What We Believe
Statement of Faith
While there exists within the church a wide range of ideas on the doctrines of the Bible and the gospel, we believe the following are the core pillars of the Gospel.
- God: There is one God, existent in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All are equally divine, only their functions are different. When referring to “God” it is possible to refer to the Father singly or all three jointly. God is merciful, gracious, perfect, and holy. Matt. 28:19; Mark 12:29; John 1:1-2; 3:35; 14:26; 15:26; 2 Cor. 13:14
- Jesus: Jesus Christ is the second Person of the Trinity. He is fully God, and having been born of the Virgin Mary, also fully man. He was born, lived a perfect life before God and people, died on a cross, and rose from the dead. His death and resurrection secured salvation for those who turn to Him in faith. Jesus will return in bodily form in the future to fulfill the Davidic Covenant and rule the nations. Isa. 53:9; 1 Cor. 15:3-8; 2 Cor. 5:21
- The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. The Spirit is to be referred to as “He” or “Him,” not “it,” since He, like the Father and Jesus, is a personal being. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, assures of salvation, speaks the words of Christ, regenerates the sinner, and dwells in the believer, empowering him for service by giving spiritual gifts. John 14:26; 15:26; Rom. 12:3-8; 2 Cor. 3:17; 13:14
- Sin: Sin exists in the world because of the fall of Adam and Eve. Sin is more than outward behavior or disobedience to God’s commandments. At its core, sin is the desire of humanity to live independently of God. At the core of the unregenerate person lies the Sinful Heart, a heart turned from God and turned toward self. At the core of the believer is the Spiritual Heart, a heart inclined to God and desiring to obey Him. Num. 15:29; Jer. 17:9; 31:31-34
- Humanity: God created humanity in His image. Adam and Eve were literal people who fell from their position of innocence into sin because of disobedience. Because of that, the whole creation has been contaminated by sin, and every human born since then, save Christ, has inherited a sinful nature, desiring to live independently of God and being hostile to the ways of God. Without Christ, humans are dead in sin, without hope, and in danger of spending eternity apart from God. However, anyone who places faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved, regenerated and changed. Gen. 1:26-27; Eph. 2:1-10
- Salvation: Salvation is secured by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ. No other act (including baptism or keeping the law) can save a man, and failure to perform any other single act (including baptism) will not condemn a man. Salvation includes forgiveness of sin, the reception of a new heart and spirit, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee or deposit of final salvation. Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:25-29; Gal. 2:17; Eph. 2:8-10
- The Church: The Church (also known as the Bride and Body of Christ) consists of all true believers who have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. While local congregations may vary in size, makeup, and style, the worldwide church is one in spirit and is to strive for unity in the truth of the Gospel. The mission of the church was clearly defined by Jesus: to spread the Gospel and make disciples. Matt. 28:18-20; Eph. 4:11-16.
Implications of the Gospel
- Though born into sin, every human being is inherently valuable in the sight of God, since every human has been made in His image (though that image has been marred by sin).
- The gospel has an urgent and immediate claim on all—no matter their station in life, socio-economic status, political affiliation, race, gender, ethnicity, etc. The gospel calls all to repent and trust in Christ.
- Though the gospel is not to be confused with political or social movements, it holds the answers to all of life’s questions and concerns. Those answers may be hard to discern, believe, or obey at times, but they are nonetheless present.
- The gospel does not stop at salvation, but lays claim to the entire life of the believer. Sanctification begins at the moment of salvation and continues until final glorification. Through the process of sanctification, the believer is transformed into the moral image of Christ.
Statement of Purpose and Intent
The Gospel Today exists to encourage believers in Christ. It does not function as a congregation, nor is it a substitute for involvement with a local community of believers.
The Gospel Today supports the autonomy of the local church, apart from any governing (denominational) body. As such, The Gospel Today does not offer any type of ordination or licensing. We believe these functions are to be carried out by the local church, not by any group outside of the local community.
The Gospel Today is not a political organization, does not endorse any political party or candidate, or promote one political ideal over another. At the root of all political issues lay questions that the gospel gives meaning and answers to.