A Belief Statement
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and though him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV)
Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV)
Our faith is neither rooted in a philosophy or abstract statements. Christianity is rooted in Jesus of Nazareth, the supreme revelation of God. Likewise, the gospel is not a set of doctrines or advice. The gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ; of God’s restoring everything to Himself in the death and resurrection of His Son, offering eternal salvation to all who believe.
Our congregation’s “belief statement” is therefore not an affirmation of certain models, systematic theologies, principles, or abstract philosophies, but a confession of our belief in what God has revealed, accomplished, and commanded through Jesus Christ, “the founder and perfector of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).
Any questions concerning our beliefs can be sent via email to andrew@elbc.org
Our congregation’s “belief statement” is therefore not an affirmation of certain models, systematic theologies, principles, or abstract philosophies, but a confession of our belief in what God has revealed, accomplished, and commanded through Jesus Christ, “the founder and perfector of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).
Any questions concerning our beliefs can be sent via email to andrew@elbc.org
God
JESUS REVEALS THE TRIUNE GOD IN THE FLESH.
“Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9)
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14)
“He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…’” (Luke 4:17-18)
“Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9)
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14)
“He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…’” (Luke 4:17-18)
creation
JESUS PRECEDES ALL OF CREATION; SUSTAINS ALL OF CREATION; RULES ALL OF CREATION; IS THE ONE FOR WHOM ALL OF CREATION EXISTS; WILL ONE DAY REDEEM AND RENEW ALL OF CREATION.
“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him" (Colossians 1:16-17)
“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him" (Colossians 1:16-17)
scripture
JESUS AFFIRMS THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE, WHICH IS INSPIRED BY HIS SPIRIT TO BEAR WITNESS TO HIM.
“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27)
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me” (John 5:39)
“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27)
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me” (John 5:39)
salvation
JESUS DEMONSTRATES HIS LOVE FOR SINNERS BY HIS SUBSTITUTIONARY DEATH ON THE CROSS; RENDERS SIN AND DEATH POWERLESS BY HIS RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD; AND SECURES ETERNAL LIFE FOR ALL WHO REPENT AND BELIEVE.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16)
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God” (Roman 5:8-9)
“When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:54-56)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16)
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God” (Roman 5:8-9)
“When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:54-56)
kingdom
JESUS USHERS IN GOD’S KINGDOM; REIGNS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER; REVEALS GOD’S KINGDOM IN AND THROUGH HIS CHURCH; AND WILL PERFECT GOD’S KINGDOM UPON HIS RETURN.
“Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel’” (Mark 1:14-15)
“Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel’” (Mark 1:14-15)
church
JESUS CALLS MEN AND WOMEN FROM ALL NATIONS INTO FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM AND ONE ANOTHER; EMPOWERS THEM WITH HIS SPIRIT; AND ORDAINS THEM FOR HIS ONGOING MISSION AND MINISTRY ON EARTH.
“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age'“ (Matthew 28:18-20)
“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age'“ (Matthew 28:18-20)
ordinances
JESUS MODELS BAPTISM BY IMMERSION AS A SIGN OF SALVATION IN RESPONSE TO THE GOSPEL.
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness’” (Matthew 3:13-15)
JESUS GIVES THE CHURCH HIS SUPPER AS A SYMBOL OF HIS ATONING DEATH AND ENDURING PRESENCE, AND AS A PROMISE OF HIS COMING AGAIN.
“And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood’” (Luke 22:19-20)
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness’” (Matthew 3:13-15)
JESUS GIVES THE CHURCH HIS SUPPER AS A SYMBOL OF HIS ATONING DEATH AND ENDURING PRESENCE, AND AS A PROMISE OF HIS COMING AGAIN.
“And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood’” (Luke 22:19-20)
marriage
JESUS AFFIRMS THE LIFELONG, MONOGAMOUS MARITAL UNION OF MAN AND WOMAN.
“Jesus answered, ‘Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate’” (Matthew 19:4-6)
“Jesus answered, ‘Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate’” (Matthew 19:4-6)
Return
JESUS PROMISES TO RETURN AND MAKE ALL THINGS NEW.
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)