Truth, what is it and does it matter? Many in today’s culture view truth as relative and subjective. However, Jesus, as the divine and full expression of God the Father (and as God Himself) proclaimed truth does matter (Jn. 1:18; 5:18). Jesus claimed that He not only came to share divine truth, but that he was the truth, and those who desired to know truth would listen to Him (Jn. 18:37, 14:6). Thus, listening to God, through His chosen method of revelation, the Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16), enables the church to be the very expression of truth in the world (1 Tim. 3:15). Core truths of Water’s Edge Community Church include but are by no means limited to:
About Scripture
We believe that the Bible, consisting of Old and New Testaments, is God’s revelation of Himself to all men. It was written by human authors under the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is and trustworthy without error in the true original manuscripts, and therefore the supreme and final authority for faith and life. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 119:11, 105, 160; Exodus 24:3-4; Matthew 5:17-18; John 17:17; Romans 15:4; Hebrews 4:12)
About God
We believe that there is one, and only one, God who has revealed Himself to man in three co-existent, co-eternal, and co-equal persons— Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1, 26-27, 3:22; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2)
- God the Father is the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving, all-wise, perfectly holy and righteous Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. He rules sovereignly and providentially over His creation and creatures. (Exodus 15:11; Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Chronicles 29:10-12; Jeremiah 10:10; John 4:24, 5:26; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; 1 Timothy 1:17)
- God the Son, Jesus Christ, is fully God and fully man. He was born of the Holy Spirit through a virgin, lived a sinless life among men, and offered Himself as the perfect substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of men by dying on the cross. He died, was buried, and arose from the dead on the third day to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven and now intercedes for believers with the Father. He will return to earth again to establish an earthly kingdom. (Isaiah 7:14, 53; Matthew 16:21; John 1:1-18, 29, 14:6-13, 17:1-8; Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15-20; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:1; Revelation 1:7, 20:4-6)
- God the Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and Son. He convicts man of his sin and convinces him of his need for a Savior. The Holy Spirit seals and baptizes the believer into the family of God. He indwells every believer to teach, warn, comfort, encourage, and give assurance of salvation. (Genesis 1:2, Judges 14:6; Isaiah 61:1-3; Luke 1:35; John 14:16-17,26, 15:26, 16:7-14; Acts 2:1-4, 4:31, 13:2; Romans 8:9-11,14-16, 26-27; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14, 3:16, 12:3-11,13; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Peter 1:21)
About Man
We believe the first man (Adam) was created perfect by God, but fell into sin in the Garden of Eden as a result of Satan’s deceit and mans own prideful desires. Because of Adam’s sin, his perfect relationship with God was destroyed, and every descendant of Adam—every man and woman—is born with a sin nature, and is condemned to die physically and spiritually. (Genesis 1:26-27, 2:16-17, 3:1-19; Psalm 139:14; Romans 3:10, 22-23, 5:12, 19) About Salvation We believe man can be saved from spiritual death by God’s grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ, God the Son. Man can never earn his salvation by self-improvement or good works. Trusting in Jesus Christ is the only way to receive forgiveness of sins, to be saved from the penalty of sin, and be reconciled to God. We believe that when a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior, he must repent and turn from his sin, and he must publicly confess that Jesus is the Christ, Son of the Living God. (Acts 16:31, 26:20; Romans 10:9-13; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 John 1:9)
About Church
We believe the Church is the body of Jesus Christ on earth. In the largest sense it includes all born-again believers throughout the earth who are ambassadors for Christ—witnesses to an unbelieving world. In a smaller sense, it is a local gathering of believers who are committed and connected first to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and second to one another in the unity of the Holy Spirit for worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and missions. All believers should be committed and connected to a local church body for the building up and equipping of the saints and the exercising of spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8, 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31; Ephesians 1:22-23, 2:20, 3:21, 4:11-12, 5:23-32)
About Satan
We believe that Satan was created by God as an anointed cherub, Lucifer, but sin was found in him and he was cast out of heaven to dwell on earth. We believe he is the devil, our adversary, the accuser of the brethren, our tempter, and the prince of this world and leader of fallen angels (demons). He is powerful, but not omnipotent; he is intelligent, but not omniscient; he is mobile, but not omnipresent; he is deceitful and persuasive, but not irresistible. His “reign” on earth is temporary and will be cast into the Lake of Fire after the final battle. (Ezekiel 28:14-15; Isaiah 14:12; Job 1:7; Matthew 4:3, 12:24; Luke 10:18; John 8:44, 12:31; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:7- 10, 20:10)
About Baptism
We believe that every believer demonstrates his love for Jesus Christ by publicly confessing Him as Savior and Lord, and by identifying himself with Christ through baptism. Baptism is a public symbol of a spiritual change in the believer’s life. The believer’s old life is crucified with Christ, dead and buried, and like Christ is subsequently raised from the dead to walk in a new life for the g
lory of God. We believe that the method of baptism presented in scripture is full immersion in water. (Matthew 3:13-17, 28:19-20; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:38, 8:35-39, Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12)
About The Lord’s Supper
We believe that every believer is commanded to remember the death of the Lord Jesus, the new covenant established through his shed blood, and anticipate His soon return by celebrating the Lord’s Supper with other believers. This ceremony includes the sharing of bread and the fruit of the vine, symbolically representing the body and blood of the Lord Jesus given as a sacrifice for many. (Matthew 26:26-30; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
About Eternal Security
We believe God promises eternal life through Jesus Christ to every believer. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not a believer’s personal effort. Therefore, every true believer is secure for eternity in the protective power of our promise-keeping God. (John 10: 28-29; Hebrews 10:10-14; 2 Peter 1:3-5)
