On the Bible
2 Timothy 3:16-17 states “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The bible remains our main tangible objective source of God’s divine Word to be used in our individual lives as well as our corporate life together as a community. Jesus Christ who is the Word of God is revealed through the bible and its proclamation via the guiding work of the Holy Spirit. I.e. The bible is authority.
On the Lordship of Jesus Christ
Jesus is the Anointed, Messiah, Son of God who reveals the Father and makes possible our relationship with the Father and the ability to be brought in His presence. By submitting to the Lordship of Christ, the Christian lives a life in obedience of God through discipleship (becoming more Christ-like) which leads to spiritual maturity and ministry. A person can only have one Lord. If Jesus Christ is Lord, then there can be no other lords.
On the Church
The church is a body of believers who come together with the main bond being the commonality of their Lordship of Jesus Christ. People who would normally be unable to get along outside the church are able to within the church through the healing power of the Gospel. The church is a group of natural enemies that love each other for Jesus’ sake. In John 13:34-35, Jesus says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Through the church community, we learn and hear God's voice together through the Scripture, supporting and encouraging each other through love and prayer and keeping one another accountable as disciples of Jesus Christ.
On Purpose
As Individuals – we were created by God for God. Therefore, all that we do should be motivated by the desire to put a weightiness toward God in relation to our lives as well as the lives of others. The planets revolve around the sun because of the sun’s weightiness. If we put weight toward God in our lives (i.e. if we bring glory to God), we fulfill our Creator’s design in us. 1 Corinthians 10:31 – “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
As a community – Jesus calls us to be the light of the world and a city on a hill. As a community we are told to be a holy nation so that the world can see and be brought to the presence of God. Our purpose together as a community is to attract others to Christ by showing the world the beauty of a community that strives to share Christ-like characteristics. We are NOT a holy nation because we are made up of holy individuals but rather Christ’s holiness is imputed on our community.
Through Jesus Christ, our community becomes holy.
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