What We Believe
We believe that the 66 books of the Bible serve as God's revelation of Himself to us. We are committed to reading and applying God's principles and commands. Of course, God's people are not God -- we don't claim to understand every passage of the Bible perfectly. Yet, we do believe that God's Word can be understood and trusted. We would ask any member of New Life to accept the following truths as we see them revealed in the Bible. Additional beliefs on difficult topics in the Bible can be read here.God
God is the Creator and sovereign ruler of the universe He has eternally existed in three persons -- the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who are all equal in divinity but different in roles. God's ultimate purpose is to be glorified throughout His creation. This occurs both through His merciful love and His holy wrath. (Genesis 1:1, Isaiah 40:12-26, Psalm 90:2, John 1:1, 1 Corinthians 2:10-11)
Jesus
Jesus is the eternally existing Son of God, co-equal with the Father. While Jesus lived on earth He was fully God and fully human, making Him the only acceptable mediator between God and humanity through His sinless life and sacrificial death on the cross. His resurrection is undeniable proof to all that He was who He claimed to be. Jesus now resides with God the Father until He returns to punish His enemies and reward His followers. (John 1:1-5, 1 Timothy 2:5-6, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Romans 1:3-4, Titus 2:13-14)
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is equal to God the Father and God the Son. It is His convicting, drawing, and regenerating work which enables people who are spiritually lost to be born again and receive the gift of saving faith in Jesus Christ. (John 3:18, John 6:44, Acts 16:14, Ephesians 2:8-9) He then indwells Christians, sealing us eternally and empowering us to know, love and serve God. (John 3:1-8, John 14:16-17, John 16:7-11, Acts 16:14, 1 Timothy 1:14, 1 Corinthians 2:12, 1 Corinthians 3:16) While all Christians immediately receive the Holy Spirit at conversion (Ephesians 1:13, Romans 6:3-4, 1 Corinthians 12:13), not all are equally controlled by Him, but grow in the "fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22) as we increasingly submit to Him. (Galatians 5:16-18)
Humanity
Humans, both male and female, were supernaturally created by God in His image. Like all of God's creation, every human will glorify their Creator, either by displaying His eternal mercy in Heaven, or by displaying His eternal wrath in Hell. Ever since the first sin of the first humans -- Adam and Eve -- all humans have been born into a state of sin and separation from God that results in human attitudes of disobedience and independence toward God. This "fallen state" brought spiritual death to all of humanity past and present, making us completely powerless to do anything that pleases God. (Genesis 1:27, Psalm 8:3-6, Romans 3:23, Romans 5:12, Romans 8:5-8, 1 Corinthians 2:14, Ephesians 2:1-5)
Salvation from Sin
Salvation comes to mankind through God's grace alone, not by our own work. It is God who initiates, accomplishes, and maintains salvation. He deserves all the credit and glory for it. (John 6:44, 10:28-30, Romans 3:9-28, 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, Ephesians 2:8-9) Salvation results in eternal life from the moment the Holy Spirit recreates us as believing, loving, and obedient followers of Jesus. Salvation is irreversible and secure because it is given freely by God through His grace to the believer. (John 10:28-30, Ephesians 1:13-14, 2 Corinthians 5:17) While Christians still sin, their salvation is demonstrated by a lifestyle of love and holiness. (1 John 2:1-6, 15, 29; 3:9-10; 5:13, 18)
The Word of God
The 66 books of the Old and New Testaments have been supernaturally provided, recorded, and authenticated through God's apostles and prophets. They are God's words, to the extent that to disbelieve or to disobey Scripture is to disbelieve and disobey God Himself. The authority and trustworthiness of the Bible far exceeds any other revelation that can be claimed by man, and no person or church can authoritatively teach or demand anything expect that which is contained in the Bible. (2 Timothy 3:15-17, Matthew 5:18; 24:35, John 10:35; 16:12-13; 17:17; 1 Corinthians 2:13, Hebrews 4:12)
Water Baptism
The New Testament speaks often of the faith of new believers. In nearly every case, water baptism occurs promptly at the time that a new Christian professes faith in Jesus. Both then and now, water baptism is the Biblical way in which a person publicly confesses their faith in Christ and commitment to Him. Jesus Himself was baptized, and commands that all who call themselves His disciples also be baptized. (Matthew 28:18-20) The word "baptism" as it appears in the Bible, is a word of Greek origin that literally means "immersion." For this reason, we continue the practice of baptizing believers by full immersion. The Apostle Paul (Romans 6:2-4) beautifully refers to our baptism as joining our Lord in His burial, death and resurrection.
The Lord's Supper
Five books of the New Testament refer to Jesus gathering with His disciples in the upper room to celebrate the Jewish Passover feast. As He did so, Jesus asked that His followers use the breaking of bread and the drinking of the fruit of the vine as a meal of remembrance of His body hanging on the cross, and His blood being sacrificed for sin. (Matthew 26:26-29) The early church, as recorded in the book of Acts, dedicated themselves to remembering Christ in this way. (Acts 2:42) We invite all believers in Christ (1 Corinthians 11:23-32) to share the Lord's Supper with us during our worship assemblies.