Statement of Faith

The Well Statement of Faith

The Bible: We believe that the Holy Bible, and only the Bible, is the authoritativeWord of God. It alone is the final authority in determining all doctrinal truths. TheBible, in its original writing, is both inspired and inerrant (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter1:20-21; Proverbs 30:5; Romans 16:25-26).Trinity: We believe that the Godhead eternally exists in three persons: the Father, theSon, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, having precisely the same nature,attributes, and perfections, and are worthy of precisely the same homage, confidence,and obedience. (Mark 12:29; John 1:1-4; Matthew 29:19-20; I Colossians 1:15-17;Philippians 2:6).Jesus Christ: We believe that Jesus Christ is God the Son, the Second Person of theTrinity. Jesus Christ is 100% man and 100% God. He is the only man ever to havelived a sinless life (John 1:1, 14, 20:28; I Timothy 2:5, 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Philippians2:5-6).Virgin Birth: Jesus Christ is the only-begotten Son of the Father, conceived by theHoly Spirit in the Virgin Mary. Therefore, Jesus is the Son of God (Matthew 1:18, 20,23; Luke 1:27-35; Isaiah 7:14).Redemption: Humanity was created good and upright, but by voluntarytransgression fell; our only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God(Genesis 1:26-31, 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21).Salvation: We are saved by grace (which is undeserved and unearned) through faithin Jesus Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection. Salvation is a gift from God, not aresult of our good works or of any human efforts (Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16,3:8; Titus 3:5; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 16:31; Hebrews 9:22).Christ’s Blood: Because Jesus Christ lived a sinless life, His blood shed on the crossof Calvary is 100% sufficient to cleanse us of all sins when appropriated individuallythrough repentance and faith. Jesus allowed Himself to be punished for the sins wehave committed, enabling all who believe to be freed from the penalty of sin (which isdeath) (I John 1:7; Revelation 1:5, 5:9; Colossians 1:20; Romans 3:10-12, 23; 5:9; John1:29).Repentance: Repentance is a commitment to turn away from sin in every area of ourlives and to follow Christ. Through repentance we individually receive forgiveness ofsins and appropriate salvation (Acts 2:38, 3:19).Christ Indwells All Believers: Christians are people who have invited the LordJesus Christ to come and live inside them by the Holy Spirit. They are putting theirtrust in what Christ accomplished for them when He died, was buried, and rose againfrom the dead (John 1:12, 14:17, 23, 15:4; Romans 8:11; Revelation 3:20).Water Baptism: After receiving the Lord Jesus Christ, the new convert iscommanded by the Word of God to be baptized in water in the Name of the Lord(Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12, 8:36-38, 10:47-48).The Church: The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through theSpirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of Christ’s great commission.Every person who is born of the spirit is an integral part of the church as a member ofthe body of believers (Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23).The Lord’s Supper: The Lord’s Supper is a unique time of communion in thepresence of God when the elements of bread and wine (or grape juice), expressing insome spiritual way the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, are taken by believersin remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross (I Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-25;Matthew 26:26-28; John 6:53-54; Luke 22:1-20).Baptism in the Holy Spirit or Second In-Filling: Initiated at Pentecost, HolySpirit Baptism or Second In-filling is the promise of the Father, given by Jesus afterHis ascension, to empower the Church to supernaturally communicate the gospelthroughout the whole earth (Acts 1:8, 14:3; Mark 16:20, 8:15-16, 19:2). When abeliever receives the baptism in the Holy Spirit, Scriptural precedent demonstratesthat he has both the potential and probability of experiencing various manifestationssuch as Scripture-based prophetic experiences, unknown tongues, and other visibleoutward signs (Acts 2:4-6, 2:7-18, 8:18, 10:46, 19:6).Sanctification: Sanctification is the ongoing process of being set apart for God,characterized by our yielding to God to complete the development of Christ’scharacter in us. A lifestyle of developing righteousness and holiness is the evidence toall men that Christ’s Spirit lives within us (I Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23; II Corinthians3:18, 6:14-18; II Thessalonians 2:1-3; Romans 8:29, 12:1-2; Hebrews 12:11).Health and Provision: We believe that, as part of Christ’s work of salvation, it isthe Father’s ultimate will for believers to become whole, healthy, and successful in allareas of life:Spiritually ( II Corinthians 5:17-21; Romans 10:9-10).Mentally and Emotionally (II Timothy 1:7; Romans 12:2; Isaiah 26:3).Physically (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:17; I Peter 2:24; Romans 8:11).Financially (Joshua 1:8; Malachi 3:10-11; Luke 6:38; II Corinthians 9:6-10;Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Psalm 34:10, 84:11; Philippians 4:19).Sexually (I Corinthians 6:9-11; I Thessalonians 4:3-7; Ephesians 2:1-7;Colossians 3:5-7).These promises don’t negate the experience of trials (John 16:33). The presence oftrials do not imply any sort of spiritual inferiority. These promises are merely a planby which God receives glory and man receives wholeness whether received in this lifeor the next.Healing of the Sick: Healing of the sick is illustrated in the life and ministry ofJesus and is included in the commission of Jesus to His disciples. Healing is aprovision of Christ’s atonement on the cross and is given as a sign which is to followbelievers (Matthew 8:16-17; Acts 8:6-7; James 5:14-16; III John 1:2; Psalm 103:2-3;Isaiah 53:5; Mark 16:17-18).Second Coming: Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for thesecond time to establish His kingdom. This will occur at a time undisclosed byScriptures (Revelation 1:7; Acts 1:9-11; Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64; I Thessalonians4:15, 17; II Thessalonians 1:7-8).Resurrection: We believe that Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from thedead in a glorified body three days after His death on the cross. One day all believersin Christ will also be physically resurrected in glorified bodies to their reward inheaven with God (Luke 24:16, 36, 39; Philippians 1:21-23, 3:21; I Corinthians 15:42,44; John 2:19-21,20:26-28, 21:4; Acts 24:15).Heaven: Heaven is the eternal dwelling place of all who believe in Jesus Christ (IICorinthians 5:1; I Peter 1:4; Hebrews 11:16; John 17:24; Matthew 5:3, 12, 20, 6:20,19:21, 25:34).Hell: After living one life on earth, those who have rejected Christ will be judgedjustly by God and sent to Hell, where they will be eternally tormented together withthe devil and the fallen angels (Hebrews 9:27; Matthew 25:41-46; Daniel 12:2;Revelation 14:9-11, 20:12-15, 21:8; Mark 9:43-48).Marriage / Sexuality: We believe that God has created sexual parameters for allmankind through His word (I Thessalonians 4:3-7; I Corinthians 5:11, 6:9-10;Colossians 3:5). Sexuality is to be shared in the context of holy matrimony betweenone man, born as a man, and one woman, born as a woman (Hebrews 13:4; ICorinthians 6:15; Romans 1:26-27; Matthew 19:4-6). God empowers all believers withthe power to transform their desires to His standards (I Corinthians 6:11; Colossians3:7) for the ultimate purpose of joy. Accordingly, this Church, its pastors, staff, andmembers will not participate in same-sex unions or same-sex marriages, nor will itsproperty or resources be used for such purposes.