Statement of Faith
Hope Church is committed to and believes in the local church. We believe the local church is the conduit which God uses to equip and care for His people! We believe that God’s Word is a cohesive story of the Gospel that points to Jesus Christ who is the only Hope for this world. We believe that it is important for the church to establish doctrinal truths according to what the scriptures teach.
Doctrine of God
We believe God eternally exists as one essence and three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, each of whom is fully God. Matt. 28:18-20; John 1:14; Hebrews 1:3; Col.1:15-20; John 15:26-27; Ephesians 1:13-14; Psalm 24:1
Doctrine of Revelation
God has made Himself known to the world in Jesus Christ, the Scriptures, and creation. The Bible, being God’s inspired and authoritative Word, is God’s witness of Himself to humanity. It is therefore free from falsehood and error. Hebrews1:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:16; Psalm 8; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3; John 5:19; Isaiah 40:6-8; Romans 10:14-17
Doctrine of Creation and Providence
God created the world from nothing and governs all things at all times in all places. Genesis 1:1-2; Psalm 24:1; Genesis 1:3-31; Colossians 1:17
Doctrine of Humanity
All humanity is created in the image of God and possess intrinsic dignity and worth. Genesis 1:27-30; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Timothy 3; Titus 1
Doctrine of Sin
Sin has fractured all things, leaving the world in desperate need for salvation. Genesis 3; Romans 3:9-20; Eph. 2:1-3
Doctrine of Salvation
Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. John 3:5-8; Hebrews10:19-25; Galatians 2:20
Doctrine of the Church
The Church is the body of Christ sent into the world to shine forth the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 12:12-31; Matthew 28:18-20
Doctrine of the Resurrection
Jesus Christ is returning to the world in the future to judge the living and the dead. Revelation 20:7-15; Revelation 21:1-5
We believe God eternally exists as one essence and three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, each of whom is fully God. Matt. 28:18-20; John 1:14; Hebrews 1:3; Col.1:15-20; John 15:26-27; Ephesians 1:13-14; Psalm 24:1
Doctrine of Revelation
God has made Himself known to the world in Jesus Christ, the Scriptures, and creation. The Bible, being God’s inspired and authoritative Word, is God’s witness of Himself to humanity. It is therefore free from falsehood and error. Hebrews1:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:16; Psalm 8; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3; John 5:19; Isaiah 40:6-8; Romans 10:14-17
Doctrine of Creation and Providence
God created the world from nothing and governs all things at all times in all places. Genesis 1:1-2; Psalm 24:1; Genesis 1:3-31; Colossians 1:17
Doctrine of Humanity
All humanity is created in the image of God and possess intrinsic dignity and worth. Genesis 1:27-30; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Timothy 3; Titus 1
Doctrine of Sin
Sin has fractured all things, leaving the world in desperate need for salvation. Genesis 3; Romans 3:9-20; Eph. 2:1-3
Doctrine of Salvation
Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. John 3:5-8; Hebrews10:19-25; Galatians 2:20
Doctrine of the Church
The Church is the body of Christ sent into the world to shine forth the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 12:12-31; Matthew 28:18-20
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
The gifts of the Holy Spirit that we see on display in the New Testament are still active within the life of the church today. These gifts did not end with the closing of the New Testament or the death of the last apostles (1 Corinthians 12:1-11). The gifts of the Holy Spirit are empowering for the church. The Holy Spirit will dispense these gifts when it is necessary and good for the encouragement and empowerment of the church. The gifts of the spirit should always be used in good order with the purpose of strengthening and unifying the church. It is the responsibility of the church to teach people about the gifts of the Holy Spirit, encouraging them to actively seek out the use of those gifts in their lives.
We believe in in the healing power of God which is done according to His sovereign will. While we always pray in faith for healing, our faith is not grounded in the promise that God will heal, but rather that He is fully able to heal. We acknowledge that not everyone will be healed; healing takes place by the will of God not the will of man. In scripture, we see numerous examples of times when God provided healing (Acts 14:10; Acts 19:12; Acts 16:18; Acts 20:9-10), but we also see examples when healing was not provided (2 Corinthians 12:8-9; Galatians 4:12-14; Phil 2:26-27; 2 Tim 4:20). Therefore, our ultimate hope is not in the healing of our earthly bodies, but in the redemption of our eternal souls.
The gift of tongues as presented in the book of Acts was given by the Holy Spirit with the purpose of enabling men to understand the Gospel in his or her native tongue regardless of the language spoken (Acts 2:3,7,8; 1 Corinthians 14:21). We believe the gift of tongues is still an active gift of the Holy Spirit. Authoritative messages given in tongues to be spoken over the church body should also be accompanied by an interpretation provided by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:6, 27,28). The gift of tongues is also given in the form of prayer, which is used as communication between that person and the Lord.
We believe in in the healing power of God which is done according to His sovereign will. While we always pray in faith for healing, our faith is not grounded in the promise that God will heal, but rather that He is fully able to heal. We acknowledge that not everyone will be healed; healing takes place by the will of God not the will of man. In scripture, we see numerous examples of times when God provided healing (Acts 14:10; Acts 19:12; Acts 16:18; Acts 20:9-10), but we also see examples when healing was not provided (2 Corinthians 12:8-9; Galatians 4:12-14; Phil 2:26-27; 2 Tim 4:20). Therefore, our ultimate hope is not in the healing of our earthly bodies, but in the redemption of our eternal souls.
The gift of tongues as presented in the book of Acts was given by the Holy Spirit with the purpose of enabling men to understand the Gospel in his or her native tongue regardless of the language spoken (Acts 2:3,7,8; 1 Corinthians 14:21). We believe the gift of tongues is still an active gift of the Holy Spirit. Authoritative messages given in tongues to be spoken over the church body should also be accompanied by an interpretation provided by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:6, 27,28). The gift of tongues is also given in the form of prayer, which is used as communication between that person and the Lord.
Baptism
Based on the precedent set in the New Testament, we believe baptism should follow conversion by immersion in water. Baptism by immersion is meant to symbolically depict the believer’s union to Christ through His death and resurrection (Romans 6:1-14).
Jesus Christ is returning to the world in the future to judge the living and the dead. Revelation 20:7-15; Revelation 21:1-5