LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE, AND SERVE THE WORLD
WHAT WE BELIEVE
When trying to figure out if you can truly do life with a particular church, it is critically important that you know what that church believes. The following statements represent our most basic biblical and theological beliefs.
OUR DOCTRINE
We believe in God the Father, Son, and Spirit; creator and sustainer of all things that exist; being eternal and coequal persons. These three are the same in essence having precisely the same nature, attributes and perfections, and are worthy of the same worship and obedience (Genesis 1:26; Psalm 45:6-7; Psalm 110:1; Matthew 3:13-17; Matthew 28:17-20; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6).
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We believe every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful in showing us the truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, and training us to live God’s way (Psalm 19:7-11; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
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We believe that man was originally created in perfect community with God, free from sin. Man fell into sin by a voluntary act of personal disobedience to the revealed will of God. He lost his spiritual life, and became dead in sins and eternally separated from God (Genesis 6:5; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:23; 5:8, 12-21; 7:18; Ephesians 2:1-3).
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We believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross provides the sole basis for the forgiveness of sins. Therefore, salvation only occurs when a person places their faith in the death and resurrection of Christ as the sufficient payment for their sin (John 1:29; 10:1-18; Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4; 1 Peter 3:18; Matthew 28:1-20; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-53; John 1:20-21:25; 1 Corinthians 15:12-34).
We believe that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (John 3:18; 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:21-26; 1 Timothy 2:5-6).
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We believe that the church is the body of Christ, the community of Christ-followers, of which Jesus Christ is the Head. The members are those who have trusted by faith the finished work of Christ. The purpose of the church is to glorify God by demonstrating our passion for Him and His passion for people (Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:23-25; Titus 3:14).
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We believe that we, the community of Christ-followers, are called to be like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose, doing nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility considering others better than ourselves. Each of us should look not only to our own interests but also to the interests of others (Philippians 2:1-11).
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We believe that the God who started this great work in us will keep working in us and bring it to completion on the very day Christ Jesus appears (Philippians 1:6).
THE BIBLE
This statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of our doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Elder/Pastor Team is GSJ Nashville’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application