OUR BELIEFS

God is called by many different names because of the different dimensions of His personality, but God is one (Deuteronomy 6:4). God is super-dimensional and eternally self-existent (John 8:54-59). God is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent. He is the creator of the heavens and the earth, and all that exists, both visible and invisible, and is therefore worthy of all glory and praise (Genesis 1 & 2).

While God is one, He has revealed Himself in three persons: Father, Son - Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). God is perfect in love, power, holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom,  justice, and mercy. He is unchangeable and therefore is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. 

God has revealed himself to us through his son, Jesus Christ, who is the visible image of the invisible God, the holy scriptures, and through all of creation itself. The Scripture declares His virgin birth (Matthew 1:18-23); His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26 & I Peter 2:22 & I John 3:4,5), His miracles (Acts 2:22 & 10:37-38), His substitutionary death on the cross (II Corinthians 5:21, I Peter 2:24 & I Corinthians 15:4), His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:1-6 & I Corinthians 15:4) & His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9,11 & Philippians 2:9-11). 

The nine fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) are the by-product of a Spirit-filled life and evidence of spiritual maturity. The nine fruits of the Spirit are different manifestations of the Spirit to build up the body (I Corinthians 12:1-11).

We are instructed to diligently seek the gifts (I Corinthians 12:31, 14:1), but they must be exercised in an orderly way (I Corinthians 14:26-33) in the context of love (I Corinthians 13:1-13).

The only means of salvation is Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12 & John 14:6). He died on the cross to pay the penalty of our sins (I Peter 2:24). He offers each of us a pardon for our sins (Hebrews 9:26) and wants us to become children of God (John 1:12). When we put our faith in Christ, it triggers a spiritual chain reaction. We become the Temple of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 6:19).

Our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life (Revelation 3:5). We become citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20-21). We are given eternal life (John 3:16). We are adopted and become children of God (Galatians 4:4-7). Our sins are forgiven and forgotten (Hebrews 8:12). We are credited with the righteousness of Christ (Romans 4:4-5). We are born again (John 3:3). God takes ownership of us (I Corinthians 6:20). We receive an eternal inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14 & I Peter 1:3-5). The evidence of salvation is two-fold. The internal evidence is the direct witness of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:16). The external evidence is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23). We become a new creation (II Corinthians 5:17) and are transformed into the image of Christ (II Corinthians 3:18).

Humans, both male and female were created in the image of God (Genesis 2:26) for His glory. The first humans were created without sin and appointed as caretakers of the rest of God's creation. By a voluntary act of the will, Adam and Eve disobeyed God (Genesis 3:6), creating the first act of sin.

That first sin had several repercussions: Man was excommunicated from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:23), a curse was pronounced (Genesis 3:14-19), the process of physical death began (Genesis 2:17) and Man died spiritually (Romans 5:12-19). Sin separated humankind from God (Ephesians 2:11-18) and left Man in a fallen & sinful condition (Romans 3:23).

Jesus Christ is returning one day to judge both the living and the dead and to usher in the fullness of God's kingdom on earth. In the final judgment, the dead will be resurrected and judged according to their works (Matthew 25:31-46 & Romans 2:1-9). Everyone whose name is not found written in the Book of Life, along with the Devil and his angels, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15).

Those whose names are written in the Book of Life will be resurrected and stand at the judgment seat of Christ to be rewarded for their good deeds (I Corinthians 4:5). 

The Old & New Testaments are verbally inspired by God, the only written revelation from God to man. The Bible is infallible and the authoritative rule of faith and conduct for mankind (II Timothy 3:15-17, I Thessalonians 2:13, & 1 Peter 1:21).

The Church is the body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:12-27) and has a three-fold purpose: to evangelize the world (Acts 1:8 & Mark 16:15-16), to worship God (I Corinthians 12:13) and to equip for ministry (Ephesians 4:11-16 & I Corinthians 12:28, 14:12). 

The Scripture teaches that all who repent and believe in Christ are to be baptized by immersion (Matthew 28:19). Baptism is a public profession of faith in Christ. It is symbolic of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. It is a declaration to the world that we have died to sin and have been raised with Christ to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).

Through child dedications, parents commit to raising their child in a Godly home. Dedications are held as requested with a church leader explaining the procedures. Destiny Church does not practice baby baptism. For questions, please reach out and we would be happy to discuss the biblical background for our position on baptism and dedications.

The Lord's table consists of two elements: the bread and cup. Those elements are symbolic of the body and blood of Christ. Communion is a memorial of Christ's sufferings on the cross and a celebration of our salvation. It is an opportunity for a believer to examine himself and experience forgiveness.