Statement of Faith
One True God
We believe in one true and holy God. (Deuteronomy 6:4)
Infallibility of Scripture
We believe the Bible to be the only inspired, infallible Word of God. (2 Peter 1:21 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity. On earth, Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. He is the only man ever to have lived a sinless life. (John 1:1, 14, 20:28; I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Philippians 2:5-6;
I Timothy 2:5)
The Trinity
We believe the Godhead consists of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (2 Corinthians 13:14 and John 1:1-3)
Mankind is Sinful
We believe that sin entered the world by one man, Adam, and brought death, both spiritual and physical, upon the human race. (Genesis 2:17 and Romans 5:12)
Salvation
We believe that salvation from sin is available to all men through faith in Jesus Christ's atoning death and resurrection. (John 3:16 and John 3:3-8)
Water Baptism
We believe in water baptism to identify with Christ's death and resurrection. (Romans 6:3-4)
Baptism in the Holy Spirit
Given at Pentecost, it is the promise of the Father, sent by Jesus after His ascension, to empower the Church to fulfill its mission throughout the whole earth. We believe that the gift of speaking in tongues is frequently released when Christians are baptized in the Holy Spirit. This happens to encourage believers and to enhance their prayer lives. (Joel 2:28-29; Matthew 3:11; Mark 16:17; Acts 1:5, 8; 2:1-4, 17, 38-39; 8:14-17; 10:38, 44-47; 11:15-17; 19:1-6)
Gifts of the Spirit
We believe in, practice, and encourage the use of the Gifts of the Spirit, needful to confirm God's word and encourage the Body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:7-11; 1 Corinthians 1:4; Mark 16:20)
Virgin Birth
Jesus Christ was conceived by God the Father through the Holy Spirit (the third person of the Trinity) in the virgin Mary's womb; therefore He is the Son of God. (Matthew 1:18, 30; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:27-35)
Ressurection
Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after His death on the cross. One day, all believers in Christ will also be physically resurrected in their glorified bodies to their eternal reward in Heaven with God. (John 2:19-21, 20:26-28, 21:4; Acts 24:14-16; I Corinthians 15; Philippians 1:21-23, 3:21)
Second Coming
Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to the earth for the second time to establish His Kingdom. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures. (Matthew 24:36-41, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; I Thessalonians 4:13-18: 5:1-2; Revelation 1:7)
Biblical Lifestyle, Sexuality, Marriage, Gender & Human Life Statements of Belief.
1.Biblical Lifestyle; Sexuality: The Church stands firmly upon the Scriptural and historical truth claims and moral foundation of biblical Christianity. This includes, but is not limited to, the biblical definition of marriage, the attendant boundaries of sexuality and moral conduct, and the clear biblical teaching that gender is both sacred and established by God's design. Persons who choose to become members of the Church, are agreeing to support these and other basic biblical values derived from Scriptural and historical Christianity. These values oppose and prohibit living in, practicing, condoning, or supporting sex outside of marriage, adultery, homosexuality, bi-sexuality, bestiality, incest, gender identity different than the birth sex chromosomal level, pornography, or other sexual immorality (Leviticus, 20:13a, Romans 1:27, Matthew 19:4-6).
2. Marriage: The Church believes that every person is created in the image of God, and that human sexuality reflects that image in terms of intimate love, communication, fellowship, and subordination of the self. God's Word makes use of the marriage relationship as the supreme metaphor for His relationship with His covenant people. Therefore, God's plan for human sexuality is that it is to be expressed only in a monogamous lifelong relationship between one biological man and one biological woman within the framework of marriage. We further believe such marriages serve as the foundation of healthy families and societies. This is the only relationship that is divinely designed for the birth and rearing of children and is a union made in the sight of God. The Church believes that the term "marriage" has only one meaning: the uniting of one biological man and one biological woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Gen. 1:27-28; 2:18, 20, 23-24; Isa. 54:4-8; 62:5b; Jer. 3:14; Ezek. 16; Hosea 2; Mal. 2:14; Matt. 19:4-6; Mark 10:9; Eph. 5:23-32; Heb. 13:4; and Rev. 19:7-8).
3. Gender: The Church believes that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. A person’s rejection of his or her biological sex is a rejection of the image of God as reflected in the person (Gen 1:26-27).
4. Sanctity of Human Life: The Church believes that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. The Church is therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life, beginning at conception (Ps. 139).
Communion
Communion is a time of celebrating Christ’s victory over sin and death, which Jesus instructed His followers to do. We use bread and grape juice which represent the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and we take them in remembrance of Jesus’ death on the cross. (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 16:16; I Corinthians 10:16-17, 11:23-32)
Our Tenets/Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For the purposes of Church of the Good Shepherd’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Senior Pastor and Elder’s are Church of the Good Shepherd’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.