Articles of Faith

Statement of Faith

NewSong Community Church

We accept and affirm the faith of the historic church expressed in the classic creeds of the Christian Faith. We also affirm the responsibility of the church in each generation to make this faith its own. The following articles of faith express our essential beliefs.

Statement I. -Faith in the Holy Trinity

WE BELIEVE in the one true, holy and living God, eternally existing in three distinct persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, distinct but inseparable, eternally one in essence and power.

Statement II. -Jesus Christ

WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He lived a sinless and obedient life, suffered and died on the cross to redeem humanity from the guilt and penalty of sin, was buried, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven to be with the Father, from whence he shall return. He is eternal Savior and Mediator, who intercedes for us, and he will judge all people.

Statement III. -The Holy Spirit

WE BELIEVE that the Holy Spirit is God's divine presence in our lives for guidance, comfort and strength. The Holy Spirit proceeds from and is one in being with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of its sin and leads people into a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Statement IV. -The Holy Bible

WE BELIEVE that the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, reveals the Word of God so far as it is necessary for our salvation. It is to be received through the Holy Spirit as the true rule and guide for faith and practice. Whatever is not revealed in or established by the Holy Scriptures is not to be made an article of faith nor is it to be taught as essential to salvation.

Statement V. -The Church

WE BELIEVE that the Christian Church is the community of all true believers under the Lordship of Christ. We believe it is one, holy, apostolic and universal. The Church is the redemptive fellowship in which the Word of God is preached by persons divinely called, and the sacraments are duly administered according to Christ's own appointment. Under the discipline of the Holy Spirit the Church exists for the celebration of worship, the edification of believers and the redemption of the world.

Statement VI. -The Sacraments

WE BELIEVE that the sacraments, ordained by Christ, are symbols and pledges of the Christian's profession and of God's love toward us. They are means of grace by which God works invisibly in us, quickening, strengthening and confirming our faith in him. Christ our Lord ordains two sacraments, namely Baptism and Holy Communion.

WE BELIEVE baptism signifies a person's entrance into Christ's holy universal Church and publicly identifies a person as a believer. Baptism is a sign of God's grace and a pledge of our faith. In conducting the baptismal service, we practice baptism using any of the historic means of baptism including sprinkling, pouring and immersion.

WE BELIEVE that children are under the atonement of Christ and are heirs of the Kingdom of God. Children are also the special responsibility of the Church. Since Scripture teaches that professing believers alone qualify for Scriptural Baptism we do not baptize children. Children should be nurtured and led to personal acceptance of Christ and baptized when they have reached the age of understanding.

WE BELIEVE Holy Communion is a sign of God's grace and a pledge of our faith. Holy Communion reminds us of Jesus' death, his self-giving sacrifice on our behalf. Holy Communion is also a time to celebrate the resurrection, to recognize and give thanks for the Risen Christ. We also celebrate the final victory of Christ, anticipating God's coming reign. We practice open communion, meaning all are welcome at the Lord's Table.

Statement VII. -Sin and Free Will

WE BELIEVE humankind is fallen from righteousness and apart from the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is inclined to evil. In our own strength, without divine grace, we cannot do good works pleasing and acceptable to God. We believe, however, persons influenced and empowered by the Holy Spirit are obligated to exercise their will for good.

Statement VIII. -Reconciliation Through Christ

WE BELIEVE that God was in Christ reconciling the world to God's self. The offering Christ freely made on the cross is the perfect and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, redeeming us from all sin, so that no other satisfaction is required.

Statement IX. -Justification and Regeneration

WE BELIEVE that we are never accounted righteous before God through our works or merit, but that penitent sinners are justified or accounted righteous before God only by faith in Jesus Christ.

WE BELIEVE regeneration is the renewal of persons in righteousness through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit whereby we are made partakers of the divine nature and experience newness of life. By this new birth the believer becomes reconciled to God and is enabled to serve God with the will and the affections.

WE BELIEVE that although we have experienced regeneration, it is possible to depart from grace and fall into sin; and we may even then, by the grace of God, be renewed in righteousness.

Statement X. -Good Works

WE BELIEVE that good works are the necessary fruits of faith and follow regeneration but they do not have the power to remove our sins or to avert divine judgment. We believe good works, pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, spring from a true and living faith, for through and by them faith is made evident.

Statement XI. -Salvation and Sanctification

WE BELIEVE that people are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ in response to the Gospel preached or otherwise presented in the power of the Holy Spirit, through whom ransomed sinners become the sons and daughters of God and heirs of eternal life.

WE BELIEVE that sanctification is the life-long process where every believer learns to walk in the Spirit, to die to sin, and to live to righteousness, and thereby manifest the fruit of the Spirit, conforming his or her self to the image of Christ.

Statement XII. -The Judgment and the Future State

WE BELIEVE that all people stand under the righteous judgment of Jesus Christ, both now and in the last day. On the last day, as the consummation of redemption, Christ will come again personally and visibly to judge the living and the dead. On that day there will be a bodily resurrection of the dead; the righteous to life eternal and the wicked to endless condemnation, and a new heaven and new earth will be ushered in.

Statement XIII. -Public Worship

WE BELIEVE that divine worship is the duty and privilege of every Christian. We believe divine worship is essential to the life of the Church, and that the assembling of the people of God for such worship is necessary to Christian fellowship and spiritual growth.

WE BELIEVE the order and practice of public divine worship need not be the same in all places but may be modified according to circumstances and the needs of people. It should be in a language and form understood by the people, and consistent with the Holy Scriptures.

Statement XIV. -The Christian and Property

WE BELIEVE God is the owner of all things and that the individual holding of property is lawful and is a sacred trust under God. As stewards of God’s good gifts we believe all forms of property, whether private, corporate or public should be used responsibly for the manifestation of Christian love.

Statement XV. -Civil Government

WE BELIEVE civil government derives its just powers from the sovereign God. As Christians we recognize the governments under whose protection we reside and believe such governments should be based on, and be responsible for, the recognition of human rights under God. We believe it is the duty of Christian citizens to give moral strength and purpose to their respective governments through sober, righteous and godly living.

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