Statement of Essential Beliefs
These are the essential beliefs of the Christian faith. The beliefs summarize the heart of the theological practices by evangelical Christianity and Redeemer Community Church. Therefore, full agreement of these essential beliefs is required for membership and/or baptism at Redeemer Community Church.
1. The Bible is the inspired Word of God. It is without any mixture of error or contradiction; it is infallible, inerrant, and fully authoritative. The Word of God is entirely profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training of righteousness. Through the Word of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is revealed and one’s life is transformed. (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
2. There is one true, living God. He is the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of all things. God is infinite in His holiness, power, presence, and knowledge. God reveals Himself through the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Each are distinct in person, but are without division of nature, essence, or being. (Genesis 1:26; Deuteronomy 6:4; John 1:1, 6:27; Acts 5:3-4)
3. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, is eternal in nature. He was born of a virgin and lived a perfect and sinless life. On the cross, Jesus Christ died a substitutionary death and made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was buried in a borrowed tomb, but death could not hold Him; Jesus rose on the third day and appeared to many for forty days according to the Scriptures. Jesus ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father and now reigns as Lord over the universe. Jesus Christ will, one day, return in power and glory, to receive His Church and reign upon the earth as Kings of kings and Lord of lords. (Luke 1:26-28; John 1:1-14; Acts 1:9; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Philippians 2:9-11)
4. The Holy Spirit is fully divine and personal. The Holy Spirit indwells the believer from the moment of salvation, fully and completely, and His presence encourages, empowers and transforms. The presence of the Holy Spirit constitutes true Christianity. (John 16:5-15; Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:4)
5. Humanity is the special creation of God, created in His image and according to His likeness. However, the Fall of Adam, has distorted this image and likeness. Humanity has inherited a sinful nature from Adam and is fully depraved without the Spirit of God. All humanity is sinful and falls short of the glory of God; therefore, all are in need of a Savior. (Genesis 1:26; Romans 3:23, 5:12-21, 6:23)
6. Because all humanity is in need of a Savior, God provided salvation through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. It is by God’s grace and mercy, through faith, repentance, and submission to the Lord Jesus Christ that man is saved. Jesus is the only source and way of eternal life. (John 14:6; Ephesians 2:8-10)
7. God has made provision for those who, by faith, accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior where they will live bodily and consciously in His presence forever. God also has prepared a place for those who reject Jesus; they will eternally endure the agony of separation from God in Hell. (Luke 16:19-31; John 14:1-6)
8. Jesus Christ, and He alone, is the absolute and sovereign Lord and Savior. (Philippians 2:9-11)
9. All things exist for the glory of God. (Psalm 148; Romans 11:33-36; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Ephesians 1:3-14)
10. Statement on Marriage and Sexuality (Added 2019) - It is the biblical position that marriage involves the union of one man and one woman in permanent sacred fidelity. Though various cultures and customs have evolving definitions of marriage, it is God alone who has ultimate authority to prescribe and describe the marital relationship (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:1-9, Mark 10:1-12).
Furthermore, sexual intimacy is only properly exercised and pursued within the confines of this marital relationship. Sexual immorality, defined as any sexual activity outside of the boundaries of the sacred marital relationship between one man and one woman, is clearly and expressly prohibited by the Lord (Matthew 15:19, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, Hebrews 13:4).
As a consequence, the Church regards any and all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pedophilia, pornography or even lustful intent toward such, as sinful and ultimately unsatisfying. Moreover, the Church also regards as sinful the intent or desire to surgically alter one’s biological sex to a different sex. Since the body is a creation of God, the Church holds sexual identity to be biologically determined, and associated gender norms are to be observed as appropriate to biblical standards. Disagreement with one’s biological sex only leads to spiritual confusion and emotional chaos (Genesis 1:27, Romans 1:26-32, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
In order to preserve the function and integrity of the Church as the local Body of Christ and to provide a biblical example to the Church Members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by the Church in any capacity or united to the Church in membership should abide by and agree to this “Statement on Marriage and Sexuality“ and conduct themselves accordingly. Though sinful sexual expression is egregious (as is all sin), the gospel provides redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 6:9-11, Ephesians 2:1-10, Titus 3:3-7).
Furthermore, there is a difference between temptation and unrepented sin. Jesus was tempted in all ways as we are, yet He never sinned. Members, employees, volunteers and attendees of the Church wrestling with all manner of sexual temptation will find a Church ready to point them to Jesus and join with them to fight for their obedience to Christ. Jesus called the weary and heavy-laden to Himself. As a church desiring to follow Christ fully, the Church will be a safe place for men and women fighting sexual temptations of all kinds. For those fighting temptation and repenting of sin, the Church will provide love, care and direction (Matthew 11:28-30, I Corinthians 10:13, Hebrews 2:17-18, Hebrews 4:14-16).
The Church’s “Statement on Marriage and Sexuality” does not provide grounds for bigotry, bullying or hate, as we fully believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect and dignity, regardless of his or her lifestyle. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated as sinful and are not in accordance with the Scriptures nor the doctrines of the Church.