The Faith that We Live By
Throughout the past 2,000 years, Christians have used "Creeds" as short, memorable statements that summarize the hope that we have learned from God's Word. The Apostle's Creed is one of the oldest and most concicse:"I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen."
God the Father
"[There is] one God and Father of all, who is over everything, through everything, and in everything." - Ephesians 4:6We believe in one God, who exists in three persons: Father, Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit. Scripture teaches us that "In the beginning, God created Heaven and Earth." He took great joy in creating this universe and all creatures. Our anthropology of mankind is rooted in the wonderful truth that God made humanity in His own image! Our identity and purpose in life is rooted in who He is.
Scripture
The Bible is God's Word, a completely trustworthy collection of books/letters that tell us the incredible narrative of creation, the fall into sin, our redemption, and the future recreation of the world. When humanity disobeyed God and brought evil into the world, God loved us so much that He immediately set a plan in motion to redeem all creation and make it good again, just as He always intended it to be.Jesus
Jesus is sometimes referred to as the "Messiah" or the "Christ" - meaning that He is the one who God appointed to redeem humanity. He is unique in that He is 100% God, and yet He also became 100% man in order to redeem mankind from sin and death. God sent Jesus to teach truth, live a perfect life, and die as a sacrifice to atone for our sins (evil). His resurrection changed the course of human history. He made an incredible promise that for those who follow Him, that He will also grant them eternal life. This message is known as the "Gospel" (Good News).As we read about His ministry in the pages of scripture, we are astonished by the profound nature of His teachings, His perfect comittment to honoring God the Father, and the selfless nature of His love for all people. At Renewal Church, we seek to emulate Jesus by being people of Truth and Love as we live our lives on mission for the sake of the Gospel and all people.
Baptism
Baptism is a ritual rinsing with water commanded by Jesus in which new believers of all ages receive entrance into the Christian Community. Through ordinary water, we believe that God is doing something miraculous; granting us His favor and giving us the gift of the Holy Spirit as we embark on our new life of faith. Baptism is a means of grace that serves as the symbol of the new covenant we have with God by faith in Jesus."Peter answered them, “All of you must turn to God and change the way you think and act, and each of you must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will receive the Holy Spirit as a gift. This promise belongs to you and to your children and to everyone who is far away. It belongs to everyone who worships the Lord our God.” - Acts 2:38-39
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit's role is to be present within us, creating faith, causing us to trust in God, repent of our sins, and live a life of purpose. The Holy Spirit activates our faith, causing us to display the "Fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-23) and equipping us with the "Gifts of the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:1-13).The Church
The "Church" is not a building or a worship service. The "Church" is God's people. God's people gather regularly for worship to respond to His gifts with praise, be renewed in His forgiveness, hear His Word proclaimed, join together in praying for our city, and receive Communion together. We also gather together in small groups, called "LIFEGroups" in order to build close relationships as we together seek to live lives on mission for God.We are the world's largest team, who exist to bear witness to what God has done, love our neighbors, and serve our Cities. We make personal sacrifices in order to love people as God has loved us. As we do this, we are participating in the coming of the "Kingdom of God."
During Jesus' earthly ministry, he often said things like, "Turn to God and change the way you think and act, because the kingdom of heaven is near!” (Matthew 4:17). He was (and is) telling people that the restoration of the world, which God promised and has been working toward ever since humans fell into sin, is coming. God is giving people time to come to know Him before He brings the kingdom in it's fullness, abolishing evil and ushering about the recreation of Heaven and Earth (2 Peter 3:9).