Yonah community church beliefs

We affirm the beliefs laid out in the Southern Baptist Convention document entitled Baptist Faith and Message 2000. As such, at the center of our existence and operation, we believe the Scriptures teach the following basic truths:

bible

The Holy Scripture, comprised of the Old and New Testaments, is verbally inspired by God, inerrant in the original writings, and is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, obedience, and living (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:19-21; Matt. 4:4).

GOD

There is one living, true, unchanging, holy, creator God eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Deut. 6:4; Isa. 43:10; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14). 
God the Father is the eternal creator of the heavens and earth, who is ruler and judge, working good in all things according to His own purpose and pleasure. He will judge. He is graciously involved with humankind. He hears and answers prayer and saves from sin and spiritual death all that come to Him through Jesus Christ. (Psa. 115:3; Jn. 5:19-24; Eph. 1:3-14; 1 Pet. 1:3; Rev. 20:11-22:21)

JESUS

God the Son, Jesus Christ, is the eternal and virgin-born Son of God, Emmanuel, God with us. As fully God and fully man, He lived a sinless life and then died as the permanent sacrifice and payment for our sins and destroyed the work of the Enemy. He was raised from the grave bodily, ascended into heaven, presently exercises lordship over His church, intercedes for us as our high priest and advocate until His personal, visible, and imminent return to call out His church and establish His kingdom over the earth and create the new heavens and the new earth (Jn. 1:1-18; 1 Cor. 15:3-5; Heb. 2:17-18, 4:14-16; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Phil. 3:20-21; Jas. 5:8-9; Rev. 3:10, 19:11-20:3).

Holy Spirit

God the Holy Spirit has been active in creation, the writing of the Bible, Jesus' earthly ministry and the work of salvation. Presently He convicts the world, gives new life to those who trust in Christ, indwells and enables believers in their spiritual growth, and empowers Christ's church as they pursue His Mission (Gen. 1:2; 2 Pet. 1:20- 21; Eph. 1:13-14; Jn. 16:4-15; Rom. 8).  

The Gospel

The Gospel is the good news that God, our Creator, has come to rescue us from sin and restore all things through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. By faith in Christ, and through His Spirit, God empowers His people to live under His reign and further His Kingdom. It is initiated by God in grace, not by human effort. Christ lived, died, and rose for us and we are invited to join God’s redemptive mission. It is Kingdom-centered: not just about individual salvation, but the lordship of Christ over all creation.  (Eph 2:8–9; Rom 5:8; 1 Pet 3:18; 2 Cor 5:18–20; Col 1:13–20; Rom 1:16; Eph 2:4–6; Rev 21:5).

MAN

Adam and Eve were created, male and female, in the image of God to enjoy His fellowship and fulfill His will on earth. They sinned and thereby incurred physical and spiritual death. All human beings are born with a sinful nature and commit sinful acts in thought, word, and deed. Apart from salvation in Christ, all people are hopelessly destined to separation from God forever (Gen. 1-3; Rom. 1:18-32, 3:10-23, 5:12-14; Eph. 2:1-4).

THE CHURCH

We believe in the priesthood of the believer and have been entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation. True believers in Jesus Christ belong to the universal body of Christ, His church, and are directed by God's Word to be baptized as a public profession of salvation and to become active participants in a visible local church. The local church is to be submissive in all matters to Jesus Christ as its head, and it shall demonstrate obedience in cooperation with faithful congregations, and partnership together in pursuing unity, holiness and mission. (1 Cor. 12:12-13; Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:41-47; Heb. 10:24-25; Col. 1).  

BAPTISM & THE LORD'S SUPPER

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. 
We believe that Christian Baptism is the immersion of the believer in water into the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 
We believe that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. 
We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26)