Core Beliefs
The following are the core beliefs of Avoca Christian Church based on the foundational truths taught in the Bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.
The Bible
The Bible is God’s Word to all people. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because it was inspired by God, the Bible is truth without any mixture of error and is completely relevant to our daily lives. It alone is the final authority in determining all doctrinal truths. (Deuteronomy 4:1-2; Psalms 119:11, 89, 105; Proverbs 30:5; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 22:29; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Romans 15:4; Romans 16:25-28; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Peter 3:16).
Trinity
There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Although each member of the Trinity serves different functions, they each possess equal power and authority (Genesis 1:26; Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 61:1; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 1:35; Romans 8:9-11; Hebrews 3:7-11; James 2:19; I John 5:7;)
The Father
God is great: He is all powerful, all knowing, ever present, unchanging, completely worthy of our trust, and above all, Holy. It is in Him that we live, move and exist. God is good. He is our Father. He is loving, compassionate, and faithful to His people and His promises (Exodus 3:14; Numbers 23:19; Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; Psalm 11:4-6; Malachi 3:6; John 3:16; 4:24; 5:26; 14:1; Acts 17:28; Romans 3:3-4).
The Son
Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity. He is completely human but, at the same time, completely God. He is the only plan for bringing people who are far from God back into a right relationship with God. He was born of a virgin and lived a sinless life, so that He could be a substitution for us in satisfying God’s demands for perfection. He defeated death in His resurrection so we can have life (Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 22:70; 24:46-47; John 1:1,14, 20:28; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; I Timothy 3:16; Philippians 2:5-6; Colossians 1:15; 2:9 I Timothy 2:5).
The Holy Spirit
- The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God, an equal part of the Trinity (3-in-1), assuring us of our relationship with Christ. (Matthew 28:19 (NLT), 2 Corinthians 13:14 (NLT))
- The Holy Spirit is imparted upon the believer at the moment of salvation, and becomes our advocate, guide, comforter while also convicting us of sin and continually making us more like Christ. (Ephesians 1:13 (NKJ), Romans 8:9-11 (NLT), Titus 3:4-7 (NLT), John 14:16-17 (NLT)
- The Holy Spirit imparts to ALL believers Spiritual Gifts. Each is given a gift to bring glory to God and to serve one another in love. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (NLT)
Eternity
Man was created to exist forever. He will exist either eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is Heaven. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence (Matthew 5:3, 12, 20, 6:20; Mark 9:43-48; John 3:16, 36; Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Hebrews 9:27; 1 John 2:25; 5:11-13; Revelation 20:12-15).
Mankind
Man is made in the image of God and is the supreme object of His creation. Man was created to have fellowship with God but became separated in that relationship through sinful disobedience. As a result, man cannot attain a right relationship with God through his own effort. We are all born with a sinful nature and choose to sin against God. We're incapable of regaining a right relationship with God through our own efforts (Genesis 1:26-30; 2:7, 18-22; 3; Psalms 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18, 23; 5:6; 6:6; 7:14-25; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19, 21-22; Ephesians 2; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11).
Salvation
We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ; His death, burial, and resurrection. Salvation is God’s gift to you if you’ll accept it. It is not a result of our good works, self-improvement, or of any human efforts. It is only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness that you can be saved from sin's penalty (Isaiah 1:18; 53:5-6; 55:7; Matthew 1:21; 27:22-66; 28:1-6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 14:6; John 1:12; Acts 16:31; Romans 5:1; 10:9-10; Galatians 2:16, 3:8; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 9:22; Revelation 3:20).
Virgin Birth
Jesus Christ was conceived by God the Father, through the Holy Spirit (the third person of the Trinity) in the virgin Mary's womb; therefore, He is the Son of God (Matthew 1:18, 25; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:27-35).
Redemption
Man was created good and upright, but by voluntary transgression he fell; his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Gen. 1:26-31, 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21).
Regeneration
For anyone to know God, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential (John 6:44, 65; Matthew 19:28; Titus 3:5).
Water Baptism
- The moment a person confesses and repents with their mouth and believes with their heart in Jesus they are saved (Romans 10:9-10 (NLT)). This makes a believer complete in Christ, lacking in nothing (Colossians 2:10 (NLT)). However, Jesus gave us a model to follow called Baptism.
- Baptism is a commanded symbolic moment where the new believer gives a public display by full emersion in water demonstrating the death to their old lives and their new life in Christ (Colossians 2:12 (NLT), Romans 6:4 (NLT)).
- Baptism is NOT a work we do to earn Salvation. It is an obedient next step for the new believer who has given their life to Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20). The believer has already been united in Christ through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit and in obedience the new believer publicly proclaims this through the act of Baptism (Ephesians 1:13 (NLT)).
Sanctification
Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after His death on the cross. In addition, both the saved and the lost will be resurrected; they that are saved to the resurrection of life and they that are lost to the resurrection of eternal damnation. Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for the second time to establish His Kingdom. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures.
Luke 24:16, 36, 39; John 2:19-21, 20:26-28, 21:4; Acts 24:15; I Corinthians 15:42, 44; Philippians 1:21-23, 3:21.Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; I Thessalonians 4:15-17; II Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelation 1:7
Luke 24:16, 36, 39; John 2:19-21, 20:26-28, 21:4; Acts 24:15; I Corinthians 15:42, 44; Philippians 1:21-23, 3:21.Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; I Thessalonians 4:15-17; II Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelation 1:7
Jesus' Blood
The Blood that Jesus Christ shed on the Cross of Calvary was sinless and is 100% sufficient to cleanse mankind of all sin. Jesus allowed Himself to be punished for both our sinfulness and our sins, enabling all those who believe to be free from the penalty of sin, which is death (I John 1:7; Revelation 1:5, 5:9; Colossians 1:20; Romans 3:10-12, 23, 5:9; John 1:29).
Repentence
Repentance is the commitment to turn away from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Christ, which allows us to receive His redemption and to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Thus, through repentance we receive forgiveness of sins and appropriate salvation (Acts 2:21, 3:19; I John 1:9).
The Church
The church is the Body of Christ, a local community of baptized believers, unified through faith in Christ Jesus. It is committed to the teachings of Christ and obeying all of His commands. The church also seeks to bring the Gospel to the world. Every person who is born of the Spirit is an integral part of the church as a member of the body of believers. The Church works together in love and unity, intent on the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ. (Matthew 16:18-19; 18:15-20; John 17:11, 20-23; Acts 2:41-47; 5:11-14; 13:1-3; 14:23; 16:5; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22; 3:10-12; 5:22-32; Hebrews 12:23).
Gifts of the Spirit
The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, and confirm the power of the Gospel. The Bible lists of these gifts are not necessarily exhaustive, and the gifts may occur in various combinations. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of Biblical parameters (Hebrews 2:4; Romans 1:11, 12:4-8; Ephesians 4:16; I Timothy 4:14; II Timothy 1:6-7; I Corinthians 12:1-31, 14:1-40; I Peter 4:10).
God's Desire For Provision
It is the Father's will for believers to become whole, healthy and successful in all areas of life. But because of the fall, many may not receive the full benefits of God’s will while on Earth. That fact, though, should never prevent all believers from seeking the full benefits of Christ’s provision in order to better serve others.
- Spiritual(John 3:3-11; II Corinthians 5:17-21; Romans 10:9-10)
- Mental and Emotional(II Timothy 1:7, 2:11; Philippians 4:7-8; Romans 12:2; Isaiah 26:3).
- Physical(Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 8:17; I Peter 2:24).
- Financial(Joshua 1:8; Malachi 3:10-11; Luke 6:38; II Corinthians 9:6-10; Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Psalm 34:10, 84:11; Philippians 4:19).
Marriage
Biblical Marriage is clearly defined as one man(born a man) united with one woman(born a woman) for life. This covenant is with God and should not be taken lightly or altered to fit personal preferences. (Genesis 2:22-24, Ephesians 5:22-33, Matthew 19:4-6, Mark 10:6-9, Galatians 5:24-25).
Healing
Healing of the sick is illustrated in the life and ministry of Jesus, and included in the commission of Jesus to His disciples. It is given as a sign, which is to follow believers. It is also a part of Jesus' work on the Cross and one of the gifts of the Spirit. (Psalm 103:2-3; Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 16:17-18; Acts 8:6-7; James 5:14-16; I Corinthians 12:9, 28; Romans 11:29).
Communion
Communion is a unique time, in the presence of God, when the elements of bread and grape juice (the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ) are taken in remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross (Matthew 26:26-29; I Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-25).
Second Coming
Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for the second time to establish His Kingdom. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures (Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; I Thessalonians 4:15-17; II Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelation 1:7)
Resurrection
Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after His death on the cross. In addition, both the saved and the lost will be resurrected; they that are saved to the resurrection of life and they that are lost to the resurrection of eternal damnation (Luke 24:16, 36, 39; John 2:19-21, 20:26-28, 21:4; Acts 24:15; I Corinthians 15:42, 44; Philippians 1:21-23, 3:21).