STATEMENT OF FAITH
The Elders of Unite Church believe that it is vital to the spiritual health and public witness of our fellowship that we articulate and celebrate the glorious truths that God has graciously revealed to us in the Scriptures. These doctrinal truths bring stability to the church in the midst of widespread confusion and equip the people of God to confront both the false religions and secularism of our society.
We believe that it is best and most biblical not to discover how little can be believed simply to get by, or to find the lowest common denominator of doctrine around which all can gather, but to elevate the fullness of biblical truth and to teach and hold fast to the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).
While avoiding arrogant and divisive dogmatism on secondary issues, we do believe that the Bible speaks clearly on the essential concepts of the Christian faith and that it is our responsibility to proclaim “the good doctrine” (1 Tim. 4:6) and to “guard the good deposit” (2 Tim. 1:14) entrusted to us. That is why we have undertaken to define as clearly as possible what we believe to be the foundational principles of the Scriptures.
We do not believe that every article in this statement of faith is of equal importance. Some are considerably more essential than others. Thus we do not believe that every doctrine stated below must be believed in order for someone to be saved.
It should also be understood that this statement of faith is not a requirement for people who attend Unite Church, as if to suggest that disagreement with any particular assertion disqualifies a person from being actively engaged in the ministries of this local body of believers. We welcome and embrace all who believe in and follow the Lord Jesus Christ, whether or not they can affirm every article of faith in this statement. We welcome and embrace all who are still searching for spiritual truth and have not yet acknowledged Jesus as Lord and Savior.
We do not claim perfection for this statement of faith. God’s Word alone is inerrant and infallible, not our interpretations of it. Thus we will always be open to correction from Scripture and will refine this statement as the Spirit teaches and guides the elders of the church.
Our hope and prayer is that we will know how “to contend [without being contentious] for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3), and that by faithfully and humbly holding fast to the word of truth we will both honor the Lord Jesus Christ and be a rich and encouraging blessing to his bride, the church.
THE TRINITY
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; they are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption. The differences among the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are found in the way they relate to one another and the role each plays in accomplishing their unified purpose. The biblical teaching on the Trinity embodies four essential affirmations:
- There is one and only one true and living God.
- God eternally exists in three persons, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
- These three persons are completely equal in attributes, each with the same divine nature.
- While each person is fully and completely God, the persons are not identical.
(Genesis 1:1, 26; John 1:1, 3; Matthew 28:19; John 4:24; Romans 1:19, 20; Ephesians 4:5, 6)
GOD THE FATHER
We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He infallibly knows all that shall come to pass; He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; He hears and answers prayer; and He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
(Luke 10:21, 22; Matthew 23:9; John 3:16; 6:27; Romans 1:7; I Timothy 1:1,2; 2:5,6; I Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:6)
JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. We believe that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. We believe that when the eternal Son became flesh, He took on a fully human nature, so that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures were inseparably joined together in one Person, without confusion or mixture. Thus the Person, Jesus Christ, was and is truly God and truly man, yet one Christ and the only Mediator between God and man. Jesus Christ lived a sinless life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of perfect righteousness for all who trusted in God prior to the cross and all who would trust in Christ thereafter. Through His death in our place, the just for the unjust, Christ absorbed our punishment, appeased God’s wrath against us, and removed the condemnation of the law against us. He rose from the dead after three days and defeated death so that we could have eternal life. He ascended into heaven where, at God’s right hand, He intercedes for His people and is Lord and King over all. He will physically return again someday to Earth. He is the Head of His body, the Church, and should be adored, loved, worshiped, served and obeyed by all.
(Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:22-23, 28:19-20; John 1:14; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 1:3-4, 3:21-22, 3:25-26, 4:3; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:7, 4:15-16; Colossians 1:14, 18; 1 Timothy 2:5-6, 3:16; 1 Peter 2:22)
THE HOLY SPIRT
The Holy Spirit is present in the world to bring glory to Jesus Christ and to make people aware of their need for Him. He is equal in deity with the Father and the Son. He also lives in every believer from the moment of Salvation. The Holy Spirit convicts people of their sin, God’s righteousness, and the coming judgment. He comforts us, gives every believer spiritual gifts, makes us more like Christ (sanctification), empowers and anoints us for ministry and witness, and has sealed us for the day of redemption. How the Holy Spirit Glorifies Christ:
- The Spirit illumines the Bible (the centrality of Christ)
- The Spirit empowers gospel preaching (proclamation of Christ)
- The Spirit brings regeneration (new life in Christ)
- The Spirit sanctifies the believer (transformation into the image of Christ)
(Luke 24:27, 44-48; John 3:5-8, 14:16-17, 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:9-11, 29; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16, 12:4, 12-13, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, 13:14; Ephesians 1:13-14, 5:18; 1 John 3:2)
THE BIBLE
We believe that the Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is the infallible and inspired Word of God. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is truth without error in the original writings and is completely relevant for our daily lives. It is the final authority for faith and life.
(Psalm 119:11; 105; 160; Isaiah 40:8; Jeremiah 15:16; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
THE GOSPEL
We believe that the gospel is the good news of what God has accomplished for sinners through the life, death, and resurrection of his Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. The gospel is centered in Christ and is not proclaimed if his death and resurrection are not the focus of our message. The church is responsible for the declaration of this good news and the defense of it against all who would seek to distort or re-define its core truths. The gospel is the foundation for the life of the Church and our only hope for eternal life. The Gospel is not only the means by which people are saved, but also the means by which people are sanctified. The truth of the Gospel enables us to genuinely and joyfully do that which is pleasing to God and to grow in progressive conformity to the image of Christ.
(Mark 1:1; Luke 24:46-47; John 3:16-18; Romans 1:16-17; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; 2:2; 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 4:1-6; 9:13; Galatians 1:6-9; 2 Timothy 1:8-14; Jude 3-4)
SALVATION-GOD'S ONLY WAY
Salvation is a free gift from God, and it cannot be earned through our own efforts, but we must accept it through faith. The blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, provides the only way to salvation. We believe that God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world and will, through the work of the Holy Spirit, draw the elect to faith in his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. We are therefore justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. No ordinance, ritual, work, or any other activity on the part of man is required in order to be saved. This saving grace of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, also sanctifies us by enabling us to do what is pleasing in God’s sight in order that we might be progressively conformed to the image of Christ.
(John 1:12-13; 3:16, 6:37-44; 10:25-30; 14:6, Acts 13:48; 16:30-31; Romans 3-4; 5:1, 8:1-17,31-39; 9:1-23; 10:8-10; Galatians 4:6-7; Ephesians 1:4-5; 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; Titus 3:3-7; Hebrews 5:9; 1 John 1:7,9; Revelation 3:20)
THE CHURCH
We believe that the Church is the Bride of Christ and is comprised of all believers in every age. The Church is also God’s primary instrument through which he is fulfilling his redemptive purposes in the earth. We believe that God has called the Church to preach the gospel to all nations. We also affirm the priesthood of all believers and the importance of every Christian being joined with and actively involved in a local community of believers.
(Isaiah 58:6-12; 61:1; Matthew 16:17-19; 28:18-20; Luke 4:18; 21:1-4; Acts 2:17-18,42; Galatians 2:10; Ephesians 3:14-21; 4:11-16; 1 Timothy 6:8; Hebrews 10:23-25; 1 Peter 2:4-5,9-10)
SPIRITUAL GIFTS
We believe that the ministry of the Spirit in signs and wonders continues to be as broad, tangible, and powerful among believers today as it was in the early church. We also believe that all the biblical gifts of the Spirit continue to be distributed by the Spirit today; that these gifts are divine provisions central to spiritual growth and effective ministry; and that these gifts are to be eagerly desired, faithfully developed, and lovingly exercised according to biblical guidelines.
(John 14:12; Acts 2:14-21; 4:29-30; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; 12:28-31; 14:1-33)
ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS
Human beings are created in the image and likeness of God. We were created to glorify God and to have fellowship with God but became separated in that relationship through sin. As a result, we cannot attain a right relationship with God through our own effort. However, we find hope in salvation through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus’ death on the cross. Every human being is uniquely created and is worthy of Christian love and respect.
(Genesis 1:27; John 3:16; Romans 3:10-12; Romans 3:23; Colossians 1:21-22)
BIBLICAL MANHOOD AND WOMANHOOD
We believe that both men and women are together created in the divine image and are therefore equal before God as persons, possessing the same moral dignity and value, and have equal access to God through faith in Christ. We also believe that men and women are together the recipients of spiritual gifts designed to equip and empower them for ministry in the local church and beyond. We also believe that God has ordained the principle of male headship in both the home and in the local church and that certain governing and teaching roles are restricted to men (primarily the office of Elder).
(Genesis 1:26-27; 2:18; 1 Corinthians 11:2-16; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 3:18-19; 1 Timothy 2:11-15; 3:1-7; 1 Peter 3:1-7)
BAPTISM
We believe that Christian baptism by immersion in water is a public identification with Jesus Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Although baptism is not required for salvation, it is commanded for all believers. Once we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, baptism is the way for us to publicly declare our new life in Christ.
(Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41; Colossians 2:12)
COMMUNION
Communion is the commemoration by believers of Christ’s death and a reminder of the Savior’s broken body and shed blood. Communion is to be a time that should be preceded by careful self-examination and should be celebrated regularly in remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice and in expectation of His return.
(Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29)
ETERNITY
We believe that when Christians die they pass immediately into the blessed presence of Christ, there to enjoy conscious fellowship with the Savior until the day of the resurrection and glorious transformation of the body. The saved will then forever dwell in blissful fellowship with their great Triune God. We also believe that when unbelievers die they are consigned to hell, there to await the day of judgment when they shall be punished with eternal separation from the presence of God.
(Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:19-31; John 5:25-29; 1 Corinthians 15:35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Philippians 1:19-26; 3:20-21; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:1-22:15)
