We believe that there is one true and living God, an infinite, eternal, and personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. He is the Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, and Sovereign Ruler of all things. God eternally exists in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—coequal in deity, consubstantial in essence (that is, of the same divine nature, each fully and equally God), and distinct in person and function.

We believe that God’s nature is revealed through His divine attributes, which are neither divided nor separable, but are perfectly united in His being. God is not composed of parts but is indivisible in His essence. He is one, possessing perfect unity of being. He is infinite, without limitation, and eternal, existing without beginning, end, or succession of time. God is immutable, unchanging in His being, purposes, and promises. He is omnipresent, fully present in all places while remaining distinct from His creation. He is sovereign, exercising absolute authority and rule over all things according to His will.

Furthermore, God is omniscient, knowing all things actual and possible, past, present, and future. He is omnipotent, possessing all power to accomplish His holy will. He is just, perfectly righteous and impartial in all His ways. He is love, eternally seeking and expressing His own glory and the highest good according to His will. He is truth, the source and standard of all truth, perfectly consistent within Himself. God is free, acting in accordance with His own nature and independent of all created things. He is holy, altogether set apart, pure, and perfect in righteousness.”

Genesis 21:33; Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Kings 8:27; Psalm 139:7–12; Psalm 147:5; Isaiah 6:3; Isaiah 40:13–14; Jeremiah 32:17; Matthew 28:19; Matthew 19:26; John 1:1–3, 14; John 4:24; John 10:30; John 14:6; Acts 5:3–4; Acts 17:24, 31; Romans 11:33; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 1:11; Ephesians 2:4–5; Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 4:13; James 1:17; 1 John 1:5; Revelation 4:8; Revelation 19:6

GOD THE FATHER

We believe that God the Father is the first person of the Holy Trinity. He is eternally Father—without beginning—and lives in perfect relationship with the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Bible speaks of the Son as being “begotten” of the Father and the Spirit as “proceeding” from Him. These words help us understand the closeness and relationship within the Trinity, though they cannot fully capture the mystery of God’s eternal nature.

As Father, He shares fully and equally in the one divine nature with the Son and the Holy Spirit, so that each person is truly and fully God—equal in glory, power, and authority. The Father does not possess anything that He withholds from the Son or the Spirit, but gives fully of Himself, so that the three persons are perfectly united in being and purpose, working together with one will.

God the Father is the Creator of all things, the One who reveals Himself to us, and the One who lovingly purposes redemption. From Him, through the Son, and by the Spirit, all things exist and are sustained. As the one true God, He reigns over all creation and history, faithfully accomplishing His purposes according to His will and for His glory.

Genesis 1:1; 2:7; 21:33; Exodus 3:14; 6:2–3; 15:11–18; 20:1–17; Leviticus 22:2; Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:6; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Psalms 19:1–3; 139:7–12; 147:5; Isaiah 6:3; 40:13–14; 43:3, 15; 64:8; Jeremiah 10:10; 17:13; 32:17; Daniel 4:35; Matthew 6:9–13; 7:11; 11:21; 19:26; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9–11; John 1:1–3, 14; 4:24; 5:26; 6:37–39, 44; 10:30; 14:6–13; 17:1–8; Acts 1:7; 5:3–4; 17:24, 31; Romans 8:14–15; 11:33–36; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:3–5, 9–11; 4:6; Colossians 1:15; 2:9; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 1:3; 4:13; 11:6; 12:9; James 1:17; 1 Peter 1:17; 1 John 1:5; Revelation 4:8; 19:6

GOD THE SON

The Lord Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity. He is the eternal Son of God. Without ceasing to be God, He became a man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and was born to a virgin named Mary with the purpose of redeeming sinful mankind. Jesus Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice at the instruction of the Father. He fulfilled the demands of God by His obedient life, died on the cross in full substitution and payment for the sins of all, was buried, and arose physically and bodily from the dead on the third day. He ascended into heaven physically where He now intercedes for all believers. He lives forever as perfect God and perfect man.
 
Genesis 18:1; Psalms 2:7; 110:1; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 53:1-12; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16,27; 17:5; 27; 28:1-6,19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John 1:1-18,29;10:30,38; 11:25-27; 12:44-50; 14:7-11; 16:15-16,28; 17:1-5, 21-22; 20:1-20,28; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; 9:4-5,20; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 5:6-21; 8:1-3,34; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1-8,24-28; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; 8:9; Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:20; 3:11; 4:7-10; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:13-22; 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16; Titus 2:13-14; Hebrews 1:1-3; 4:14-15; 7:14-28; 9:12-15,24-28; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 3:22; 1 John 1:7-9; 3:2; 4:14-15; 5:9; 2 John 7-9; Revelation 1:13-16; 5:9-14; 12:10-11; 13:8; 19:16
 
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, proceeding from the Father and the Son and equal in deity. He is the giver of all life, and is active in the creating and ordering of the universe. He is the agent of inspiration. The Holy Spirit convicts mankind of sin and is the supernatural agent of regeneration, indwelling all believers and sealing them until the day of redemption.
 
Genesis 1:2; Judges 14:6; Job 26:13; Psalms 51:11; 139:7; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Matthew 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28-32; 28:19; Mark 1:10,12; Luke 1:35; 4:1,18-19; 11:13; 12:12; 24:49; John 4:24; 14:16-17,26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4,38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17,39; 10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 19:1-6; Romans 8:9-11,14-16,26-27; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 3:16; 12:3-11,13; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; 1 Timothy 3:16; 4:1; 2 Timothy 1:14; 3:16; Hebrews 9:8,14; 2 Peter1:21; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-7; Revelation 1:10; 22:17

We affirm that God alone is the Creator of all things, visible and invisible. He created the heavens, the earth, and all living things according to His sovereign will and for His glory. Angels were created by God as ministering spirits to serve His purposes; however, some angels, under the leadership of Satan, rebelled against God and fell from their original holy state, becoming agents of evil and opposition to God’s purposes.

We believe that God created the universe in six literal twenty-four-hour days and that He continually sustains and governs all creation by His power. Creation displays the glory, wisdom, and truth of God and bears witness to His eternal nature and divine authority.

We further affirm that human beings were directly and intentionally created by God in His image and likeness. Humanity is not the product of evolutionary processes but of God’s purposeful creative act, possessing inherent dignity, value, and accountability before Him.

Genesis 1:1; Ex. 20:11; Acts 4:24; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3; John 1:3; Revelation 10:6; Romans 1:20; Acts 17:23-26; Jeremiah 10:12; Nahum 9:6; Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:21-23; Genesis 1:11; Genesis 1:24

God created humanity as male and female in His image and likeness, granting every human being inherent dignity, value, and accountability before Him. Because human life bears the image of God, it is to be honored, protected, and treated with dignity from conception until natural death. Humanity was created to live in fellowship with God and to exercise faithful stewardship over creation under His authority.

Tempted by Satan, Adam, the first man, willfully rebelled against God, bringing sin and death into the world. Through this fall, humanity inherited a sinful nature that separates mankind from God and is demonstrated through sinful thoughts, desires, and actions. As a result, all people stand guilty before a holy and righteous God and are justly deserving of His condemnation.

Because of sin, mankind is spiritually lost and incapable of restoring itself to God through personal effort, morality, or religious works. Apart from the saving work of Jesus Christ through His death and resurrection, humanity remains hopelessly separated from God. Only through Christ’s sacrificial atonement can sinners be forgiven, reconciled to God, and granted eternal life.

Genesis 1:26-30; 2:5,7,18-22; 3; 9:6; Psalms 1; 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; 139:14-16; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Matthew 16:26; Acts 17:26-31; Luke 1:44; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18,23; 5:6,12,19; 6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18,29; 1Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19,21-22; Ephesians 2:1-22; Colossians 1:21-22

The Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired Word of God, written by human authors who were superintended by the Holy Spirit so that, through their individual personalities, backgrounds, and writing styles, they recorded exactly what God intended to communicate. Scripture is God’s true, trustworthy, and complete revelation of Himself, given without any mixture of error in the original manuscripts and fully authoritative in all matters to which it speaks.

We affirm that faithful translations accurately communicate the truth of God’s Word and make the Scriptures accessible to His people. The Bible is to be understood through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, who enables believers to rightly receive, understand, and apply its truth. The meaning of Scripture is determined through the historical, grammatical, and literary context intended by the human authors under divine inspiration, while interpreting Scripture in harmony with Scripture.

We recognize the Apocrypha as valuable historical and religious writings that provide insight into the historical setting between the Old and New Testaments; however, we do not regard these writings as divinely inspired Scripture or as carrying the same authority as the canonical books of the Holy Bible.

The Bible stands as the supreme authority for faith, practice, and church order, providing the foundation for Christian unity and the final standard for all human belief, conduct, and doctrine. No human tradition, religious creed, philosophical opinion, cultural trend, false science, or popular consensus may override or stand equal to the clear teaching of God’s Word.

Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 17:19; Joshua 8:34; Psalms 19:7-10; 119:11,89,105,140; Isaiah 34:16; 40:8; Jeremiah 15:16; 36:1-32; Matthew 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Acts 2:16; 17:11; Romans 15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21

Jesus Christ died for the sins of the whole world, and His atoning sacrifice is sufficient for all people. God genuinely offers salvation to all, desiring that all who repent and believe in Jesus Christ be saved. The Bible teaches that salvation is found only through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ—His sinless life, sacrificial death, burial, and bodily resurrection. Salvation is received by grace through faith and not by human merit, works, or religious effort.

Salvation involves the redemption of the whole person and is freely offered to all who trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Through His own blood, Christ secured eternal redemption for all who believe. Salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and ultimately glorification. Repentance is a sincere turning away from sin and turning toward God in faith and submission. Saving faith is more than intellectual agreement; it is the wholehearted trust in and commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Regeneration, or the new birth, is the gracious work of God through which the believer is made spiritually alive and becomes a new creation in Christ. This work is accomplished by the Holy Spirit through the conviction of sin and the application of God’s Word.

Justification is God’s gracious act by which He forgives sin and declares the believer righteous on the basis of the righteousness of Jesus Christ imputed to them through faith. Through justification, the believer is brought into peace and fellowship with God.

Sanctification is the ongoing work of God by which believers are progressively conformed to the image of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and obedience to God’s Word.

Glorification is the final and complete fulfillment of salvation, when believers are fully perfected in holiness and forever dwell in the presence of God.

Genesis 3:15; Exodus 3:14-17; 6:2-8; Matthew 1:21; 4:17; 16:21-26; 27:22-28:6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:11-14,29; 3:3-21,36; 5:24; 10:9,28-29; 15:1-16; 17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:30-31; 17:30-31; 20:32; Romans 1:16-18; 2:4; 3:23-25; 4:3; 5:8-10; 6:1-23; 8:1-18,29-39; 10:9-10,13; 13:11-14; 1 Corinthians 1:18,30; 6:19-20; 15:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; 5:22-25; 6:15; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-22; 4:11-16; Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 1:9-22; 3:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 2:11-14

We affirm that marriage is designed and instituted by God to unite one natural-born man and one natural-born woman in a lifelong covenant with Him and with one another. It exists to foster holy, intimate companionship, to serve as an illustration of the relationship between Jesus and His church, and to provide for the bearing and raising of children in the faith.

We believe that God has given a clear design and boundaries for human sexuality and identity. God creates each person as male or female, and we seek to honor that given identity in both belief and practice. We hold that sexual intimacy is intended for marriage between a man and a woman, and that expressions outside of this design—such as adultery, fornication, and other immoral sexual practices—do not reflect God’s purpose and are therefore considered sin.

Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:26-28; Psalms 51:5; 78:1-8; Psalms 127; Psalms 128; 139:13-16; Proverbs 1:8; 5:15-20; 6:20-22; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6;18:22; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 24:3; 29:15,17; 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 9:9; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32;18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Timothy 5:8,14; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7

There is one church, the body and bride of Christ, and it is expressed in local assemblies of baptized believers under the discipline of the Bible and the lordship of Christ. The mission of the Church is to glorify God by making disciples who love God and love people. It administers the ordinances of believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The church is led by pastors (elders) and ministered to by deacons (taking care of widows, orphans, needs, and hurting).  Each church is self-governing and functions through the ministry of gifts given to each member by the Holy Spirit.

The local congregation is the basic manifestation of the church. We believe Christ is the head of each congregation, and that all members should participate in the mission of the church consistent with biblical truth.

Churches are autonomous in their local affairs, but they also recognize their interdependence with likeminded churches for the purpose of ministry. Therefore, we join freely with other churches and church groups of likeminded faith and practice for fellowship and for missionary efforts which cannot be carried out as effectively by a church acting alone.

Matthew 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42,47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23,27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Romans1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11,21; 5:22-32; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:9-14; 3:1-15; 4:14; Hebrews 11:39-40; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 2-3; 21:2-3

The church observes two ordinances instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ: believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We understand these ordinances to be symbolic acts of obedience and public testimony rather than means of salvation.

According to the Scriptures, baptism follows personal repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. We therefore practice believer’s baptism by full immersion in water as a visible expression of union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection, symbolizing death to the old life and new life in Him. Because baptism in the New Testament consistently follows a conscious response of faith, we do not practice infant baptism as an ordinance of the church, understanding that baptism is intended for those who personally trust in Christ and publicly confess Him as Lord. While baptism is commanded by Christ for believers, it is not essential for salvation, which is received by grace through faith alone.

We also affirm the spiritual baptism of the believer by the Holy Spirit, through whom all believers are united to Christ and incorporated into His body.

The Lord’s Supper is observed in remembrance of Christ’s sacrificial death on our behalf and as a proclamation of His death until He comes again. We encourage all baptized believers in Jesus Christ who are walking in fellowship with Him to partake reverently and thoughtfully.

Matthew 3:13–17; 26:26–30; 28:19–20; Mark 1:8–11; 14:22–26; Luke 3:21–22; 22:19–20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41–42; 8:35–39; 16:30–33; 20:7; Romans 6:3–5; 1 Corinthians 10:16–17, 21; 11:23–29; Colossians 2:12

Discipleship and evangelism are not two different stages—they are two parts of the same mission. Evangelism reaches people with the gospel, and discipleship forms them into Christlikeness. When discipleship is healthy, it produces people who share their faith. When evangelism is healthy, it produces people who are being shaped and matured. At WCC we pursue both.

Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 19:10; 24:46-47; John 3:16-17; Acts 1:8; 4:20; 13:47; Romans 10:13-15; 1 Corinthians 9:16; 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:20; Colossians 4:5-6; 1Peter 3:15; 2Peter 3:9

Because making disciples is at the heart of Christ’s command, evangelism and discipleship naturally flow together, making it hard to separate where one ends and the other begins. Jesus’ call to make disciples includes sharing the gospel, inviting people to follow Him, training believers, and forming faith communities—all within the context of meaningful relationships.
Matthew 4:19; 28:20; Luke 9:23; John 8:31; 14:15; 15:5-8; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:11-13; Philippians 1:6; 2Timothy 2:2; Hebrews 10:24-25; James 1:22; 2Peter 3:18

We believe the Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts to all believers for the work and edification of the church. These gifts are diverse yet equally valuable, functioning together for the good of the whole. Love is the supreme virtue and must govern the exercise of every gift, leading the church toward maturity as one Body in Christ.
Three Categories of Gifts:

1) Romans 12:3–8 — Gifts for Serving the Body
Focus:  Function, humility, and everyday ministry
Key idea:  Different gifts, one body.

Gifts listed:

• Prophecy – Proclamation of the Word

  • Special Instructions:  The Greek word for “prophecy” means to speak forth or declare the will of God—to interpret His purposes and make His truth known in a way that impacts people. While it can sometimes include insight about the future, its primary focus is proclamation (“forth-telling”), not prediction (“foretelling”) and is in keeping with the written Word of God. Prophecy is a form of speech addressed to people (rather than to God) with the purpose of their strengthening, encouraging and comfort, and it is intelligible both to the one who speaks and to those who hear, thereby edifying the church. Prophecy is a form of speech addressed to people (rather than to God) with the purpose of their strengthening, encouraging and comfort, and it is intelligible both to the one who speaks and to those who hear, thereby edifying the church (1 Cor. 14:29).  We are to test the spirits to see if they are from God (1John 4:1-4).

• Serving (ministry)

• Teaching

• Encouraging (exhortation)

• Giving

• Leadership

• Mercy

• Emphasis: practial, relational gifts that build up the church

2) 1 Corinthians 12–14 — Gifts for Edification and Order
Focus: Unity, Encouragement, and proper use in worship
Key idea:  Gifts must build up others, not self

Gifts listed (ch. 12):

• Word of wisdom

• Word of knowledge

• Faith

• Gifts of healing

• Miracles

• Prophecy – see above

• Discernment of spirits

• Tongues

  • Special Instructions: What we believe

    • Tongues are a valid, ongoing gift of the Holy Spirit

    • They may be:

      • Known human languages (as in Acts 2)

      • Heavenly or spiritual languages (1 Cor. 13:1; 14:2)

  • How they function

    • Private prayer language (personal edification) — 1 Cor. 14:4

    • Public use in church, but must be interpreted — 1 Cor. 14:27–28

  • Intepretation of tongues

    • Likely to mean a different person than the one speaking.

    • Could be interpreted multiple ways while remaining consistent in Paul’s commands
      Emphasis: Ch. 13: Love is greater than all gifts.  Ch. 14: Order and clarity in worship (especially tongues & prophecy)

3) Ephesians 4:7–13 — Gifts for Equipping the Church
Focus: Leadership roles that equip others
Key idea: Build maturity in the body of Christ

Gifts (often called “offices”):

• Apostles:  Special Instructions:

  • The apostolic office and the gift of apostleship operate differently in contemporary Christianity, requiring careful distinction between these two separate functions.

  • The office of Apostle (capitalized) refers to the early apostles chosen by Jesus, while the gift of apostle (lowercase) represents a distinct spiritual capacity. The office required witnessing Jesus’ life and resurrection along with miraculous power, and “Big A” Apostles don’t exist today in the sense of writing Scripture. These foundational figures established the universal church in the first century, which is why the apostolic office no longer functions.

  • However, the gift operates in contemporary contexts. Secondary apostolic figures like Barnabas, Apollos, and others were gifted individuals sent to plant churches, raise up leaders, and minister cross-culturally. Today, church planters and missionaries often operate from a gift of apostleship, as do Christian leaders God raises up to lead and influence multiple churches and pastors.

  • To qualify as an apostle, someone needed to have “accompanied” Jesus throughout his ministry, “beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up.” (Acts 1:21–22) Paul himself defended his apostolic status by asking, “Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?” (1 Cor 9:1)—a direct encounter with the risen Christ that authenticated his calling. Paul described himself as the last to receive such an appearance (1 Cor 15:8–9), suggesting the apostolic office closed with the apostolic generation.

  • The foundational nature of the office becomes clear in its role. The church was “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.” (Eph 2:20) Once a foundation is laid, it doesn’t need to be relaid. “The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works,” (2 Cor 12:12) and these miraculous credentials authenticated their unique authority.

  • However, the gift of apostleship functions differently. Christ “gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers” (Eph 4:11–13) as ongoing gifts to the church. God “appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers,” (1 Cor 12:28–29) indicating a continuing function. The Holy Spirit directed the church to “set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them,” (Acts 13:1–3) showing how apostolic-type figures continue being commissioned for missionary expansion.

  • A critical safeguard emerges: The Bereans “received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” (Acts 17:11) Modern claims to apostolic authority must be tested against Scripture rather than accepted uncritically.

3) Ephesians 4:7–13 — Gifts for Equipping the Church
Focus: Leadership roles that equip others
Key idea: Build maturity in the body of Christ

Gifts (often called “offices”):

• Prophets – see above

• Evangelists

• Pastors (shepherds)

• Teachers

• Emphasis: equipping others for ministry, not doing all the ministry

God’s Sovereign Grace and Agency of Man

• Romans 3:10-11

  • No one seeks God on their own

• Ephesians 2:1

  • Dead in trespasses and sin

• 1 Corinthians 1: 29-31

  • No one may boast

• John 16:8-11

  • He convicts the world concerning sin

• Acts 2:37

  • They were cut to the heart – What shall we do?

• Hebrews 4:12

  • The Word of God piercing, discerning the thoughts and intentions

• John 6:44

  • No one can come to Me unless the Father draws him

• John 12:32

  • I will draw all people to Myself

• Revelation 22:17

  • The Spirit and the Bride say come

• 2 Corinthians 7:9-10

  • Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation

• Genesis 6:3

  • My Spirit will not strive with man forever

• Acts 7:51

  • You always resist the Holy Spirit (agency of man)

• Joshua 24:15 

  • Choose this day whom you will serve

• Acts 2:38

  • Repent and be baptized

• Matthew 23:37

  • You were not willing

• Revelation 3:20

  • Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice

The Work of God and the Response of Man — Biblical Flow
 
1. Human Condition: No One Seeks God
Romans 3:10–11
“There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God.”
Commentary:

• Humanity, in its natural state, does not pursue God.

• Sin has affected both understanding and desire.

• This establishes the need for divine initiation.

Left to ourselves, we do not move toward God.

2. Spiritual State: Dead in Sin
Ephesians 2:1
“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins…”
Commentary:

• “Dead” describes spiritual inability, not just weakness.

• A dead person does not initiate movement toward life.

• Reinforces total dependence on God’s action.

The problem is not just behavior—it is spiritual death.

3. Purpose: No Room for Boasting
1 Corinthians 1:29–31
“So that no human being might boast in the presence of God…”
Commentary:

• Salvation is structured so that God gets all the glory.

• Any view of salvation must remove human pride.

• Christ alone is the source of righteousness and redemption

Salvation is designed to eliminate self-credit.

4. Divine Initiative: The Spirit Convicts
John 16:8–11
“He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment…”
Commentary:

• The Holy Spirit exposes:

  • Sin (our condition)

  • Righteousness (Christ’s standard)

  • Judgment (coming accountability)

• Conviction is internal and personal, not merely informational.

God begins the movement by awakening the heart.

5. Human Awakening: Cut to the Heart
Acts 2:37
“They were cut to the heart… ‘What shall we do?’”
Commentary:

• Conviction produces deep inner disturbance

• Leads to a desire for change and direction

• This is the moment where truth becomes personal

• True conviction leads to urgent response

True conviction leads to urgent response.

6. Instrument: The Word Pierces the Heart
Hebrews 4:12
“The word of God is living and active… discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart”
Commentary:

• The Spirit uses the Word of God as His primary tool

• It exposes not just actions, but motives and intentions

• No one remains neutral under its influence

God’s Word reaches where nothing else can—the inner life

7. Divine Drawing: God Must Initiate Movement
John 6:44
“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him…”
Commentary:

• Coming to Christ requires God’s initiating work

• “Draw” implies movement toward Christ caused by God

• Reinforces human inability apart from grace

Salvation begins with God drawing the sinner

8. Universal Reach: Christ Draws All
John 12:32
“I… will draw all people to Myself”
Commentary:

• Christ’s work extends broadly—no category excluded

• The gospel invitation is universal in scope

• Holds tension between divine drawing and human response

The call of Christ goes out to all people

9. Invitation: The Spirit Calls
Revelation 22:17
“The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come’…”
Commentary:

• The Spirit actively invites and urges

• The church (Bride) joins in that invitation

• The call is open: “let the one who desires come”

God not only draws—He invites clearly and openly.

10. Result of Conviction: Godly Sorrow
2 Corinthians 7:9–10
“Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation…”
Commentary:

• Not all sorrow is saving—only God-centered sorrow

• True conviction leads to repentance, not just regret

• Repentance is the turning point toward salvation

The Spirit’s work produces transformation, not just emotion

11. Warning: The Spirit Will Not Strive Forever
Genesis 6:3
“My Spirit shall not strive with man forever…”
Commentary:

• There is a limit to resisted conviction

• God’s patience is real, but not endless

• Urgency is implied—respond while God is working

The opportunity to respond is serious and time-sensitive

12. Human Resistance: The Spirit Can Be Rejected
Acts 7:51
“You always resist the Holy Spirit…”
Commentary:

• People can oppose and reject God’s work

• Conviction does not eliminate human responsibility

• Shows the reality of resistance

God works—but man can push back

13. Call to Decision: Choose
Joshua 24:15
“Choose this day whom you will serve…”
Commentary:

• Scripture consistently calls for decision

• Response is not passive—it is intentional

• Forces clarity: who will you follow?

God calls for a clear and personal choice

14. Required Response: Repent and Believe
Acts 2:38
“Repent and be baptized…”
Commentary:

• Repentance is the proper response to conviction

• Turning from sin toward God

• Baptism reflects identification with Christ

The gospel demands a real response.

15. Tragic Reality: Refusal
Matthew 23:37
“…and you were not willing”
Commentary:

• God’s desire can be resisted by human unwillingness

• Responsibility is clearly placed on the individual

• Shows the sorrow of rejected grace

The issue is often not ability—but unwillingness

16. Final Invitation: Christ at the Door
Revelation 3:20
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock…”
Commentary:

• Christ continues to pursue and invite

• The response is personal: hear and open

• The promise is intimate: fellowship restored

Salvation culminates in relationship with Christ.

Big Picture Summary

• Man is lost and unable (Rom 3, Eph 2)

• God initiates and convicts (John 16, Heb 4)

• The Spirit draws and invites (John 6, Rev 22)

• Man must respond or resist (Acts 7, Josh 24)

• The call is repent and come (Acts 2, Rev 3)

Last Things

We affirm the personal, visible, and imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ for His church. At a time known only to God, Christ will gather all believers to Himself in what is commonly called the rapture. This blessed hope calls believers to live in readiness, faithfulness, and expectation of His coming.

Following this event, the world will experience a period of great tribulation marked by divine judgment and unprecedented distress upon the earth. At the conclusion of this tribulation, Jesus Christ will return in glory and power to establish His earthly kingdom and reign for a thousand years in righteousness, peace, and justice.

We believe that Satan, together with his fallen angels, will ultimately be judged and eternally condemned. The unbelieving dead will also be raised and judged before God according to their works, demonstrating their rejection of God’s grace and their separation from Christ. Those who remain apart from Christ will experience eternal separation from God in hell.

Believers, having been redeemed by the blood of Christ and raised to everlasting life, will dwell forever in the presence of God in joy, holiness, and fellowship with the Lord and His holy angels in the new heaven and new earth.

Isaiah 2:4; 11:9; Matthew 16:27; 18:8-9; 19:28; 24:27,30,36,44; 25:31-46; 26:64; Mark 8:38; 9:43-48; Luke12:40,48; 16:19-26; 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15:24-28,35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:5; 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 5:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; 2; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:27-28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Revelation 1:18; 3:11; 20:1-22:13

Stewardship

Christians are called to faithfully serve God with their time, abilities, spiritual gifts, and material resources, recognizing that everything we possess ultimately belongs to Him and has been entrusted to us as stewards for His glory. Believers are to use these gifts and resources in worship, service, compassion toward others, and the advancement of God’s kingdom.

According to the Scriptures, Christians are encouraged to give generously, willingly, and joyfully in support of the ministry of the church, the care of those in need, and the proclamation of the Gospel to all people. Such giving should be regular, thoughtful, proportionate to God’s provision, and motivated by gratitude, love, and obedience to the Lord rather than obligation or compulsion.

Genesis 14:20; Leviticus 27:30-32; Deuteronomy 8:18; Malachi 3:8-12; Matthew 6:1-4,19-21; 19:21; 23:23; 25:14-29; Luke 12:16-21,42; 16:1-13; Acts 2:44-47; 5:1-11; 17:24-25; 20:35; Romans 6:6-22; 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; 6:19-20; 12; 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8-9; 12:15; Philippians 4:10-19; 1 Peter 1:18-19