Statement of Belief
_South Chatham Community Church is a gathering of believers who by the power of the Holy Spirit and under the guidance of the Bible expresses: Love for God through the worship of Father, Son and Holy Spirit; Love for others through prayer, forgiving, serving, supporting, seeking unity and going into our community and world to proclaim the gospel and make disciples. [Acts 1.8; John 4.24; Revelation 2.1; Matthew 22.37; 28.18]
_The Word of God: The Bible is God’s unique revelation to people. It is the inspired, infallible Word of God and the supreme and final authority on all matters upon which it teaches. [John 17:17; Romans 15:4; II Timothy 3:16,17; II Peter 1:21]
The Triune God: There is one God, Creator of heaven and earth, who exists eternally as three persons – Father Son and Holy Spirit, each fully God yet each personally distinct from each other. [Genesis 1:1,2; John 4:24; Romans 11;36; Acts 17:28; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19]
God the Father: The Father is the originator of the work of creation and the work of redemption. He has sent into the world both the Son and the Holy Spirit. [Psalm 2:7-9; Isaiah 63:16; Ephesians 1:3; Matthew 6:9; John 3:16; 14:16]
God the Son: Jesus Christ was born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, willing took upon Himself all of our sins, died and rose again bodily, and is at the right hand of the Father as our Advocate and Mediator. He will return to consummate history and to fulfill the eternal plan of God. [Luke 1:35; John 1:14; 3:16; 14:3,6; Colossians 1:15; Hebrew 4:15; 7:25; Matthew 28:7; Acts 1:9-11]
God the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin and draws people to Christ. He indwells all believers. He empowers believers to live a Christ like life, gives spiritual gifts with which to serve the church and reach out to a lost world. [John 15:26; 16: 7-15; 14:26; Rom. 8:9; I Cor.3:16; Titus 3:5]
Mankind: All people are created in the image of God and loved by Him. All people are sinners by nature and violators of God's will by choice and therefore deserving condemnation. All people are invited into communion with Himself and in community with each other. [Genesis 1.27; John 3.16; 17.23; Romans 3:11,12,23; 5:12]
Salvation: Through penitent faith in Jesus Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit individuals become children of God. Salvation is by grace and cannot be earned through personal goodness or human effort. [John 3:16-18; Isaiah 55:11; Ephesians 2:4,8-10; Titus 3:5-7; Hebrews 7:25]
The Church: All believers are united as members of the body of Christ, the one universal church. The local church gathers for worship, ordinances, prayer, instruction, encouragement, mutual accountability, community and service toward the fulfillment of the great commission. [Matthew 16:16-18; II Timothy 2:2; Matthew 28:18-20; 22:39 Ephesians 1:22; Eph. 5:19,20; Hebrews 10:25; II Cor. 5:18,19]
Christian Conduct: Christians live for the glory of God by growing in grace and by being transformed by the Holy Spirit. The ministry of the Holy Spirit and the guidance of Scripture result in a lifestyle distinct from the world. Christians pursue pure character, righteous conduct and love toward one another. [Romans 15:6; II Peter 3:18; II Corinthians 3:18; 5:17; Hebrews 4:12; James 1:25; Ephesians 5:15; Matthew 25:23; I Peter 4:10; Romans 13:12-14; I John 1:9; II Timothy 2:22]
Eternity: Death seals the eternal destiny of each person. At the final judgment unbelievers will remain separated from God unto condemnation. Believers will be received into God’s loving presence and rewarded for faithfulness to Him. [II Corinthians 5:19; John 3:18; 11:25; II Peter 1:11; 3:4,10; Revelation 4:11 20:11-15; 21:1]
The Triune God: There is one God, Creator of heaven and earth, who exists eternally as three persons – Father Son and Holy Spirit, each fully God yet each personally distinct from each other. [Genesis 1:1,2; John 4:24; Romans 11;36; Acts 17:28; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19]
God the Father: The Father is the originator of the work of creation and the work of redemption. He has sent into the world both the Son and the Holy Spirit. [Psalm 2:7-9; Isaiah 63:16; Ephesians 1:3; Matthew 6:9; John 3:16; 14:16]
God the Son: Jesus Christ was born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, willing took upon Himself all of our sins, died and rose again bodily, and is at the right hand of the Father as our Advocate and Mediator. He will return to consummate history and to fulfill the eternal plan of God. [Luke 1:35; John 1:14; 3:16; 14:3,6; Colossians 1:15; Hebrew 4:15; 7:25; Matthew 28:7; Acts 1:9-11]
God the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin and draws people to Christ. He indwells all believers. He empowers believers to live a Christ like life, gives spiritual gifts with which to serve the church and reach out to a lost world. [John 15:26; 16: 7-15; 14:26; Rom. 8:9; I Cor.3:16; Titus 3:5]
Mankind: All people are created in the image of God and loved by Him. All people are sinners by nature and violators of God's will by choice and therefore deserving condemnation. All people are invited into communion with Himself and in community with each other. [Genesis 1.27; John 3.16; 17.23; Romans 3:11,12,23; 5:12]
Salvation: Through penitent faith in Jesus Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit individuals become children of God. Salvation is by grace and cannot be earned through personal goodness or human effort. [John 3:16-18; Isaiah 55:11; Ephesians 2:4,8-10; Titus 3:5-7; Hebrews 7:25]
The Church: All believers are united as members of the body of Christ, the one universal church. The local church gathers for worship, ordinances, prayer, instruction, encouragement, mutual accountability, community and service toward the fulfillment of the great commission. [Matthew 16:16-18; II Timothy 2:2; Matthew 28:18-20; 22:39 Ephesians 1:22; Eph. 5:19,20; Hebrews 10:25; II Cor. 5:18,19]
Christian Conduct: Christians live for the glory of God by growing in grace and by being transformed by the Holy Spirit. The ministry of the Holy Spirit and the guidance of Scripture result in a lifestyle distinct from the world. Christians pursue pure character, righteous conduct and love toward one another. [Romans 15:6; II Peter 3:18; II Corinthians 3:18; 5:17; Hebrews 4:12; James 1:25; Ephesians 5:15; Matthew 25:23; I Peter 4:10; Romans 13:12-14; I John 1:9; II Timothy 2:22]
Eternity: Death seals the eternal destiny of each person. At the final judgment unbelievers will remain separated from God unto condemnation. Believers will be received into God’s loving presence and rewarded for faithfulness to Him. [II Corinthians 5:19; John 3:18; 11:25; II Peter 1:11; 3:4,10; Revelation 4:11 20:11-15; 21:1]