GOD

We believe in one God, eternally existing as three equally divine persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This one true and living God is infinitely perfect both in His love and in His holiness. We believe that God Almighty created the world from nothing and governs all things at all times in all places.

Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-3; Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:19; Acts 17:24-31; 2 Corinthians 13:13

REVELATION

We believe that God is a speaking God, and He has made himself known to the world in Jesus Christ, in the Scriptures (the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments), and in creation. The Scriptures are true, authoritative, sufficient for life and godliness (providing enough clarity for men and women to hear and believe their claims), necessary, and complete.

Psalm 19; Romans 1:19-20; John 1:18; 2 Timothy 3:15-16; 2 Peter 1:20; Hebrews 1:1-3

HUMANITY

We believe that God created human beings, body and soul, in his own image, and that by virtue of this reality, all people possess intrinsic dignity and worth. God made Adam and Eve, the first humans, as male and female. Each gender has a unique and non-interchangeable glory that the other does not, and one’s given sex at birth is a gift to be embraced. In God’s wise purposes, Adam and Eve were made to complement each other in mutually enriching ways, and their covenant union establishes the only Biblical pattern for marriage. Both men and women enjoy equal access to God through faith in Christ Jesus and are called to live for His glory, moving beyond passivity and self-indulgence to significant private and public engagement in family, church, and civic life.

Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 2:18-25; Psalm 8:4-6; Psalm 139:14; Matthew 6:26; Galatians 3:28-29

SIN

The first humans, Adam and Eve, were tempted by Satan and rebelled against God. Through disobedience to God’s command, Adam incurred physical, spiritual, and eternal death, not merely for himself, but since Adam was a representative for the human race, also for all human beings. As a result of Adam’s sin, all descendants of Adam are born with a sin nature and naturally choose to sin. The human race is fallen in mind, will, and emotions, rendering humans unrighteous, rebellious to God, and under God’s judgment apart from a work of divine grace.

Genesis 3; Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12-21; Ephesians 2:1-3

THE GOSPEL

The Gospel is the good news that from before the beginning of time, God determined in grace to save a great multitude of guilty sinners from every tribe and language and people and nation, and to rescue creation from the curse of sin, providing redemption for the world. That rescue plan centers on the person and work of Jesus, the eternal Son of God, who relinquished the glories of heaven, came to earth, lived a sinless life, fulfilled all righteousness, died a substitutionary death on behalf of sinners and for sin, rose from the grave on the third day, appeared to more than 500 eyewitnesses, ascended back into heaven, and now sits at the right hand of the Father as Ruler over Satan, sin, death, and the entire cosmos.

Acts 2:22-40; Romans 3:21-26; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-11

SALVATION

Salvation is the gift of new life and redemption from sin brought to man according to the free grace and pleasure of God. Salvation was accomplished through Christ’s substitutionary life and death and His resurrection from the grave. Salvation is applied to an individual through the work of the Holy Spirit, bringing about repentance of sins and personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. When a person trusts in Jesus, he/she is forgiven of his/her sins, counted as righteous, and adopted into God’s family. Salvation also includes the redemption and restoration of the entire created order, which believers will enjoy for eternity when Christ returns.

John 1:12-14; John 3:1-16; Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 2:8-10; Hebrews 2:14-18; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 21:5

CHRISTIAN GROWTH

We believe that followers of Jesus are saved unto a life-long process of being made more and more like Christ. The Holy Spirit is the active agent in our sanctification and seeks to produce His fruit in us. No amount of growth can be attained apart from Him. Though indwelling sin remains a reality, believers are led by the Spirit to fight sin, grow in the knowledge of God, keep His commandments, and live in the world in such a way that all people may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. All believers are exhorted to persevere in the faith, knowing they will have to give an account to God for their every thought, word and deed. The spiritual disciplines, especially Bible study, prayer, worship, confession, and Christian community are vital means of grace in our sanctification.

Romans 8:1-17; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 5:18; Philippians 1:6; Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 3:1-17; 2 Peter 1:3-11

GOD’S KINGDOM

We believe the gospel has both personal and corporate dimensions. Jesus is our peace: not only reconciling us to God but also bringing peace between alienated peoples. In Himself, Christ has created one new humanity. All believers are part of God’s kingdom and are called to live as salt and light in a world that is decaying and dark, not withdrawing from the world nor being indistinguishable from it. Rather, we live as citizens of the kingdom who, through the gospel, seek to bless the city God has placed us in, for all the glory of the nations is to be offered to the living God.

Jeremiah 29:7; Matthew 5:13-16; Matthew 6:33; Ephesians 2:11-22; 1 Peter 2:9

THE CHURCH

We believe the Church is the body of Christ, and He is her only head. The Church is sent into the world to shine forth God’s glory. This universal assembly of God’s people—His household and the pillar and foundation of truth—is made manifest in local churches that devote themselves to the preaching and teaching of Scripture, worship, fellowship, and prayer. The Church is distinguished by her gospel message, her sacred ordinances (baptism and communion), her discipline, her great mission, and, above all, by her love for God, and by her members’ love for one another and for the world.

Matthew 16:13-19; Matthew 18:15-19; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:42-47; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:1-16; 1 Timothy 3:15-16; Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 John 4:10-12

CHRIST’S RETURN

We believe Jesus Christ is returning to the world in the future to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous—the unrighteous to judgment and eternal punishment, and those made righteous through faith in Christ to eternal life in God’s presence in the new heaven and the new earth.

Matthew 16:27; Matthew 25:31-46; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; Philippians 3:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 20:4-6; Revelation 20:11-21:5

GOSPEL-CENTERED

We believe the gospel has the power to transform every aspect of our lives and therefore should be the core of all of the ministries of the church. We believe the gospel is not only the essential message for entering the kingdom, but the pathway for living, growing, and maturing as a Christ follower. It confronts both moralism (legalism) and relativism (antinomianism). The proclamation of this good news releases God’s power for salvation and His mission to renew and revive the Church. It motivates both personal renewal and social change.

SPIRIT-LED

We are a church that emphasizes active dependence upon the Holy Spirit who desires to continually fill each believer with increased power for Christian life and witness. Believers are exhorted to seek the Spirit’s help and guidance as they learn to apply the gospel to all of life. The Spirit imparts His gifts for the edification of the body of Christ and for various works of ministry in the world. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are vital for the mission of the church, and are to be earnestly desired and faithfully exercised. While our members fall in different places in terms of the application of the spiritual gifts, we unify around the pursuit of Spirit-led ministry that impacts both our private lives and corporate gatherings.

BAPTISTIC

We believe that baptism is a divinely ordained means of grace for believers and an act of obedience on the part of both the believer and the church. Baptism symbolizes the believer’s union with Christ and association with the Triune God. This means we see personal conversion and a credible profession of faith as a prerequisite for baptism, and we practice believer’s baptism by immersion.

• City Life has a history of association with the ABC and the SBC. We recently joined the Harbor Network, which is a network that provides resources for churches and church leaders focused on leader care and support, church planting and multiplication, and connection with other churches committed to Kingdom advancement and care. Harbor Network is a gospel-centered, baptistic tribe of churches. More information regarding their beliefs can be found at www.harbornetwork.com

REFORMATIONAL

Our theology is rooted in the major tenets of the Protestant Reformation, particularly the Five Solas. We believe that knowledge of salvation comes to us only through God’s Word (sola scriptura) and is received by grace alone (sola gratis) through faith alone (sola fide) because of Christ alone (solo Christo), and ultimately, it is for the glory of God alone (soli Deo gloria). We affirm the authority of God’s Word, God’s sovereignty in salvation, human responsibility, and the necessity of evangelism. We seek to exhibit deep trust in God’s promises and providence, and we are zealous to demonstrate and declare the goodness of Jesus.

ELDER-GOVERNED / DEACON-SERVED

We recognize Jesus as the Good Shepherd and the Senior Pastor of our church. Under His leadership, a team of pastors/elders (paid and unpaid) are the missional pace-setters responsible for the theological vision and spiritual vitality of the church. We believe that the office of elder/pastor in particular is reserved for qualified men who serve as spiritual fathers. Within the home and the local church, we believe God has given men and women distinctive roles. These two distinct and complementary genders together reflect the image of God, and both women and men should be involved and engaged in ministry. Our church will not flourish when one gender is sidelined or inactive, nor when we operate outside of God’s wise design. In the home each husband is to be the gracious shepherd of his own wife and children, and in the church the elders are to graciously govern the body of Christ. Alongside of the elders, staff (paid) and deacons (paid and unpaid) are men and women who direct and facilitate the ministry of the church. Ultimately, every covenant member is a vital component of the body of Christ and an emerging leader who is responsible for growing toward maturity and making disciples.