NEW LIFE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
Statement of Belief
SCRIPTURE: We believe in the inspiration of all Scripture, each and every word; that the Old and New Testaments are the infallible word of God, inerrant in the original writings, and are the supreme authority for faith and life. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
TRINITY: We believe in one God, existing eternally in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We affirm the distinction and uniqueness of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. However, we believe that all three persons of the Trinity are of the same essence and are of equal status; common and inseparable in their operations.
(John 1:1, 18; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 9:5; 1 Corinthians 12:3-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 9:14)
JESUS CHRIST: We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, fully man and fully God. We believe in his virgin birth, in his sinless life, in his miracles, in his atoning death, in his physical resurrection, in his ascension to the right hand of God the Father, and in his personal return to this earth in power and glory.
(Matthew 1:20-23; John 1:1, 14-18; Philippians 2:5-11; John 20:19-20; Acts 1:9, 7:55-56; Philippians 3:20-21; Hebrews 7:25-27; 1 Corinthians 13:12, 15:20-26; 1 Thessalonians 4:16)
HOLY SPIRIT: We believe that the Holy Spirit is fully God; equal and eternal with the Father and the Son. We believe that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is continually active in the world, convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit by grace that one is empowered to respond to God’s call of salvation. We believe that the Holy Spirit dwells in every believer, assuring them of their salvation, bearing the fruit of the Spirit according to Galatians 5:22-23, empowering them to live in obedience to God, and bestowing gifts on every believer as He wills according to 1 Corinthians 12.
(John 14-16; Romans 8; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 1:13, 4:30; 1 Corinthians 12-14)
SALVATION: We believe that all have sinned and are in need of a restored relationship with Jesus. We believe that this is impossible by one’s own work. Therefore, we believe that salvation is by faith through grace alone and not by works. In the initial time of being saved (born again) one is empowered to respond to God through grace in believing (trusting) Jesus Christ as one’s Savior, repenting of one’s sins, being justified (made in right relationship with God) and forgiven by the power of the blood of Christ, and regenerated (indwelled) with the Holy Spirit which breaks the power and rule of sin in one’s life. Salvation is to be continually worked out with fear and trembling as one is continually made more into the image and likeness of Christ Jesus.
(John 3:16-17; Romans 3:21-31, 4:1-5, 10:8-13; Ephesians 2:1-10; Colossians 1:20; Philippians 2:12-13; 1 John 1:5-2:2)
BAPTISM OF HOLY SPIRIT: We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit which is subsequent to, but not essential for, salvation. The baptism of the Holy Spirit imparts spiritual power to the believer for both life and ministry. We do not believe that there must be an initial evidence of speaking in tongues or prophesying to attest to one being baptized in the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:5-8, 2:1-5, Acts 8:14-17, 9:17, 19:1-7)
GREAT COMMISSION: We believe the Great Commission is still our mandate today - to preach the gospel, baptize and teach believers, make disciples of all nations, and extend the kingdom of God. We believe that the motive behind fulfilling the great commandment is love. We do all these things because of our love for God, and hence obeying his command, and our love for our neighbor which leads us to desire that all would be saved and discipled. (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8)
ETERNITY: We believe that there is a literal heaven and a literal hell. Each person will spend an eternity in either heaven or hell as each is judged by Christ Jesus.
(Genesis 14:19; Revelation 20:10; 21:2; Luke 23:43; Matthew 13:42; Mark 9:43-48; Acts 10:42; 2 Timothy 4:1, 8)
BAPTISM AND COMMUNION: We believe that water baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the two ordinances of the church which the Lord ordained to be kept until the time of his return. We believe baptism is an outward sign of one’s salvation and is not necessary for salvation. We believe the Lord’s Supper proclaims Christ’s death on the cross and that everyone should examine themselves before taking communion. All believers are given the authority to both baptize and to serve communion. This is not restricted to clergy or the ordained alone.
(Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34)
FIVE FOLD MINISTRY: We believe in the five-fold ministry offices of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher. Their function is for the edification and equipping of the body of Christ for the work of ministry and for the maturing of the body of Christ into the stature and fullness of Christ Jesus.
(Ephesians 2:19-22; 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 12:27-28)
LOCAL CHURCH GOVERNMENT: We also believe in two offices within the local church: elder/overseer and deacon. We believe that the local church is governed by a plurality of elders who are set in office and responsible for the overseeing of the local church (pastors are included within this group of elders and does not stand in authority over them but is equal with them). They are charged to live according to the qualifications in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. They are not to lord their authority over the congregation but rather shepherd the flock in love. We believe deacons and deaconesses are placed over many of the day-to-day mercy ministries within the congregation and are to be set in by the local eldership.
(1 Timothy 3:1-13, 5:17-22; Titus 1:1-9; James 5:14; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Acts 14:23, 20:17-32)
BIBLICAL COUNSELING: We believe in Biblical Counseling and that it is a function of all members of the Christian faith. We do not assert ourselves as counseling professionals and all words of counseling that are given should be judged by the individual receiving the counseling. (Romans 15:14; 2 Peter 1:4)
CHURCH DISCIPLINE: We believe in the biblical application of Church discipline in the life of an unrepented member of the local church. This discipline must be administered carefully, judiciously, in the spirit of love and without favoritism according to the guidelines found in the scriptures. The ultimate goal of church discipline is restoration of the disciplined person to the fellowship of believers.
(Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Timothy 5:20-21; Galatians 6:1)
SPIRITUAL UNITY: We believe in the spiritual unity of all believers in Jesus. We aspire to unity in essential Christian doctrines and respect for diversity in non-essentials.
***Scriptures given are not an exhaustive list of Biblical evidence for each doctrine
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