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)