We Believe the Bible, God’s word to us, is central to our relationship with God and each other. While there are some areas where sincere Christians agree to disagree[1], the Bible clearly states that certain truths are essential convictions of the Christian faith. New Life Community Church considers these truths to be the following:
The Bible (all 66 books of the Old and New Testaments) is the true written message of God to us.[2] We believe that the Holy Spirit superintended the authors such that every word that they composed and recorded is equally inspired by God.[3] Therefore, the Bible is completely trustworthy and without error. The Bible is the final authority on all matters to which it speaks.[4]
There is one God, who exists forever as three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each equally deserving worship and obedience.[5]
Jesus Christ is fully man and fully God.[6] He is the perfect reflection of God’s character and glory.[7] He lived a sinless life and died on the cross, becoming the perfect substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of mankind.[8] All who believe in Him are declared righteous on the basis of His death and are now treated as if we had lived Christ’s righteous life.[9] He physically rose from the dead as validation of His victory over sin and death and will return again to earth to reign forever with those who are His.[10]
Humans are created in the image of God, free of sin.[11] However, due to Adam’s sin of disobedience and the fact that all men are in Adam, everyone is a sinner by nature, by choice, and by divine declaration.[12] As a result, everyone deserves the penalty of physical and spiritual death and has become utterly incapable of choosing or doing that which is acceptable to God apart from divine grace.[13]
Salvation from our sinful condition is a free gift from God to us. It is not something we earn or deserve. It is offered by grace and received by faith in Jesus Christ alone. Those who believe in Jesus Christ and call on His name are made right with God and given eternal life.[14]
References:
[1] Romans 14:1-15:7; 2 Timothy 2:23-24; Titus 3:9
[2] 1 Corinthians 2:7-14; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:20-21
[3] Matthew 5:18; John 10:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21
[4] John 17:17; 1 Corinthians 2:13
[5] Genesis 1:26-27; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14
[6] Micah 5:2; Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 2:9
[7] John 10:30; 14:9; Colossians 1:15
[8] 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Romans 3:24-25; 4:25; 5:8-9; Colossians 2:14; 1 Peter 2:24
[9] Romans 5:8-9; 8:1-3; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 Peter 3:18
[10] 1 Corinthians 15:3-5; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 21
[11] Genesis 2:7; 15-25; James 3:9
[12] Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-19; Psalm 14:1-3; Romans 3:23; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 John 1:8
[13] Genesis 2:16-17; John 3:36; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3
[14] John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10; Galatians 3:13-14; 24-27; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 1 Peter 1:18-19