THE PARK BELIEFS
The following Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe. We do believe, however, that our Statement of Faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible, and unites us as a congregation. All literature used in The Park Christian Community Church shall be in complete agreement with the Statement of Faith.
We believe the Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God, without error, and the complete revelation of God’s will for salvation. [2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21]
We believe that God revealed Himself in the Bible. We believe He is the only God, one in essence, existing in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He created the heavens and the earth, and all things visible and invisible. We reject any statements about God which cannot be supported by Scripture. [Genesis 1-2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14]
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Living Word of God, the Messiah, and the Son of the Living God. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, substitution atonement through His shed blood, His bodily resurrection, ascension to the right hand of the Father in heaven, and His personal return to earth in power and glory. In one person, Jesus, the Christ, is both fully God and fully human. [Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-3, 14; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; Titus 2:13]
We believe the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Christ by working in the minds and hearts of persons when the Gospel is proclaimed and when Biblical truth is taught. He draws unbelievers to faith in Jesus Christ, imparts new life to those who believe, and indwells every believer. He imparts to God’s people both the fruit of the Spirit which enables us to grow in Christ-like character and the gifts of the Spirit which empower God’s people for Christian service. [2 Corinthians 3:17; John 14:16-17; John 16:14; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:22-25]
We believe human beings were created in the image of God, but were separated by sin, resulting in both physical and spiritual death. [Genesis 1:27; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23]
We believe that through grace, God redeems man by means of the substitution atonement of Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection from the dead. God credits His own righteousness to those who trust in Christ alone for salvation.
We believe that salvation cannot be earned or merited. Salvation comes with new birth resulting in a new desire and ability to live according to the commands of Jesus. [Matthew 22:36-40; John 3:5-8; Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5]
We believe Jesus Christ established His church on earth consisting of all persons who join to Him through saving faith. We believe God’s people need to assemble together regularly for worship, partaking of the Lord’s Supper (Communion), edification from the Scriptures, and for mutual support and encouragement. We believe God intends for His church to be united through a common faith in Jesus and a common commitment to live under the authority of God’s revealed Word. [Matthew 16:16-18; Romans 12:5; Hebrews 10:25]
We believe that those who die with saving faith in Christ enter into God’s presence, experiencing everlasting fellowship and eternal life with our Lord and all the redeemed. Those who die in unbelief are forever separated from God in eternal fiery hell. [John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15]
We believe Christ mandates the church to evangelize in the local community and throughout the world. [Matthew 28:19-20; John 20:21; Acts 1:8]
We believe marriage was instituted by God from the beginning of His creation to be the covenant union of a man and a woman in an exclusive relationship. [Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6]
We believe that all human life is created by God in His image, and is sacred from conception through natural death. [Psalm 139:13-16]