what do we believe?

Our church loves reading and studying the Bible because we believe it is the Word of God. The Bible is one of the main ways God speaks to us. The Bible is the only authoritative, inspired, living Word of God! Reading the Bible with an open heart is a sure way of encountering God.  John 16:13; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 4:12 

Our church is in love with God. We believe that “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Therefore, everything that has been created was made by God. Furthermore, we believe in the Trinity, that God is both Three and One: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They are Three and One all at the same time. We do not claim to fully understand this with our minds. But it makes sense that there will be things about God we simply cannot understand. But we except this by faith. 

Our church is in love with Jesus! We believe Jesus is more than just a great teacher. We believe he is more than just an angel or a great prophet. Jesus is the Son of God! We have seen the power of the name of Jesus heal the sick, break demonic chains, and save souls from the power of sin. 

We also believe:

• Jesus was born of a virgin birth; Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:34-35; Isaiah 7:14 
• Jesus is God in the flesh; John 1:1,14; 20:28-29; Philippians 2:6-11; Isaiah 9:6; Colossians 2:9
• Jesus lived a sinless life; 2 Corinthians 5;21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 John 3:5; 1 Peter 2:22 
• Jesus atoned for our sins with His shed blood; Isaiah 53: 4-6; Romans 5: 8-9; Ephesians 1:7
• Jesus was resurrected from the dead; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Luke 24:4-7; 36-48; Revelation 1:17-18
• Jesus now sits at the right hand of God the Father; Acts 2:33; 5:30-31; 1 Peter 3:22
• Jesus is going to return in power and glory one day; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18; John 14:1-3
• Jesus is the only way to God; John 14:6  

Our church loves the Holy Spirit. We believe that the Holy Spirit is the part of the Trinity that comes and lives inside a person when she or he confesses and turns away from their sins and puts their full trust in Jesus. (Ephesians 1:13-15).  When the Holy Spirit comes inside a person, that act changes everything. You become born again of the Spirit, filled with peace, joy and love; your relationship with God is made right; you have forgiveness of sins; and you inherit eternal life.

The members of our White Oaks gathering love God’s church. We believe God’s worldwide church is composed of people from all denominations, countries and languages, who have given their hearts and lives to following Jesus. The church is God’s Kingdom on earth. (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12) We go into more detail about what we believe the church is in About Our Church?