Tree of Life Christian Church Statement of Beliefs

Introduction The church has been made responsible by the Lord to retain the standard of sound teaching and guard the integrity of the truth like a treasure to which we have been entrusted. (II Timothy 1:13-14) This standard, which we must maintain, is first concerned with the essential core beliefs of the Christian faith. These are essential in the sense that these beliefs identify us as a true church, and as true Christians. We maintain fellowship with all churches and all Christians who hold to these beliefs as the essentials of our common faith. The Statement section of this document is a summary of these essential core beliefs. We cannot share spiritual fellowship with those who deny any of these essential beliefs. Instead we are committed to a communication with them aimed at gently but firmly “correcting those who are in opposition” to the truth in the hope that God will grant to them repentance to acknowledge the truth. (II Timothy 2:25)

We acknowledge that there are many other important, but not essential, doctrines (i.e., distinctives) over which churches and Christians differ. We believe that Christians who differ on these non-essential doctrinal distinctives are called by God to coexist with each other in respect and peaceful disagreement. Some of our own doctrinal distinctives are identified in the Tree of Life Christian Church Statement of Distinctives.

Statement

The Triune God
There is one true God existent in unity as three persons of one nature, substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and the God the Holy Spirit.

The Father
God the Father is infinite, invisible, eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and unchangeable in His being. He is the creator of the heavens and the earth; of all that is seen and unseen. Through His Word and for His greater glory, He created the world and everything in it. In unfathomable love and grace, He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, for the redemption of man. He is faithful to every promise.

The Son
God the Son (Jesus Christ) is 100% God and at the same time 100% human. He is the unique Son of God by nature, who was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died to accomplish God’s plan of salvation by His sacrificial, substitutionary death on the cross. He rose physically from the dead, never to die again, and ascended back into heaven. He will one day return to the earth in full power and glory and will judge all people who have ever lived. After His resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven and was seated at the right hand of His Father. He has authority above all rule, authority, power, dominion, and every name in heaven or on earth; in this age and in the age to come. All things are subject to Christ and He is head over all the church.

The Holy Spirit
God the Holy Spirit is at work in the world today to convict the world of its sin, and powerfully draw to God all those He intends to save. The Holy Spirit fills, indwells, and empowers all believers to live in a way that is pleasing to God, and gives grace (i.e., gifts) to each one for a life of Godly service.

Salvation
All people are sinners by nature and by choice; as a result they are eternally separated from the Father and condemned. Only those who trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and repent of their sins, are forgiven and reconciled with the Father.

The Bible
The Bible is the complete written Word of God. It was wholly inspired by God and is the only perfect expression of truth in written form. The original text is inerrant, infallible, and the final authority on all issues it addresses; both in what we should believe and how we should live.

Humanity
Mankind is physical and spiritual, originally created by God in His image, but has fallen from that original state into a condition of sinfulness. The only hope of rescue from sin and its final consequences on the Day of Judgment is the salvation God has provided through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Judgment
God the father has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through Jesus Christ and He has furnished proof of this to all men by raising Him (Jesus) from the dead.