OUR BELIEFS

Acts 29 Member church 

Redemption | Parker is a member of the Acts 29 church planting network.  As members of Acts 29, we adhere to the theolgical distinctives, vision, and values of Acts 29.

Statement of Faith

The Scriptures are true, authoritative, and sufficient.

We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of his will for the salvation of mankind, and the final authority for all Christian faith and life (Psalm 19:7-11; John17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

There is one true God who eternally exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We believe there is one God, eternally existing in three Persons; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These persons are equal in being, power and glory, and they are identical in essence. Each member of the Godhead possesses all the same attributes and perfections. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-6; Isaiah 46:9-10; Psalm 139:1-24; Matthew 10:29-31; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1; John 17:3; Acts 17:24-28 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; 1 Timothy 2:5; Titus 2:13).

God the Father is eternal, Infinite in His attributes, and sovereign over all things.

We believe in God the Father; an infinite, personal Spirit, who is perfect in all His attributes. We believe that God the Father not only created the world but also now upholds, sustains, governs, and providentially directs all that exists and that he will bring all things to their proper consummation in Christ Jesus to the glory of his name. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of people, that he hears and answers prayer, and that he saves from sin and death all who come to him through Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 40:1-48:22; Isaiah 46:10; Psalm 104:1-35; Matthew 10:29-31; 28:19; John 3:16; 4:24; Acts 17:24-28; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 1:9-12; 4:4-6; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 1:4-6).

All things exist for the glory of God.

Everything that exists, visible and invisible, exists by God, through God, and for God. Everything God has done, is doing, and will do is for His glory. Consequently, all humanity exists to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. (Romans 11:33-36; Psalm 19:1; Psalm 62:7; Psalm 105:3; Psalm 115:1; Luke 2:14; Colossians 1:16; Colossians 1:27; Revelation 19:7)

All humanity, though created in the image of God is sinful by both birth and action - Christ excluded.

We believe God made man—male and female—in His own image, as the crown of creation so that man might glorify Him through enjoying fellowship with Him. In consequence of his disobedience, Adam’s posterity are born subject to sin and moral corruption, and are therefore by nature and choice the children of wrath, justly condemned in the sight of God, wholly unable to save themselves or to contribute in any way to their acceptance with God (Genesis 1:1-3:24; Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:9-18; 5:12-21; Ephesians 2:1-3).

Jesus Christ is the Eternal Son, Co-Creator of the universe, and the substitutionary sacrifice for our sins.

We believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, the eternal Word made Flesh, truly God and truly man, that he was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and offered himself as a substitutionary sacrifice for sinners. By his blood shed on the cross he satisfied the wrath of God, obtained for us eternal redemption, the forgiveness of sins, spiritual adoption as sons and daughters, life everlasting, and defeated the powers of darkness. He was raised bodily on the third day and ascended to the right hand of the Father, there to make intercession for the saints (Isaiah 53:1-12; Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1-18; Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:1- 28; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:10-14; Ephesians 1:7; Philippians 2:6-11; Colossians 1:15-23; 2:15; Hebrews 7:25; 9:13-15; 1 Peter 2:24-25; 1 John 2:1-2).

The Holy Spirit is eternally God who brings conviction of sin, applies salvation, and empowers the believer to live a life that honors God.

We believe that the Holy Spirit is fully God, equal with the Father and Son. The primary ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit also convicts unbelievers of their need for Christ and imparts spiritual life through regeneration (the new birth). The Spirit indwells, sanctifies, leads, illumines, and graciously empowers for godly living and service all who come to faith in Christ. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ baptizes believers in the Holy Spirit, in whom also we are sealed for the day of redemption. Subsequent to conversion the Spirit desires to fill, empower, and anoint believers for ministry and witness. We believe the Holy Spirit gives gifts to believers for the purpose of equipping the church for effective ministry. These gifts are to be eagerly desired, faithfully developed, and lovingly exercised according to biblical guidelines (Matthew 3:11; John 1:12-13; 3:1-15; 15:26-27; 16:7-15; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18; Romans 12:3-8; Romans 14:1-33; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31).

Salvation is by grace through faith.

We believe that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. We believe salvation involves the redemption of the whole person, and is offered freely to all who surrender to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who by his own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. (John 1:12-13; 6:37-44; 10:25-30; Acts 13:48; 16:30-31; Romans 3:1-4:25; 8:1-17,31-39; 9:1-23; 10:8-10; Ephesians 1:4-5; 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; Titus 3:3-7).

The church is the bride of Christ and God's means for communicating the gospel to the whole world.

We believe that the Church is the Bride of Christ and is comprised of all believers in every age. The Church is also God’s primary instrument through which he is fulfilling his redemptive purposes in the earth. We believe that God has called the Church to preach the gospel to all nations, and especially to remember the poor and to minister to their needs through sacrificial giving and practical service. We also affirm the priesthood of all believers and the importance of every Christian being joined with and actively involved in a local community of the saints (Isaiah 58:6-12; 61:1; Matthew 16:17-19; 28:18-20; Luke 4:18; 21:1-4; Acts 2:17-18,42; Galatians 2:10; Ephesians 3:14-21; 4:11-16; 1 Timothy 6:8; Hebrews 10:23-25; 1 Peter 2:4-5,9-10).

Jesus Christ will return as King of Kings and he will Judge the living and the dead.

We believe in the imminent, glorious, visible, and triumphant appearing of Christ when he returns to the earth as King of Kings. We believe that after Christ returns, he will bring about the ultimate defeat of Satan, the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment, and the eternal blessing of the righteous. At that time, the Kingdom of God will be completely fulfilled in the new heavens and the new earth, in which righteousness dwells and in which he will be worshipped forever (Matthew 25:46; John 5:25-29; 1 Corinthians 15:1-49; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Philippians 1:19-26; 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12; Revelation 19:1-21; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:1-22:15).