Six Truths We Believe
Introduction
Wallula Christian Church believes the Bible is the only adequate guide for the faith and practice of Christians. We have no other creed.
The following statement represents a consensus of what our elders and pastoral staff members believe the Scriptures teach on key doctrinal issues. It is designed to help you become acquainted with the preaching and teaching emphasis of Wallula Christian Church.
1. God is Big!
God
There is one God in three persons, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The term God is applied to each of these persons. God is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. God is certainly too big to be described in four sentences!
Matthew 5:16,45; 6:1,4,8-9; James 1:17; John 1:1 & 14:9; Genesis 1:2; John 4:24 & 14:16-20; 2 Peter 1:21
Jesus
Jesus is God’s Son. He was born of a virgin, lived and ministered in an actual period of history. He willingly gave himself over to be executed on a Roman Cross. Jesus died, was buried and rose from the dead three days later. He ascended into Heaven and is returning in the same way!
John 1:14; 1 John 4:9; John 3:16; 2 Peter 3:18
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is a Divine Person. He has attributes of a person, the attributes of God and He does the work of God. He is eternal and co-equal with the Father.
John 16:5-15; Acts 1:7-8; 1 Corinthians 3:16 & 6:19; 2 Timothy 1:14
2. Jesus Saves Us
Salvation
The Bible teaches that we are saved by grace through faith. Salvation is a free gift that cannot be earned or deserved. We receive that ‘gift’ by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 26:28; Romans 5;9; Ephesians 2:4-5 & 8-9; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7
Baptism
Jesus commanded us to make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit. The New Testament teaches baptism by immersion for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. We are baptized for the remission of sins, to receive the Holy Spirit, for our sins to be washed away and to be baptized into Christ.
Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:16; John 3:23; Acts 2:38-41
Jesus’ Second Coming
Jesus promises to return in the same way He ascended into Heaven. While many have tried to determine the exact hour Jesus will return, scripture is clear that only the Father knows. Jesus will return like a thief in the night to gather His church!
John 2:19-21 & 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:28
Eternal Security
God loves us so much that He designed us with free will. We have the ability to choose to sin or not to sin. God allows every person to freely choose whether or not they will serve Him. When a person accepts Jesus as savior they are sealed by the Holy Spirit. They can be secure in their choice to follow Christ. Jesus will never abandon us. He will never denounce us. As a person with free will we can choose to walk away from Jesus, to denounce Him. A person may denounce Christ with words and/or with life style.
Luke 6:46; 8:13-14; 9:62; 15:24; John 15:7; 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 & 10; Philippians 2:12-13; Hebrews 2:1-3
3. God is Personal
Lord’s Supper
Jesus commanded us to participate in communion. We do so out of obedience to remember the great price Jesus paid to save us. We remember Jesus’ sacrifice with communion weekly as we gather together to worship.
Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-21; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
4. The Bible is God's Word
God’s Word
The Bible is God’s Word. It is inspired by God and written over a period of 1500 years on three different continents by 40 human writers. The Bible was written in three different languages and covers 66 different books. God’s word is with out error in its’ original manuscripts and can be trusted today! It is God’s authoritative standard for every age and for every life.
Matthew 12:36; John 14:26; Acts 1:16; 1 Corinthians 2:12-13; 2 Timothy 3:14-16; 2 Peter 1:20-21
5. The Church is Community
The Church as Community
The Greek word Jesus uses to describe His people (church) was “Ecclesia,” which literally means, “the called out ones.” The Church is composed of those who have been called out of sin into righteousness. As such we have a responsibility to meet together & care for each other’s needs.
Hebrews 10:23-25; Acts 2:42-47
6. The Church is the Hope of the World
Jesus is the head of His Church and He has charged His Church with reaching the world for Him.
Matthew 28:16-20; Matthew 16:13-18; Acts 2:1 & 14-47