beliefs
These are the core beliefs of Real Life Community Church. They reflect the heart of what we understand to be basic Christian teaching. We believe that these teachings reflect historic Christianity throughout the generations, but we consider the teaching of Scripture to be superior to any human statement of faith.
We believe that the Bible, comprising the Old and New Testaments, is the true word of God. God inspired the very words of Scripture so that it is completely without error in the original manuscripts. It is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, training in righteousness, so that believers may be equipped for the good works the Lord intends for them. It is our ultimate standard of truth, faith, and practice.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
We believe in the one, true, living God of the Bible, existing eternally in three distinct persons, who are equal in diety and one in essence, but he each minister uniquely.
Mathew 28:19: 2 Cor. 13:14
We believe in God the Father, Jehovah, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, who loved the world he created so much that He sent his own Son to die as payment for the sins of the rebellious human race, so that whoever trusted in that act of grace would escape condemnation and live forever as his child.
Genesis 1:11; John 3:16
We believe in Jesus Christ, God the Son, the second person of the Trinity, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. He lived as a man, subject to every temptation, yet was completely without sin. Nonetheless, he died a criminal's death at the hands of sinful people, and this death was a substitutionary payment for the sins of all who will accept it and place their faith in him. After three days, Jesus was physically raised from the dead by the power of God. After ministering on earth before numerous witnesses, he then visibly and publicly ascended into heaven, where he continues to intercede for believers. He will one day return in victory to establish his literal kingdom on earth.
Phil. 2:5-11; John 1:1-6, 14
We believe in the Holy Spirit of God, the third person of the Trinity, who moves in the hearts and people, convicting them of sin and stirring them to repentance and faith in Christ. He enters the heart of every believer at the time of their salvation, baptizing and supernaturally marking them as holy saints of God. The Holy Spirit works in each believer to produce holy living and conform them to the image of God, and he endows every believer with special giftedness for use in ministry in the church.
Genesis 1:2; John 16:7-14; Romans 8:11-17;1 Cor. 12
We believe that all people are by nature and choice sinful and separated from God. So deep is this depravity that we are uttler incapable of saving ourselves or of even choosing to submit to god (aparat from the aid of the Holy Spirit). When a person turns from their sinfulness to God through a relationship with Jesus Christ, this old sinful nature "dies," and a new spiritual person is "born." That person's identity changes from a hopeless sinner to saint, a child of the living God. This gift of salvation is an act of God's grace rather than any merit, received by faith, and event that faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 3:23, 6:23, 8:7-8; Col. 3:3-4
We believe that the church was instituted by God as comprises all those who have been reborn in Christ. This we refer to as the universal or invisible Church. We further believe in the sanctity of the local church as part of the universal church. As Christ is the Head of the Church, we believe in the autonomy of the local church to follow the guidance of His Holy Spirit. This belief does not deny the interdependence of all Christians as one universal body.
Mathew 16:18; Romans 12:4-6; 1 Cor. 12:12-14,27; Eph. 4:1-6
We believe in the believer's baptism and the remembrance celebration (generally referred to as "the Lord's Supper" or "communion") are commanded by Jesus Christ of all believers and therefore, established by him as ordinances for the church, which comprises all of his disciples. We further believe that these ceremonies are symbolic in nature, identifying the participants with the body and work of Christ, an that they do not hold any inherent power to save, bless, protect, or otherwise earn favor with God apart form being a reflection of the believer's relationship with him and an act of obedience. We recognize the New Testament pattern of baptism to be immersion in water of one who has consciously turned from sin to Jesus Christ, establishing a public testimony and identification as a Christ-follower. We understand the remembrance celebration to be a corporate act of symbolically reflecting upon the saving work of Christ on the cross and its life-giving impact on the believer; therefore, we joyfully participate in this ceremony with all who place their trust in that work for their salvation. Both of these rituals are outward expressions of an inward commitment.
Mathew 3:6,11; Mark 1:4-5; Acts 2:38; Mathew 28:19-20; Mathew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, 11:23-29