What We Believe
Our beliefs describe how we view many aspects of our faith. Deeply rooted in Scripture, the doctrines and beliefs of Refuge City Church guide our decisions as a church.
About the Bible. All Scripture is self-attesting and, being Truth, requires our unreserved submission in all areas of life. The infallible Word of God, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is a complete and unified witness to God’s redemptive acts culminating in the incarnation of the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible, uniquely and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, is the supreme and final authority on all matters on which it speaks.
On this sure foundation, we affirm these additional Essentials of our faith.
About God. Scripture teaches that God created everything we can see (and even everything we can’t see) out of nothing. Although it might be difficult for the human mind to comprehend, the Bible teaches that He is one being, yet has eternally existed as three distinct and equal persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
About Jesus. Jesus Christ is God’s Son and an equal to the Father. He has always existed, yet lived on earth during the first century A.D. Throughout His earthly life, He was completely God and completely human at the same time. After living a perfect, sinless life, Jesus offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice by dying on a Roman cross for the atonement of our sins. After three days in the grave, He defeated sin and death by rising from the grave. He then ascended to Heaven and rules and reigns as the King of kings and Lord of lords.
About the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a full and equal part of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit has come to glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to our hearts. He convicts us of sin and draws us to the Savior (John 16:5-17). Indwelling our hearts, He gives new life to us, empowers and imparts gifts to us for service. He instructs and guides us into all truth, and seals us for the day of redemption.
About Salvation. Our disobedient nature has eternally separated us from our Creator. No matter how hard we try, we can never earn our way back into God’s presence. Our only hope is to trust Jesus as God’s provision for our disobedience. Our salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, through Jesus Christ alone.
About Sin. Sin is when we violate God’s way. Moreover, sin is a failure to conform to the law of God in act, attitude, and nature. All actual transgressions arise from the fall man in the garden. (Genesis 3.) By it we are thoroughly biased against, and disabled and antagonistic toward all that is good, and we are completely inclined toward all that is evil. (James 1:14, 15; Matthew 15:19. Romans 8:7; Colossians 1:21.) During this life, this corruption of nature remains in those who are regenerated. (Romans 7:18, 23; Ecclesiastes 7:20; 1 John 1:8. Romans 7:23–25; Galatians 5:17.)
About the Church. The Bible tells us that the church is the body of Christ in the world today. The New Testament tells us the church is a local body of baptized believers. The head of the church is Jesus Christ. The biblical purposes of the church are worship (through singing, preaching, congregational reading of scriptures, communion and baptisms) , evangelism, fellowship, discipleship and deeds ministry to others.
About Christ’s Return. We believe that Christ is coming again to judge the living and the dead. This promise is found throughout the inspired Scriptures. Until His return, believers are to live lives that bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. The Church is to be busy doing the work of evangelism and discipleship, proclaiming the pure, uncompromised Gospel of Christ by teaching the Word of God.
About Eternity. Those who have not been regenerated by the Holy Spirit will suffer eternal punishment in Hell. The saved will enter the eternal state of glory with God, after which the elements of this earth are to be dissolved (2 Peter 3:10) and replaced with a new earth, wherein only righteousness dwells (Ephesians 5:5; Revelation 20:15; 21:1-27; 22:1-21). Following this, the heavenly city will come down out of heaven (Revelation 21:2) and will be the dwelling place of the saints, where they will enjoy forever fellowship with God and one another (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), that in all spheres the triune God may reign forever and ever (1 Corinthians 15:28).
Take a deeper look at what defines us as a Christian Church and how our beliefs align with a historical, biblical Christianity.