Statement of Faith
The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of Hope Church’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Board is Hope Church’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.
The Trinity
We believe in one God who exists in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Mt. 28:19). All three are uncreated, coeternal, and equal in power, glory, and honor. They are rightly worshiped as the one true God–three in one, and one in three (Rev. 22:13, Acts 5:3-4).
God the Father
God the Father is the Creator and sustainer of all things (Gen. 1:1, Heb. 11:3) who created the universe in love to respond to Himself. He created man in His own image for fellowship (Gen. 1:26-27), and calls man back to Himself through Christ after the rebellion and fall of man.
The Son—Jesus
We believe Jesus of Nazareth was and is the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One. We believe he is also the Son of the Living God (Mt. 16:16). He is fully man and fully God (1 Tim. 2:5, Titus 2:13) through whom all things were made (John 1:3, 10). He was born of the virgin Mary, lived a perfect life, taught the way of God’s kingdom, worked miracles, suffered, died, and (bodily) rose again (1 Cor. 15:1-8). We believe Jesus Christ lived a perfect life and died a shameful death that we might be counted righteous and forgiven of our sins (2 Cor. 5:21). He was our sacrificial substitute (1 Pet. 3:18). He defeated the devil (Rev. 12:9), removed our guilt (Isa. 53:4-6), and became a curse for us (Gal. 3:13), bearing the weight of God’s wrath (1 Jn. 1:8-2:2).
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit supernaturally converts (regenerates) the hearts of God’s people by making alive what was spiritually dead (Titus 3:5, 1 Pet. 1:23). The Spirit convicts us of sin (Jn. 16:8-11), leads us to repentance (Eze. 36:26-27), causes us to grow in holiness (2 Cor. 3:18), seals us for the day of redemption that we might be assured of our salvation (Eph. 1:13-14), and empowers the saints with spiritual gifts for service and witness for the building up of the body (1 Cor. 12:7).
The Scripture
We believe, that while God has revealed himself in his creation (Ps. 19:1-6, Rom. 1:18-20), he has spoken to us most clearly in his Word (Jn. 14:25-26, Deut. 6:6-7). The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are breathed out by God, holy, complete, and entirely without error. (2 Tim. 3:16, Jn. 10:35, 2 Pet. 1:20-21). The Bible is our final authority in life, doctrine, and godliness (Mt. 4:4, 2 Pet. 1:3-4).
Fall
We believe that Adam and Eve, our first parents, rebelled against God and plunged themselves and all their offspring into ruin (Gen. 3:1-19). Because of Adam’s sin, we are all guilty sinners (Rom. 5:12-21). We come into the world with corrupt natures through and through (Ps. 51:5). We are spiritually dead until God makes us alive in Christ (Jn. 6:44, Rom. 3:10-18, Eph. 2:1-5).
The Atonement
Christ took our place and died (1 Peter 3:18) on the cross paying the penalty for the sins of the whole world (John 3:16, Romans 4:25, Romans 6:23), and inaugurated the New Covenant in His blood, for those who receive Christ as their Lord and Savior. His atoning sacrifice makes available healing of the body, soul and spirit, when appropriated by His saints (2 Cor. 5:21).
Salvation
We believe that we are justified–declared righteous before God–through faith in Christ alone by His grace (Gal. 2:16). The only way (Jn. 14:6) to be adopted into God’s family is through union with his Son, Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:3-6). The new life in Christ includes the privileges of adoption and inheritance in the Kingdom of God’s beloved Son.
The Christian Life
We believe God’s people should be marked by Christlikeness (Eph. 5:1-2), prayerfulness (Rom. 12:12), joyful obedience (John 14:15), love of God and love of neighbor (Mt. 22:37-44) and service (Mt. 20:28). We believe the mission of the church is to make disciples that are joining God to bring Heaven here through the power of the Spirit to the glory of God the Father (Mt. 28:19-20). As salt and light (Mt. 5:13-16), we seek to save the lost (1 Cor. 9:19-23), love others in word and deed (1 Pet. 4:11), work for righteousness and justice (Amos 5:24), and care for the hurting and needy (Jn. 3:16-18).
The Church
We believe the Church is the gathering of God’s people drawn from every tribe, language, people, and nation (Eph. 2:11-12, Rev. 5:9-10). This Church, of which Christ Jesus is the head, exists locally, and imperfectly, as the visible church.
A.The goal of the church is to make disciples.
B.The church is governed by the five-fold ministry of Ephesians 4, the offices of Elders, as well as other offices mentioned in the Bible.
C.Church policy is based upon congregation and Board authority, emphasizing the final authority of the church Board.
D.Church discipline is essential to the life of the church. This scriptural pattern of discipline should be practiced individually and corporately with oversight to be exercised by the Eldership of the church.
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
The Word of God urges on the Church continual reminders of the Lord Jesus Christ. The first, baptism, is the outward sign of what God has already done in the individual’s life and is a testimony to all that the person now belongs to Jesus. It is identification with Jesus and is affected in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of the death of the Lord and is done in remembrance of Him until He comes again; it is a sign of our participation in Him. (Matthew Mark 16:16, 28:19, Luke 22:7-23, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34,
Last Things
We believe Jesus Christ will return to earth personally, visibly, and bodily as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Acts 1:11). At his appearing the dead shall be raised and the living and the dead will be judged (1 Cor. 15:20-28). The wicked and unbelieving will be consigned to eternal punishment (Rev. 20:10, Rev. 14:15). Those belonging to Jesus will have eternal life in the new heavens and the new earth and live in ever-increasing joy to the glory of God (Mt. 25:21, Rev. 21:1-5).
Marriage
Because God has ordained marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between a man, a woman, and himself, Hope Reformed Church will only recognize marriage between a biological born man and a biological born woman. Further, the pastors and staff of Hope Reformed Church shall only participate in weddings and solemnize marriage between one man and one woman. Finally the facilities and property of Hope Church shall only host weddings between one man and one woman. (Genesis 2:22-24, Matthew 9:6, Mark 10:6-9, Ephesians 5:21-33)
The Trinity
We believe in one God who exists in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Mt. 28:19). All three are uncreated, coeternal, and equal in power, glory, and honor. They are rightly worshiped as the one true God–three in one, and one in three (Rev. 22:13, Acts 5:3-4).
God the Father
God the Father is the Creator and sustainer of all things (Gen. 1:1, Heb. 11:3) who created the universe in love to respond to Himself. He created man in His own image for fellowship (Gen. 1:26-27), and calls man back to Himself through Christ after the rebellion and fall of man.
The Son—Jesus
We believe Jesus of Nazareth was and is the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One. We believe he is also the Son of the Living God (Mt. 16:16). He is fully man and fully God (1 Tim. 2:5, Titus 2:13) through whom all things were made (John 1:3, 10). He was born of the virgin Mary, lived a perfect life, taught the way of God’s kingdom, worked miracles, suffered, died, and (bodily) rose again (1 Cor. 15:1-8). We believe Jesus Christ lived a perfect life and died a shameful death that we might be counted righteous and forgiven of our sins (2 Cor. 5:21). He was our sacrificial substitute (1 Pet. 3:18). He defeated the devil (Rev. 12:9), removed our guilt (Isa. 53:4-6), and became a curse for us (Gal. 3:13), bearing the weight of God’s wrath (1 Jn. 1:8-2:2).
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit supernaturally converts (regenerates) the hearts of God’s people by making alive what was spiritually dead (Titus 3:5, 1 Pet. 1:23). The Spirit convicts us of sin (Jn. 16:8-11), leads us to repentance (Eze. 36:26-27), causes us to grow in holiness (2 Cor. 3:18), seals us for the day of redemption that we might be assured of our salvation (Eph. 1:13-14), and empowers the saints with spiritual gifts for service and witness for the building up of the body (1 Cor. 12:7).
The Scripture
We believe, that while God has revealed himself in his creation (Ps. 19:1-6, Rom. 1:18-20), he has spoken to us most clearly in his Word (Jn. 14:25-26, Deut. 6:6-7). The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are breathed out by God, holy, complete, and entirely without error. (2 Tim. 3:16, Jn. 10:35, 2 Pet. 1:20-21). The Bible is our final authority in life, doctrine, and godliness (Mt. 4:4, 2 Pet. 1:3-4).
Fall
We believe that Adam and Eve, our first parents, rebelled against God and plunged themselves and all their offspring into ruin (Gen. 3:1-19). Because of Adam’s sin, we are all guilty sinners (Rom. 5:12-21). We come into the world with corrupt natures through and through (Ps. 51:5). We are spiritually dead until God makes us alive in Christ (Jn. 6:44, Rom. 3:10-18, Eph. 2:1-5).
The Atonement
Christ took our place and died (1 Peter 3:18) on the cross paying the penalty for the sins of the whole world (John 3:16, Romans 4:25, Romans 6:23), and inaugurated the New Covenant in His blood, for those who receive Christ as their Lord and Savior. His atoning sacrifice makes available healing of the body, soul and spirit, when appropriated by His saints (2 Cor. 5:21).
Salvation
We believe that we are justified–declared righteous before God–through faith in Christ alone by His grace (Gal. 2:16). The only way (Jn. 14:6) to be adopted into God’s family is through union with his Son, Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:3-6). The new life in Christ includes the privileges of adoption and inheritance in the Kingdom of God’s beloved Son.
The Christian Life
We believe God’s people should be marked by Christlikeness (Eph. 5:1-2), prayerfulness (Rom. 12:12), joyful obedience (John 14:15), love of God and love of neighbor (Mt. 22:37-44) and service (Mt. 20:28). We believe the mission of the church is to make disciples that are joining God to bring Heaven here through the power of the Spirit to the glory of God the Father (Mt. 28:19-20). As salt and light (Mt. 5:13-16), we seek to save the lost (1 Cor. 9:19-23), love others in word and deed (1 Pet. 4:11), work for righteousness and justice (Amos 5:24), and care for the hurting and needy (Jn. 3:16-18).
The Church
We believe the Church is the gathering of God’s people drawn from every tribe, language, people, and nation (Eph. 2:11-12, Rev. 5:9-10). This Church, of which Christ Jesus is the head, exists locally, and imperfectly, as the visible church.
A.The goal of the church is to make disciples.
B.The church is governed by the five-fold ministry of Ephesians 4, the offices of Elders, as well as other offices mentioned in the Bible.
C.Church policy is based upon congregation and Board authority, emphasizing the final authority of the church Board.
D.Church discipline is essential to the life of the church. This scriptural pattern of discipline should be practiced individually and corporately with oversight to be exercised by the Eldership of the church.
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
The Word of God urges on the Church continual reminders of the Lord Jesus Christ. The first, baptism, is the outward sign of what God has already done in the individual’s life and is a testimony to all that the person now belongs to Jesus. It is identification with Jesus and is affected in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of the death of the Lord and is done in remembrance of Him until He comes again; it is a sign of our participation in Him. (Matthew Mark 16:16, 28:19, Luke 22:7-23, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34,
Last Things
We believe Jesus Christ will return to earth personally, visibly, and bodily as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Acts 1:11). At his appearing the dead shall be raised and the living and the dead will be judged (1 Cor. 15:20-28). The wicked and unbelieving will be consigned to eternal punishment (Rev. 20:10, Rev. 14:15). Those belonging to Jesus will have eternal life in the new heavens and the new earth and live in ever-increasing joy to the glory of God (Mt. 25:21, Rev. 21:1-5).
Marriage
Because God has ordained marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between a man, a woman, and himself, Hope Reformed Church will only recognize marriage between a biological born man and a biological born woman. Further, the pastors and staff of Hope Reformed Church shall only participate in weddings and solemnize marriage between one man and one woman. Finally the facilities and property of Hope Church shall only host weddings between one man and one woman. (Genesis 2:22-24, Matthew 9:6, Mark 10:6-9, Ephesians 5:21-33)