What we believe
The primary focus of New Creation517 is to come alongside the local church and teach believers the Biblical truth of what it means to be a New Creation in Jesus, as well as what it means to live as redeemed people of God in an unredeemed world. The central doctrines of the Christian faith are reflected at the core of everything we teach here at New Creation517, including:
The Triune God
We believe in the one true, living God. He is the Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, and Ruler of all things. He is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, and is revealed to us as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Father
God the Father reigns over all His universes with providential care. He is all-powerful, all-loving, all-knowing, and all-wise (Genesis 1:1; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 6:9; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:14-15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 Corinthians 15:24; Ephesians 4:6).
Son
The Lord Jesus Christ became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man by volunteering Himself as a sinless, substitutionary sacrifice on the cross, thereby satisfying God’s righteous judgment against sin (Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1-18; Romans 3:24-26; Romans 8:3).
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the Divine Person who convicts the world of sin. He alone brings new life to those who are spiritually dead. He indwells believers permanently, seals them unto the day of final redemption, bestows spiritual gifts upon them, and fills those who are yielding to Him. (John 3:3-8; 14:16-17; 16:7-11; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, 13; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18)
God is Holy
God is absolutely and perfectly holy (Isaiah 6:3). Therefore, He cannot commit or approve of evil (James 1:13). God requires holiness of us as well. 1 Peter 1:16 says, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
The Devil or Satan
We believe in the personality of Satan; that he is a created angelic being, the unholy god of this age, the ruler of all the powers of darkness, and he is destined to eternal judgment within the lake of fire (Ezekiel 28:13-19; Matthew 4:1-11; Revelation 20:10).
The Bible
The Holy Scriptures are the inerrant Word of God, and we believe that they are to be obeyed wholeheartedly. We believe that the Scriptures of both the Old and New Testaments are given by inspiration of God and are God’s written revelation to man. Furthermore, all Scripture centers around the Lord Jesus Christ in His person and work. Therefore, no portion of the Old Testament is properly read or understood until it leads to Christ. The Scriptures are the final, absolute authority for the proper worldview that all believers are to live by (John 5:39, 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21, Romans 15:4).
Man - Humankind
We believe that man was created in innocence under the laws of God. However, by voluntary transgression, Adam fell from his sinless and happy estate. Consequently, all men sinned in him, and therefore, all men are totally depraved, partakers of Adams’s fallen nature. Sinners by nature and by conduct, mankind faces just condemnation without defense or excuse (Genesis 3:1-6, 24; Romans 1:18-32; 3:10-19; 5:12, 19).
Sin Demands a Penalty - Hell
God’s holiness and justice demand that all sins be punished by death (Ezekiel 18:4). That’s why simply changing our patterns of behavior can’t solve our sin problem or eliminate its consequences (Romans 6:23). Those who do not repent and trust in Jesus as their Lord and Savior will die in their sins and be judged, condemned to Hell as their place of torment for eternity.
Atonement for Sin
We believe in accordance with the Scriptures that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins as a substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who believe in Him are redeemed by His shed blood. We also believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord Jesus Christ and in His ascension into heaven; Jesus Christ is the Way, The Truth, and the Life—the one and only way to eternal life; He is our High Priest and Advocate (John 1:1-3, 14; 3:1-7, 14:6; Hebrews 10:4-14; 1 John 2:2).
Salvation/New Creation
We believe that salvation is the free gift of God’s grace and that upon salvation, man becomes a New Creation. Man is regenerated and receives a new heart wrought by the Holy Spirit. Salvation cannot be gained or made more secure by meritorious works but is freely bestowed only upon all who put their faith in the finished work of the Cross of Jesus Christ. All those who place their trust in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ are forgiven of their sins and born and sealed into the family of God by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit (John 1:12; Acts 16:30-33; Romans 10:9-10; 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-9; 4:30).
The Character of Saving Faith
True faith is always accompanied by repentance from sin. Repentance is agreeing with God that you are sinful, confessing your sins to Him, making a conscious choice to turn from sin (Luke 13:3, 5; 1 Thessalonians 1:9), and pursuing Christ (Matthew 11:28-30; John 17:3) and obedience to Him (1 John 2:3). It isn’t enough to just believe certain facts about Christ. Even Satan and his demons believe in the true God (James 2:19), but they don’t love and obey Him. True saving faith always results in obedience (Ephesians 2:10).
The Call to make Disciples:
Until the return of Christ, it is the Christian’s duty and privilege to obey Jesus’ command to go and make disciples, teaching them to obey all that has been passed down to us through the teachings of the Apostles and Prophets written in God’s Holy Word. Through discipleship, we are to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, serving as instruments of Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirit administers redemption and reconciliation in the world (Matthew 25:31-46; 28:18-20, Ephesians 4:11,12).
The Church
We teach that all who place their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual body, the church (1 Corinthians 12:12-13), the bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23-32; Revelation 19:7-8), of which Christ is the Head (Ephesians 1:22; 4:15; Colossians 1:18). The church is to display the manifold wisdom of God to the rulers in the heavenly places (Ephesian 3:10), and each believer is to remain faithful to gathering together in the local church (Hebrews 10:25). The Word of God is the final authority of the church and it is to be obeyed fully as the church walks in step with the Holy Spirit.
Heaven
We believe that at the end of this age, the ultimate reward for those who are saved is Jesus Himself upon entrance of the eternal state of bliss and glory with God in heaven, after which the elements of this earth are to be burned up with fire (2 peter 3:10) and replaced with a new heaven and earth, wherein only the righteousness will dwells (John 14:3; Revelation 20:15; 21:1-27; 22:1-21). Following this, the heavenly city will come down (Revelation 21:2) and will be the dwelling place of the saints, where they will enjoy eternal fellowship with God and one another forever (John 17:3; Revelation 21-22). Our Lord Jesus Christ, having fulfilled his redemptive mission, will then deliver up the kingdom to god the father (1 Corinthians 15:24-28), and in every aspect the triune god will reign supreme forever and ever (1 Corinthians 15:28).
The Triune God
We believe in the one true, living God. He is the Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, and Ruler of all things. He is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, and is revealed to us as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Father
God the Father reigns over all His universes with providential care. He is all-powerful, all-loving, all-knowing, and all-wise (Genesis 1:1; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 6:9; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:14-15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 Corinthians 15:24; Ephesians 4:6).
Son
The Lord Jesus Christ became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man by volunteering Himself as a sinless, substitutionary sacrifice on the cross, thereby satisfying God’s righteous judgment against sin (Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1-18; Romans 3:24-26; Romans 8:3).
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the Divine Person who convicts the world of sin. He alone brings new life to those who are spiritually dead. He indwells believers permanently, seals them unto the day of final redemption, bestows spiritual gifts upon them, and fills those who are yielding to Him. (John 3:3-8; 14:16-17; 16:7-11; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, 13; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18)
God is Holy
God is absolutely and perfectly holy (Isaiah 6:3). Therefore, He cannot commit or approve of evil (James 1:13). God requires holiness of us as well. 1 Peter 1:16 says, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
The Devil or Satan
We believe in the personality of Satan; that he is a created angelic being, the unholy god of this age, the ruler of all the powers of darkness, and he is destined to eternal judgment within the lake of fire (Ezekiel 28:13-19; Matthew 4:1-11; Revelation 20:10).
The Bible
The Holy Scriptures are the inerrant Word of God, and we believe that they are to be obeyed wholeheartedly. We believe that the Scriptures of both the Old and New Testaments are given by inspiration of God and are God’s written revelation to man. Furthermore, all Scripture centers around the Lord Jesus Christ in His person and work. Therefore, no portion of the Old Testament is properly read or understood until it leads to Christ. The Scriptures are the final, absolute authority for the proper worldview that all believers are to live by (John 5:39, 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21, Romans 15:4).
Man - Humankind
We believe that man was created in innocence under the laws of God. However, by voluntary transgression, Adam fell from his sinless and happy estate. Consequently, all men sinned in him, and therefore, all men are totally depraved, partakers of Adams’s fallen nature. Sinners by nature and by conduct, mankind faces just condemnation without defense or excuse (Genesis 3:1-6, 24; Romans 1:18-32; 3:10-19; 5:12, 19).
Sin Demands a Penalty - Hell
God’s holiness and justice demand that all sins be punished by death (Ezekiel 18:4). That’s why simply changing our patterns of behavior can’t solve our sin problem or eliminate its consequences (Romans 6:23). Those who do not repent and trust in Jesus as their Lord and Savior will die in their sins and be judged, condemned to Hell as their place of torment for eternity.
Atonement for Sin
We believe in accordance with the Scriptures that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins as a substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who believe in Him are redeemed by His shed blood. We also believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord Jesus Christ and in His ascension into heaven; Jesus Christ is the Way, The Truth, and the Life—the one and only way to eternal life; He is our High Priest and Advocate (John 1:1-3, 14; 3:1-7, 14:6; Hebrews 10:4-14; 1 John 2:2).
Salvation/New Creation
We believe that salvation is the free gift of God’s grace and that upon salvation, man becomes a New Creation. Man is regenerated and receives a new heart wrought by the Holy Spirit. Salvation cannot be gained or made more secure by meritorious works but is freely bestowed only upon all who put their faith in the finished work of the Cross of Jesus Christ. All those who place their trust in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ are forgiven of their sins and born and sealed into the family of God by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit (John 1:12; Acts 16:30-33; Romans 10:9-10; 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-9; 4:30).
The Character of Saving Faith
True faith is always accompanied by repentance from sin. Repentance is agreeing with God that you are sinful, confessing your sins to Him, making a conscious choice to turn from sin (Luke 13:3, 5; 1 Thessalonians 1:9), and pursuing Christ (Matthew 11:28-30; John 17:3) and obedience to Him (1 John 2:3). It isn’t enough to just believe certain facts about Christ. Even Satan and his demons believe in the true God (James 2:19), but they don’t love and obey Him. True saving faith always results in obedience (Ephesians 2:10).
The Call to make Disciples:
Until the return of Christ, it is the Christian’s duty and privilege to obey Jesus’ command to go and make disciples, teaching them to obey all that has been passed down to us through the teachings of the Apostles and Prophets written in God’s Holy Word. Through discipleship, we are to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, serving as instruments of Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirit administers redemption and reconciliation in the world (Matthew 25:31-46; 28:18-20, Ephesians 4:11,12).
The Church
We teach that all who place their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual body, the church (1 Corinthians 12:12-13), the bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23-32; Revelation 19:7-8), of which Christ is the Head (Ephesians 1:22; 4:15; Colossians 1:18). The church is to display the manifold wisdom of God to the rulers in the heavenly places (Ephesian 3:10), and each believer is to remain faithful to gathering together in the local church (Hebrews 10:25). The Word of God is the final authority of the church and it is to be obeyed fully as the church walks in step with the Holy Spirit.
Heaven
We believe that at the end of this age, the ultimate reward for those who are saved is Jesus Himself upon entrance of the eternal state of bliss and glory with God in heaven, after which the elements of this earth are to be burned up with fire (2 peter 3:10) and replaced with a new heaven and earth, wherein only the righteousness will dwells (John 14:3; Revelation 20:15; 21:1-27; 22:1-21). Following this, the heavenly city will come down (Revelation 21:2) and will be the dwelling place of the saints, where they will enjoy eternal fellowship with God and one another forever (John 17:3; Revelation 21-22). Our Lord Jesus Christ, having fulfilled his redemptive mission, will then deliver up the kingdom to god the father (1 Corinthians 15:24-28), and in every aspect the triune god will reign supreme forever and ever (1 Corinthians 15:28).