What We Believe
Our beliefs are grounded in the authority of Scripture and centered on the truth, grace, and saving work of Jesus Christ.
Foundations of Our Faith
What we believe begins with who God is, the authority of His Word, the person and work of Jesus Christ, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
01 The Holy Scriptures
We believe the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, infallible, sufficient, and authoritative Word of God and the final authority for faith, doctrine, and Christian living.
2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:20–21; John 17:17
02 God
We believe in one sovereign God, eternally existing in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is eternal, holy, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, righteous, just, loving, and sovereign over all creation and history.
Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 46:9–10; Matthew 28:19
03 Jesus Christ
We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully God and fully man, born of a virgin, sinless in life, and the substitutionary sacrifice for sinners. He physically rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, and will return bodily to judge and reign.
John 1:1,14; 1 Corinthians 15:3–8; Acts 1:9–11; Titus 2:13
04 The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is God, who regenerates, indwells, seals, illuminates, empowers, and sanctifies every believer. We believe the miraculous sign gifts associated with the apostles have ceased and are not normative for the church today.
John 14:16–17; 16:7–15; Ephesians 1:13–14; 1 Corinthians 13:8–10
Sin, Grace and Salvation
Scripture explains our need for salvation, the grace of God, the finished work of Christ, and the security of those who truly belong to Him.
05 Man and Sin
We believe mankind was created in God's image but fell through Adam's sin. Every person is born sinful, spiritually dead, separated from God, and unable to save himself apart from God's grace.
Genesis 1:26–27; Romans 3:10–23; Ephesians 2:1–3
06 God's Sovereignty and Election
We believe God sovereignly chose, before the foundation of the world, those whom He would save, not because of foreseen merit or faith, but according to His grace and purpose. Those whom God calls, He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and ultimately glorifies.
John 6:37–44; Romans 8:28–30; Ephesians 1:3–11
07 Salvation
We believe salvation is entirely by God's grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. The Holy Spirit regenerates the sinner, producing repentance and faith. Genuine saving faith submits to Christ as Lord and produces a transformed life.
John 3:3–8; Acts 17:30; Romans 3:21–28; Ephesians 2:8–10
08 The Atonement of Christ
We believe Christ died as a substitutionary sacrifice, bearing the judgment due to sin and accomplishing redemption for His people. His finished work on the cross fully satisfies God's justice and provides forgiveness and reconciliation.
Isaiah 53:4–12; John 10:11,15; Romans 3:24–26; 2 Corinthians 5:21
09 Justification, Sanctification, and Perseverance
We believe sinners are justified by faith through the righteousness of Christ credited to them. Every true believer is progressively sanctified by the Holy Spirit and will demonstrate spiritual fruit and persevere in faith because God preserves His people.
Romans 5:1; 8:29–30; Philippians 1:6; James 2:14–26
10 Eternal Security
We believe every genuine believer is eternally secure in Christ. Salvation is preserved by God's power, and those truly saved will persevere in faith. A permanent, unrepentant abandonment of Christ gives evidence that a profession of faith was not genuine.
John 10:27–30; Romans 8:28–39; 1 John 2:19; 1 Peter 1:3–5
Christian Life and the Church
Faith in Christ shapes how believers live, grow, serve, worship, and care for one another within the local church.
11 The Christian Life and Lordship of Christ
We believe Jesus Christ is both Savior and Lord. Genuine believers are called to repentance, holiness, obedience, and spiritual growth. Although Christians will never be sinless in this life, their lives should increasingly demonstrate the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 6:46; Romans 6:1–14; 12:1–2; 1 Peter 1:14–16
12 The Church
We believe the local church is an autonomous congregation of baptized believers under the lordship of Christ, organized for worship, teaching, fellowship, evangelism, discipleship, service, accountability, discipline, and the observance of the ordinances.
The New Testament establishes the offices of pastor/elder/overseer and deacon.
Male Pastors/Elders Only
We believe the office of pastor/elder/overseer is reserved for qualified men who meet the biblical qualifications of Scripture. Women are equally valuable members of Christ's body and are encouraged to serve and minister according to Scripture, but women are not to serve as pastors/elders/overseers or exercise the pastoral authority assigned to that office.
1 Timothy 2:11–15; 3:1–13; Titus 1:5–9; 1 Peter 5:1–4
13 Church Discipline
We believe Christ calls His church to confront serious, unrepentant sin with humility, truth, love, and the goal of restoration. When necessary, persistent unrepentant sin may result in removal from church fellowship.
Matthew 18:15–20; 1 Corinthians 5:1–13; Galatians 6:1; Titus 3:10–11
Baptism and the Lord's Supper
Christ gave His church two ordinances that point believers to His saving work and proclaim the gospel through the life of the local church.
14 Baptism and the Lord's Supper
We believe Christ gave His church two ordinances: believer's baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper. Baptism symbolizes the believer's identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection and does not save. The Lord's Supper is a symbolic remembrance of Christ's sacrificial death and a proclamation of His return.
Matthew 28:19–20; Romans 6:3–5; 1 Corinthians 11:23–32
The Return of Christ, Heaven and Hell
Scripture points beyond this present life to the bodily return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead, final judgment, and eternity.
15 The Return of Christ, Heaven, and Hell
We believe Jesus Christ will return bodily and visibly and will judge the living and the dead. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the saved and the lost, eternal life with God for the redeemed, and conscious, everlasting punishment for those who die in their sins.
John 5:28–29; Acts 1:9–11; Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:10–15; 21:1–4
Want to Learn More About What We Believe?
If you have questions about our beliefs, biblical teaching, or The Connection Church, we’d be glad to hear from you.
Contact Us