STATEMENT OF FAITH
PREAMBLE
As members of the Westport Community Church, we unite together as a body of Christian believers to promote sound doctrine which leads to "love from a pure heart." By this, we endeavor to equip each member for the works of service, so that the whole body of Christ may be built up. (1 Timothy 1:5; Ephesians 4:12,13)
THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
We believe the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original writings, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, with supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. (Romans 15:4; II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21)
THE TRINITY
We believe in one God, Creator of all things, eternally existing in three persons, equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption. (Deut. 6:4; Mt. 28: 19; In. 1: 1-4; 1 In. 5:7)
GOD THE FATHER
We believe in the Person of God the Father, an infinite personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, (Isa. 57:15), infinite in wisdom, (Rom. 11:33), measureless in power, (Isa. 40:25,26), with an everlasting love, (Jer.31 :3). We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (In. 3:16-17, 4:24, 17:5)
JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ is God and man, the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe that He was born of the Virgin Mary, that he lived a sinless life, and that He performed the miracles recorded in the Gospels. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, His bodily resurrection and ascension into heaven where He now makes perpetual intercession for His people. We believe in His personal, visible return to earth to gather His own and to bring judgment on all who reject Him. (Isaiah 7:14; John 1:14; Philippians 2:5-11; I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Hebrews 1:2-3; I John 1:7;
I Timothy 4:1)
THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment; and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ and that He gives gifts to each one. He is an abiding Helper, Teacher and Guide. (John 16:7-15; Romans 8:14-17;
Ephesians 1 :13-14; 4:11,12; I John 14:26)
MAN AND SIN
We believe that man was created in the image of God and after His likeness, but in Adam fell into sin, and is therefore lost and spiritually dead. As a result every person is under condemnation and only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life be obtained. (Genesis 1:26,27;
Romans 3:23,5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 8:7)
SALVATION
We believe that the blood of Jesus Christ provides the only grounds for justification and salvation for all who believe. We believe that salvation is a gift of God's grace that can only be received through repentance and faith. Therefore, only those who receive Jesus Christ are born of the Holy Spirit and thus become children of God. (Ephesians 1 :7; 2:8,9; 1 Corinthians 15; Acts 2:38; John 1 :12; Romans 10:9,10)
THE CHURCH
We believe that the Church is made up of all persons who through saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the body of Christ of which He is the Head. We believe that only those who are members of the true Church shall be eligible for membership in the local church. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church, and that every local church has the right under Christ to decide and govern its own affairs. (Ephesians 5:23;
1Corinthians 12:13)
CHURCH ORDINANCES
We believe that water baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances to be observed by the Church during the present age. They are, however, not to be regarded as a means of salvation. (Acts 2:38; Matthew 28:19-20; 1Corinthians 11:23-28)
ANGELS
We believe that angels that kept their first estate, are created spirit beings who are empowered to worship God and execute His providence. (EzekiaI28:12-14; John 1 :3; Hebrews 1 :14)
SATAN AND DEMONS
We believe that Satan, a fallen angel, is the responsible agent of sin; that as he opposes the work of Christ in the world, he is doomed to face certain, eternal judgment along with the demons and fallen angels.
(I Peter 5:8,9; Revelation 12:9).
THE RESURRECTION
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead; of the believer to eternal life and rewards, and of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting conscious punishment. (Matthew 16:27; Matthew 25:46)
THE SECOND COMING
We believe in the personal, pre-millennial and imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ and that this "blessed hope" has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer. (Titus 2:13; 2 Tim. 4:1)
