STATEMENT OF FAITH FOR NEW HEIGHTS CHURCH

God

There is one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They have the same nature, attributes, and perfections. They are worthy of the same adoration, worship, service, and trust. God is holy, perfect, eternal, complete in knowledge, limitless in sovereign power, and Creator of all things. God the Father is the first member of the Trinity.

Genesis 1:1, Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Matthew 28:19, 1 Corinthians 8:4-6, 1 Peter 1:2

The Scriptures

The 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament are fully inspired by God. The autographs are inerrant in their descriptions of reality, history, and doctrine. They reveal the mind and heart of God to mankind, pointing us to Jesus as the salvation of God. They are our only infallible guide and authority for daily life and are to be believed, obeyed, and trusted. The Bible should be interpreted according to the literal, historical, grammatical method, understanding the text according to the normal use of language in context.

John 10:35, 2 Timothy 3:14-16, 1 Peter 1:25, 2 Peter 1:19-21, 2 Peter 3:15-16

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is eternally God and the second member of the Trinity. In fulfillment of the prophecies, He added human nature to His divine nature when conceived by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary; thus He is truly God and truly Man. He lived a sinless life, was crucified as a substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven. He is now in heaven, interceding as our perfect High Priest. He will personally, bodily, and visibly return to set up His kingdom and to judge both the living and the dead.

Matthew 1:18-25, Matthew 25:31-46, Luke 1:35, Luke 24, John 17:5, Acts 1:9-11, Philippians 2:5-11, 1 Thessalonians, 4:14-18, Hebrews 4:14-16, 1 Peter 2:24-25, Revelation 20:4-6, 11-15

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is eternally God and the third member of the Trinity. As such, he fully has all of the nature, attributes, and perfections of the Godhead. He is the source of power for the believer, and gifts each believer to serve and participate in the life of the Church. He glorifies Jesus Christ; convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment to draw unbelievers toward God; and regenerates believing sinners. He indwells, seals, guides, equips, and empowers those whom He regenerates.

John 15:26, John 16:7-15, Romans 8:14-17, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Ephesians 1:13-14

Mankind, Sin, & Salvation

Mankind was created sinless and in God’s image. This image was retained after the Fall, but was tarnished by sin. Because of sin, Adam and all who descended from him are separated from God, lost and utterly unable to save themselves. Salvation is by grace alone, acquired through faith alone, and achieved by Jesus Christ alone through His death and resurrection. All will be resurrected and live into eternity: the saved to everlasting joy with God, and the lost to everlasting punishment. All who believe are securely kept by God for eternity: the believer cannot acquire, add to, maintain, or ensure salvation by his/her good works.

Genesis 1:26-27, Ecclesiastes 7:29, Matthew 25:46, John 3:3, John 3:16, John 3:36, Acts 13:38-39, Acts 4:12, Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, Romans 5:12-21, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, James 2:10, James 3:9

The Church

The “universal church” consists of all who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior between Pentecost and the return of Christ. These are baptized by the Spirit into one Body, with Jesus Christ as head. Its purpose is to worship God and to call unbelievers to faith in Jesus that they might also worship God. Our participation in the universal church is through membership in the local church. These are organized local assemblies that meet regularly to worship, teach, fellowship and celebrate the Gospel together. 

Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:6-8, Acts 2:41-47, Acts 15:13-17, Ephesians 1:3-6, 1 Corinthians 12:4-13, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

The Ordinances

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper celebrate and symbolically express the Gospel visually and tangibly, and to nourish and encourage believers, but are not a means of salvation. In baptism by immersion, believers in Jesus are symbolically identifying with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection; and showing their identification with the Church. In the Lord’s Supper, believers are symbolically showing the unity of the Church body under Christ, his death on our behalf, and looking forward to His return.

Matthew 26:26-28, Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 2:41, Romans 6:3-5, 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, 1 Corinthians 11:17-32

The Priesthood of Believers

All believers in Jesus Christ have direct access to the Father in the Holy Spirit and through Christ Jesus. This is true without regard for gender, race, or ethnicity. All in the church are gifted by the Holy Spirit for the building up of the church. The role of the pastors/elders is not to mediate access to God, but to equip the saints for the work of the ministry.

Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, Ephesians 2:18-21, Ephesians 4:11-13, 1 Timothy 2:5, 1 Peter 2:5, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 Peter 4:10-11

Satan

Satan is an angelic being who rebelled against God and has fallen from his original heavenly glory. Though he and his demonic followers fight against God and against believers in Jesus, his defeat and judgment by Jesus Christ is certain and sure. He will be judged at the end of the millennial kingdom, during which he will be bound and powerless. His eternal destiny is in the Lake of Fire.

Job 1:12, Ezekiel 28:11-19, John 14:30, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Ephesians 2:2, Revelation 20:10

The End of This Age

The end of the Church age will be marked by a time of great tribulation, followed by the return of Jesus Christ when He will personally and bodily return to earth to set up the millennial kingdom. At the end of this time, the new heaven and new earth will at this time become the eternal home of believers.

1 Corinthians 15:51-57, Philippians 3:20-21, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Titus 2:13, Revelation 19:11-25