptism and the Lord's supper. Baptism should be administered to believers upon their verbal confession of faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The ordinance of the Lord's supper should be observed regularly in remembrance of Christ's death and in anticipation of His return. The elements of the Lord's supper are symbolic of His body and blood. (Matthew 28:19, 20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
Satan
Satan is a real and personal being. He is the adversary of God and His people. He is not all powerful. He is not all present and he is not all knowing. (Matthew 4:1; 1 Peter 5:6)
Spiritual Warfare
All of mankind is in a battle for their spiritual souls. Christ has assured us that because He was victorious on the Cross those who believe in Christ will be victorious as well. (Romans 8:32-39; 1 Corinthians 15:54-57; Ephesians 6:10-18; 1 John 5:4; Revelations 3:5)
The Eternal State
Both believers and unbelievers will be bodily raised and all men will appear before Christ to be judged. The saved will experience everlasting blessedness in eternal life with God; the lost will experience everlasting conscious punishment in eternal separation from God. (Philippians 1:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelations 20:11-15)
