What We Believe: Hillcrest’s Statement of Faith

What We Believe: Hillcrest’s Statement of Faith

The Word of God

We believe that the Bible is the Word of God fully inspired and without error in the original manuscript, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.

II Timothy 3:16-17II Peter 1:21Matthew 5:18John 17:7I John 2:5

The Trinity

We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons; that these are equal in every divine perfection; and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption.

Matthew 28:18John 1:1-2 & 14I Corinthians 8:6Colossians 2:9Titus 3:5-6

God the Father

We believe in God, the Father an infinite personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; that He hears and answers prayers, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.

Exodus 3:14John 4:24John 3:16Psalm 99:9I John 4:8Isaiah 55:8-9Romans 5:8-9

Jesus Christ

We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into Heaven, perpetual intercession for His people and imminent personal visible return to earth.

John 1:14Matthew 1:18-25Hebrews 4:14-15I Peter 2:24Acts 1:1Matthew 9:35

The Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit, who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment and to regenerate, sanctify and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide.

John 15:26John 16:8Titus 3:5Acts 1:8Romans 8:9

Regeneration

We believe that all men are sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ are regenerated by the Holy Spirit.

Romans 3:23Romans 6:23, Acts 16:31John 1:12

The Church

We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work, and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world.

I Corinthians 12:13, Colossians 1:18Acts 2:41-47Matthew 19:20

Christian Conduct

We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and the well being of his fellowman, that his conduct should be blameless before the world, that he should seek to realize for himself and others the full stature of maturity in Christ.

I Corinthians 10:31Galatians 6:10Philippians 2:14-16I Peter 4:10I Corinthians 4:2

Religious Liberty

We believe that every human being has direct relations with God and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith, that each Church is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that therefore, Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage of the other.

I Timothy 2:5Romans 14:12, John 1:12Matthew 22:21

Church Cooperation

We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in denominational organization.

Such organizations whether a regional or district conference, exists and functions by the will of the churches and may be terminated at any time.

Churches may likewise cooperate with interdenominational fellowships on a voluntary independent basis.

Acts 11:29-30II Corinthians 8:18-19Philippians 4:15-17

The Last Things

We believe in the imminent personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the Body, the final judgment, the eternal joy of the righteous, and the endless punishment of the wicked.

I Thessalonians 4:13-17Revelation 11:15Revelation 20:11-15I Corinthians 15:51-52