Our Belief
WHAT WE BELIEVE
The Godhead
We believe that the Godhead eternally exists in three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—and that these three are one God. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Genesis 1:26; Matthew 28:19)
The Holy Scriptures
We believe the Holy Scriptures to be the verbal, inspired Word of God; authoritative, and without error in the original manuscripts. We further believe that the Scriptures of both the Old and New Testaments are designed for our practical instructions in faith and conduct. (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:21)
The Fall of Man and Salvation
We believe that humanity was created in the image of God, but through disobedience, fell from innocence and purity. Even though we were all sinner, Christ died for us, signing a pardon for all those who believe on Him. So now, there is salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 3:16, Romans 5)
The Christian Life
We believe that it is the will of God that we be sanctified and grow daily in our faith. The Christian life is filled with storms, tests and spiritual enemies. The inadequacy of the individuals and of the Church are being made holy is a process. The promises of eternal blessing in the presence of God are assured for those abiding in Christ until their death and His return. It requires dependence upon the Holy Spirit and a willingness to die to personal desires and passions, to remain faithful through all of life’s circumstance. (1 Thessalonians 5:33; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Romans 8:29; Romans 12:1-2; Hebrews 2:11; Hebrews6: 1)
The Church
We believe that all who are united to the risen and ascended Son of God are members of the Church, which is the body of Christ. (I Corinthians 12:12-27; Acts 2: 42-47) We believe that the explicit message of our Lord Jesus Christ to those whom He has saved is to make Christ known to the whole world and that this is the purpose of the Church through the individuals within it. (Matthew 28: 18-19; Acts 1:8; II Corinthians 5:11-21). We believe that local churches, such as New Hope Community Fellowship, gather together for practical instruction in the Scriptures, for fellowship with God and with other believers, and for corporate witness to the unsaved world. Our common spiritual goal is to grow toward Christ’s likeness. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts2: 42-47; Romans 12:5; Ephesians 4:13-16)
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ instituted the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper to be observed by all believers until His return. (Matthew 28:19; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 10: 47-48) We believe that the ordinance of baptism is immersion of the believer in water as it sets forth the essential facts in redemption—the death and resurrection of Christ and the essential resurrection to newness of life. (Romans 6:4; Acts 8:26-39) We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a privilege afforded to all believers in commemoration of our Lord’s death until He comes. (I Corinthians 11:23-28)
The Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ
We believe that a future period of great tribulation on the earth will climaxed by the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth as He went in person in the clouds with the power and great glory to establish His millennial kingdom. But prior to this tribulation, we believe there will be the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in the air to receive to Himself into Heaven both His own who are alive and remain until His coming and also, all who have died in Christ Jesus. (I Thessalonians 4:13-17; Zechariah 14:4-11; Revelation 3:10)
