OUR BELIEFS
FOREWORD
This document is a summary statement for the convictions of Scripture that we preach and teach within this faith family. We do not hold this document as inerrant nor exhaustive. We have addressed the major themes of theology and where we stand on each. There are many other matters not addressed in this document and we understand there will be various convictions.
The purpose behind a document like this is to help everyone understand what we preach and teach. Many people may come from different religious backgrounds and therefore believe differently. We want each person to know what this faith family believes on these major themes as that will help them know if this is a church that is in agreement with their convictions.
Content above is the work of The Village Church (Flower Mound, TX)
and the Southern Baptist Convention (Baptist Faith & Message, 2000)
We accept the Bible, including the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament, as the written Word of God. The Bible is the essential and infallible record of God’s self-disclosure to mankind. It leads us to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Being given by God, the Scriptures are both fully and verbally inspired by God. Therefore, as originally given, the Bible is free of error in all it teaches. Each book is to be interpreted according to its context and purpose and in reverent obedience to the Lord who speaks through it in living power. All believers are exhorted to study the Scriptures and diligently apply them to their lives. The Scriptures are the authoritative and normative rule and guide of all Christian life, practice and doctrine. They are totally sufficient and must not be added to, superseded or changed by later tradition, extra-biblical revelation or worldly wisdom. Every doctrinal formulation, whether of creed, confession, or theology, must be put to the test of the full counsel of God in Holy Scripture.
*2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21; Mark 13:31; John 8:31,32; 20:31; Acts 20:32
There is one God: infinite, eternal, almighty and perfect in holiness, truth and love. In the unity of the godhead, there are three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, co-existent, co-equal, and co-eternal. The Father is not the Son and the Son is not the Holy Spirit, yet each is truly Deity. One God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — is the foundation of Christian faith and life.
*Genesis 1:1,26; John 1:1,3; Matthew 28:19; John 4:24; Romans 1:19,20; Ephesians 4:5,6
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God the Father is the Creator of heaven and earth. By His word and for His glory, He freely and supernaturally created the world out of nothing. Through the same word He daily sustains all His creatures. He rules over all and, together with the Son and the Spirit, is the only Sovereign. His plans and purposes cannot be thwarted. He is faithful to every promise, works all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose and in His unfathomable grace gave His Son Jesus Christ for mankind’s redemption. The Father made all things for the praise of His glory and intends for man, in particular, to live in fellowship with Himself.
*Matthew 23:9; Luke 10:21,22; John 3:16; 6:27; Romans 1:7; 1 Timothy1:1,2; 2:5,6; 1Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:6
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the eternal Word made flesh, supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary. He is perfect in nature, teaching and obedience. He is fully God and is fully man. He was always with God and is God. Through Him all things came into being and were created. God the Son was before all things and in Him all things hold together by the word of His power. He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born over all creation and in Him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Jesus is the only Savior for the sins of the world having shed His blood and died a vicarious death on Calvary’s cross. By His death in our place, He revealed the divine love and upheld divine justice, removing our guilt and reconciling us to God. Having redeemed us from sin, the third day He rose bodily from the grave, victorious over death and the powers of darkness and for a period of 40 days appeared to over 500 witnesses performing many convincing proofs of His resurrection. He ascended into heaven where, at God’s right hand, He intercedes for His people and rules as Lord over all, awaiting His victorious return. Jesus Christ is the Head of His body, the church, and should be adored, loved, served and obeyed by all.
*Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1; 20:28; Romans 5:6-8; 6:9,10; 9:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:21-23; John 20:30, 31; Matthew 20:28; Ephesians 1:4; Acts 1:11; Hebrews 7:25; 9:28; 1 Timothy 3:16
The Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. Through the proclamation of the gospel, He persuades men to repent of their sins and confess Jesus as Lord. By the same Spirit a person is led to trust in divine mercy. The Holy Spirit unites believers to Jesus Christ in faith, brings about the new birth and dwells within the regenerate (the follower of Jesus). The Holy Spirit has come to glorify the Son who in turn came to glorify the Father. He will lead the church into a right understanding and rich application of the truth of God’s Word. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. The Holy Spirit makes intercession for believers to God the Father. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service. He is to be respected, honored and worshipped as God the Third Person of the Trinity.
*John 14:16,17,26; 15:26,27; 16:8-18; Romans 8:9,26; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Galatians 5:22-26; Ephesians 1:13b,14; 5:18
God made man — male and female — in His own image, as the crown of creation, that man might glorify God through enjoying fellowship with Him. Tempted by Satan, man rebelled against God. Being estranged from his Maker, yet responsible to Him, he became subject to divine wrath, inwardly depraved and apart from a special work of grace, utterly incapable of returning to God. This depravity is radical and all-encompassing. It extends to his mind, will and affections. Unregenerate (unsaved) man lives under the dominion of sin and Satan. He is at enmity with God, hostile toward God, and hateful of God. Fallen, sinful people, whatever their character or attainments, are lost and without hope, destined to an eternity in hell, apart from salvation in Christ alone.
*Genesis 1:26,27; Romans 3:22,23; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3,12
Jesus Christ is the gospel. The good news is revealed in His birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension. Christ’s crucifixion is the heart of the gospel; His resurrection is the power of the gospel and His ascension is the glory of the gospel. Christ’s death is the substitutionary and propitiatory sacrifice to God for our sins. This means that it satisfies the demands of God’s holy justice and appeases His holy wrath. It also demonstrates His mysterious love and reveals His amazing grace. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man. There is no other name by which men must be saved. At the heart of all sound doctrine is the cross of Jesus Christ and the infinite privilege that redeemed sinners have of glorifying God because of what He has accomplished. Therefore, we want all that takes place in our hearts, churches and ministries to proceed from and be related to the gospel.
God created us to be with Him and bring Him glory. (Genesis 1,2)
Our sin separated us from God. (Genesis 3)
Sin cannot be removed by good deeds. (Genesis 4 – Malachi 4)
Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matt. – Luke)
Everyone who trusts in Jesus alone has eternal life. (John)
Life with Jesus starts now and lasts forever. (Acts – Revelation)
(From Dare 2 Share Ministries)
*1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Isaiah 53:10,12; John 3:16; Romans 4:25; 5:8; 8:32; Ephesians 1:12
The proper response to the gospel is faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ, a faith that is naturally accompanied by repentance from sin. Biblical repentance is characterized by a changed life, and saving faith is evidenced by kingdom service or works. While neither repentance nor works save, unless a person is willing to deny himself, pick up his cross and follow Christ, he cannot become His disciple.
This response to the gospel is rooted and grounded in the free and unconditional election of God for His own pleasure and glory. This gospel of grace is to be sincerely preached to all men in all nations.
*John 20:31; Acts 15:8,9; 16:30,31; Romans 1:16,17; 3:21-31; 4:4,5,13; Galatians 2:16; 3:11,26; Ephesians 2:8,9; Philippians 3:9; 2 Timothy 3:15; 1 John 5:4,5,13
Salvation, the free gift of God, is provided by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone, for the glory of God alone. Anyone turning from sin in repentance and looking to Christ and His substitutionary death receives the gift of eternal life and is declared righteous by God as a free gift. The righteousness of Christ is imputed, or credited, to him. He is justified and fully accepted by God. Through Christ’s atonement for sin an individual is reconciled to God as Father and becomes His child. The believer is forgiven the debt of his sin and (via the miracle of regeneration) liberated from the law of sin and death into the freedom of God’s Spirit.
*Leviticus 17:11; Hebrews 10:4; Isaiah 53:4-6,10; Mark 10:45; 14:24; John 1:12; Romans 5:8; 8:3,4; 1 Corinthians 5:7; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8,9; 1 Timothy 2:6; Hebrews 2:14,15; 9:28; 1 Peter 1:18,19; 2:24; 3:18
The Holy Spirit is the active agent in our sanctification and seeks to produce His fruit in us as our minds are renewed and we are conformed to the image of Christ. Though indwelling sin remains a reality, as we are led by the Spirit, we grow in the knowledge of the Lord, freely keeping His commandments and endeavoring to so live in the world that all people may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven. All believers are exhorted to persevere in the faith knowing they will have to give an account to God for their every thought, word and deed. The spiritual disciplines, especially Bible study, prayer, worship and confession, are a vital means of grace in this regard. Nevertheless, the believer’s ultimate confidence to persevere is based in the sure promise of God (which is most certain) to preserve His people until the end.
*John 17:17; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 6:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 10:10,14; 12:14; 1 Peter 1:2
The Church, which is the body and espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons. We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. We believe in the autonomy of the local churches, free of any external authority and control.
The Church exists to worship and glorify God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It also exists to serve Him by faithfully doing His will in the earth. This involves a commitment to see the gospel preached and churches planted in the entire world for a testimony. The ultimate mission of the Church is worship and the means by which this is accomplished is the making of disciples through the preaching and embracing of the gospel. Upon conversion, newly redeemed men and women are added to a local church through baptism and devote themselves to teaching, fellowship, the Lord’s Supper and prayer.
*Acts 13:1-4; 14:27; 15:19-31; 18:22; 20:17,28; Romans 16:1,4; 1 Corinthians 3:9,16; 5:4-7,13; 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22,23; 5:25-27; 1 Timothy 3:1-3; Titus 1:5-11; 1 Peter 5:1-4
The Holy Spirit empowers believers for Christian witness and service. The promise of the Father is freely available to all who believe in Jesus Christ, thereby enabling them to exercise the powers of the age to come in ministry and mission. The Holy Spirit desires to continually fill each believer with power to witness, and imparts His supernatural gifts for the edification of the Body and the work of ministry in the world. Particular spiritual gifts do not prove the presence of the Holy Spirit, nor are an indication of deep spiritual experience. All the gifts of the Holy Spirit at work in the church of the first century are available today and are to be earnestly desired and practiced in an orderly manner. The gifts are essential in the mission of the Church in the world today.
*John 15:7; Acts 1:8; Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7,11,13; 1 Cor. 13; Ephesians 4:7,8; 1 Peter 4:10,11; 1 John 5:14,15
Water baptism is only intended for the individual who has received the saving benefits of Christ’s atoning work and become His disciple. Therefore, in obedience to Christ’s command and as a testimony to God, the church, oneself and the world, a believer should be immersed in water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Water baptism is a visual and symbolic demonstration of a person’s union with Christ in the likeness of His death and resurrection. It signifies that his former way of life has been put to death and vividly depicts a person’s release from the mastery of sin.
As with water baptism, the Lord’s Supper, or Communion, is to be observed only by those who have become genuine followers of Christ. This ordinance symbolizes the breaking of Christ’s body and the shedding of His blood on our behalf, and is to be observed repeatedly throughout the Christian life as a sign of continued participation in the atoning benefits of Christ’s death. We do not in any way believe that these elements become the real body and blood of our Lord as we partake of them, but serve only as symbols of a greater reality.
As we partake of the Lord’s Supper with an attitude of faith and self-examination, we remember and proclaim the death of Christ until He comes again, receive spiritual nourishment for our souls, and signify our unity with other members of Christ’s body.
*Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41,42; 18:8; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
The consummation of all things includes the future, physical, visible, personal and glorious return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead and the translation of those alive in Christ, the judgment of the just and the unjust, and the fulfillment of Christ’s kingdom in the new heavens and the new earth. In the consummation, Satan with his hosts and all those outside Christ are finally separated from the benevolent presence of God, enduring eternal punishment in hell, but the righteous, in glorious bodies, shall live and reign with Him forever in heaven serving Him and giving Him unending praise and glory. Then shall the eager expectation of creation be fulfilled, and the whole earth shall proclaim the glory of God Who makes all things new.
*Matthew 16:27; Mark 14:62; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Cor. 15; Philippians 2:10,3:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; 2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13; Revelation 20:4-6,11-15
God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption. Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God’s unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race.
We believe that while being absolutely equal in personhood and dignity, man and woman are distinct in regards to roles in the home and church. The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God’s image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God as is her husband and thus equal to him, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation.
Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate to their children God’s pattern for marriage. Parents are to teach their children spiritual and moral values and to lead them, through consistent lifestyle example and loving discipline, to make choices based on biblical truth. Children are to honor and obey their parents.
*Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:26-28; Psalms 51:5; 78:1-8; 127; 128; 139:13-16; Proverbs 1:8; 5:15-20; 6:20-22; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 24:3; 29:15,17; 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 9:9; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Galatians 4:28; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Timothy 5:8,14; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7