F I R S T S T E P S

Westside Christian Church
Statement of Faith

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. 1 Corinthians 1:10

We believe in Jesus Christ as the One and the only incarnate Son of God. We believe He walked this Earth as God in the flesh. We believe in the three Persons (Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit) of God who are also one (Matthew 28:18-20).

We understand the sixty-six books of the Bible are God-Breathed (2 Timothy 3:16). They are the very work and Word of God. The Bible is complete and the only source of eternal salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord (Jude 1:3 & Acts 4:12). We have no need of anything else (i.e. creeds, etc.). The Scriptures are infallible, accurate, and have never been proven otherwise. God’s Word became flesh in the God-Man, Jesus (John 1:1, 14). The Word of God is eternal (will not pass away—Matthew 24:35) and cannot be “broken.” (see John 10:35).

“If it’s in the Bible, we should accept, believe and follow it!”

The miracles and other mighty acts of God in the Bible are true (see John 14:11 & Hebrews 11:6). They were actual events that took place exactly as they were recorded. These happenings and events have been displayed and recorded to show us the mighty power of the One and only of the universe and to confirm His Word. God is active and present in our daily lives (see John 20:31 & Romans 8:14-17). Our God is an awesome God! (see John 10:37-38).

God created our fully functioning universe, including our planet and all that it contains in six literal days (see Genesis 1:31 & Psalm 19:1).

God’s plan for the salvation of all of mankind includes (see 2 Peter 3:9):

• FAITH/belief in the Son of God (see John 3:16)
• REPENTANCE of all known sin (see Acts 3:19)
  CONFESSION before men that Jesus is the Christ of God (see Rom. 10:9-10)
• WATER BAPTISM by immersion (see Acts 2:38) for the remission of sins
• And then the CONTINUANCE of a faith-walk via a personal relationship with Jesus Christ—until the time of our death (see Romans 12:1-2 & Revelation 2:10).Salvation is a free, non-earned, gift from God (see Romans 6:23).

It is possible to fall away from the Lord (see 2 Peter 2:20-22).

Since the Bible teaches a place of eternal punishment (see 2 Corinthians 5:10 & Matthew 10:28), as Christians, we have the most important job in all the world! Knowing this, let’s seek to do only which Jesus has called and empowered us to do (see Matthew 6:9-10).

What an exciting privilege to live for Jesus! 

By the power of God, Jesus Christ lived a perfect (sinless) life (see Hebrews 4:14 & Revelation 5:9), died on a cruel cross, by His own choice, for the sins of all mankind (see 2 Corinthians 8:9), and resurrected from the grave (see Luke 24:1-49 & 1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Our hope is based upon the cleansing power of His blood (see 1 John 1:9), and that all Christians will one day also rise, by His power, from the grave (see John 5:25-32).

We believe that one way God worked to establish His Word (as He did in two other instances with the Ministry of Moses and Elijah/Elisha) and the Church was through certain foundational gifts (see Acts 2:22, Hebrews 2:3b-4, Acts 14:3, & Ephesians 2:19-21) of the Holy Spirit (For example: speaking in tongues—(the God given ability to speak in foreign languages previous unknown to the recipient), foretelling prophecy—(the canon of the Scripture is completed, see Jude 1:3), healing— (in the manner in which the Apostles were gifted, see 2 Cor. 12:12. We believe that God can heal anyone of anything. We are looking forward to that day when the Creation will be redeemed (Romans 8:18-25) and there will be no more tears, sickness, or death. See Revelation 21:4 & 22:2-4), special knowledge (it’s not needed now since we have the written Word of God), etc., which have now ceased (see 1 Corinthians 13:8b). We live by Faith in the Living God who is active in our lives and gives us enduring hope! (see Romans 1:17)

We are beyond confident that God is still fully “capable;” that is, He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and that His presence is everywhere. God can do anything He chooses to do—(see 1 John 5:14-15 & 2 Cor. 12:7-10). We should live our lives in this knowledge and bring the needs of our lives before Him daily in prayer (see 1 Thessalonians 5:17 & Luke 18:1)!

We believe the Word, guided by the Holy Spirit (see Hebrews 4:12), shows us the example Christ intended (see 1 Peter 2:21) for leadership, worship, teaching, service, discipleship, evangelism, benevolence, missions, etc. We believe the Church should operate Ministry according to how God has gifted us (see Ephesians 4:11-16). The foundation of all Ministry must first be in the Word of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 2:2-5).

Christ is the Head of the Church and gives responsibility to a plurality of servant leaders (the Elders) to lead His Church (see Colossians 1:18 & 1 Tim. 5:17).

We understand that God wants us to meet the first day of the week for the Lord’s Supper (see Acts 20:7, 11) and for corporate worship (see Acts 2:42). We believe in giving back to God according to our means (see 1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Our lives are to be an expression of daily worship (see Romans 12:1-2).

Our goal is to seek God’s truth (To be “People of THE Book”), to know it and live it (See James 1:21-25), and to share it accurately! (see Acts 17:11 & 2 Timothy 2:15, 3:16-17, 1 Timothy 4:16).

Welcome to Westside Christian Church!

“Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.

Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” 2 Timothy 2:23-26