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The Scripture
The sole basis of our beliefs is the Bible, the 66 books of the Old and
New Testaments. It was uniquely, verbally and fully inspired by the Holy
Spirit and was written without error in the original manuscripts. It is the
supreme and final authority in faith and in every age.
God
There is but one God, infinite in power, wisdom, justice, goodness, and
love, the Creator of the universe, eternally existing in three persons
ÑFather, Son, and Holy SpiritÑ each of whom possess all the attributes of
Deity and the characteristics of personality.
Jesus Christ
God the Father, by His own choice and out of love for sinful men and women,
sent Jesus Christ into the world to reconcile sinners to Himself. Jesus
Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. He is God in
the flesh, both true God and true man. Jesus Christ lived a sinless life and
voluntarily suffered and died as our substitute to pay the penalty for our
sins, thus satisfying GodÕs justice and accomplishing salvation for all who
trust in Him alone. He arose from the dead in the same body, though
glorified, in which He lived and died. He bodily ascended into heaven and
sat down at the right hand of God the Father, where He, the only mediator
between God and man, makes intercession for His own. He will return to earth
Ñpersonally, visibly, and bodilyÑ to judge all men and establish His
kingdom.
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit has come into the world to reveal and glorify Christ, to
convict men and women of their sins, and to impart new life to all who place
their faith in Christ. He indwells believers from the moment of spiritual
birth, seals them until the day of redemption and empowers them to live a
life pleasing to God.
Man
God created man in His own image, and man, as he was originally created, was
innocent before God. But man chose to sin by disobeying God, and therefore
was alienated from his Creator and came under divine condemnation. Thus all
human beings are born with a corrupted nature and without spiritual life,
and are totally incapable of pleasing God in and of themselves.
Salvation
Men and women are freed from the penalty for their sins not as a result, in
whole or in part, of their own works, goodness or religious ceremony, but by
the undeserved favor of God alone. God declares righteous all who put their
faith in Christ alone for their salvation.
Assurance
All who are born again of the Spirit can be fully assured of eternal life
from the very moment they put their faith in Christ. This assurance is not
based upon any kind of human merit, but upon the fact of GodÕs election,
upon ChristÕs complete payment for sins and upon the indwelling of the Holy
Spirit, who is the deposit guaranteeing their inheritance.
The Resurrection of the Dead
At physical death, the believer enters immediately into eternal, conscious
fellowship with the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his or her body to
everlasting glory and blessing. At physical death, the unbeliever enters
immediately into eternal, conscious separation from the Lord and awaits the
resurrection of his or her body to everlasting suffering, judgment and
condemnation.
Baptism and the LordÕs Supper
Jesus Christ has instructed those who believe in Him to be baptized in water
as a symbol of their new birth in Christ. Baptism would be by immersion and
is only for those who have personally believed in Christ. The Lord also
instituted the LordÕs Supper as a remembrance of His suffering, death and
resurrection. Neither baptism nor the LordÕs Supper have any merit in
helping a person obtain eternal life.
The Church
All true believers make up the church worldwide and should assemble together
in local churches Ñfor worship, prayer, fellowship and teachingÑ to become
conformed to the image of Christ and to become equipped to carry out the
ÒGreat CommissionÓ that Christ gave His followers in Matthew 28:19-20.
Summitview Community Church is a part of the Great Commission Association
of Churches, a movement that began in the early 1970's on college campuses.
Our purpose is to carry out Christ's commission to share His Good News with
the whole world. We are a nondenominational, noncharismatic community Bible
church. |
