THE SCRIPTURES
WE BELIEVE IN THE SCRIPTURES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE NEW TESTAMENT AS VERBALLY INSPIRED BY GOD AND INERRANT IN THE ORIGINAL WRITING. WE BELIEVE THE 66 BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE NEW TESTAMENT ARE GOD’S COMPLETED AND SUFFICIENT REVELATION FOR THE TOTAL WELL BEING OF MANKIND.
GOD
WE BELIEVE IN THE ONLY TRUE GOD (JOHN 17:3), THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT (MATTHEW 28:19-20). HE CREATED ALL THINGS (REVELATION 4:11) AND UPHOLDS ALL THINGS BY THE WORD OF HIS POWER (HEBREWS 1:3). IN HIM WE LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING (ACTS 17:28). HE IS A GOD OF TRUTH AND WITHOUT INIQUITY, JUST AND RIGHT IS HE (DEUTERONOMY 32:4) AND HE SHALL JUDGE THE WORLD (PSALM 9:8). WE BELIEVE THAT THE GODHEAD ETERNALLY EXISTS IN THREE PERSONS, THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT; AND THAT THESE THREE ARE ONE GOD, HAVING PRECISELY THE SAME NATURE, ATTRIBUTES, AND PERFECTIONS, AND WORTHY OF PRECISELY THE SAME HOMAGE, CONFIDENCE, AND OBEDIENCE (MARK 12:29; JOHN 1:1-4; MATTHEW 29:19-20; ACTS 5:3-4).
JESUS CHRIST
WE BELIEVE IN THE TOTAL DEITY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. WE BELIEVE HE IS THE MANIFESTATION OF GOD IN THE FLESH. WE BELIEVE HE WAS CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT AND BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY. WE BELIEVE HIM TO BE TRUE GOD AND TRUE MAN (JOHN 1:1, 14, 18; JOHN 14:8, 9; I TIMOTHY 3:16).
HOLY SPIRIT
WE BELIEVE THAT THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS TO GLORIFY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST DURING THIS AGE. HE CONVICTS US OF SIN AND REGENERATES THE SINNER UPON BELIEVING ON CHRIST, BAPTIZING THE BELIEVER INTO ONE BODY OF WHICH CHRIST IS THE HEAD. HE INDWELLS, GUIDES, INSTRUCTS, FILLS, COMFORTS, AND EMPOWERS THE BELIEVER FOR GODLY LIVING AND SERVICE THROUGH INDIVIDUALLY BESTOWED SPIRITUAL GIFTS. WHILE THE SCRIPTURES DO NOT TEACH THAT CERTAIN GIFTS HAVE CEASED, IT DOES SEEM TO INDICATE THAT THEIR USAGE WOULD VARY ACCORDING TO THE NEED THAT EACH GIFT IS DESIGNED TO MEET. NORTHSIDE CHURCH DOES NOT ENCOURAGE THE USE OF THE ‘SIGN GIFTS.’ INSTEAD WE CHOOSE TO EMPHASIZE THE MORE EXCELLENT WAY OF LOVE AND ZEAL FOR THE MORE EDIFYING GIFTS (JOHN 16:8; 13; 15; TITUS 3:5; EPHESIANS 1:22; 4:11-12; ROMANS 8:9-17; 12:4-8; I CORINTHIANS 3:16; 12:4-5, 11-13, 19; GALATIANS 5:25; HEBREWS 2:1-4; II CORINTHIANS 12:12).
MAN
WE BELIEVE THAT MAN WAS CREATED IN INNOCENCE UNDER THE LAW OF HIS MAKER, BUT BY VOLUNTARY TRANSGRESSION FELL FROM HIS SINLESS AND HAPPY STATE IN CONSEQUENCE OF WHICH ALL MANKIND ARE NOW SINNERS; NOT ONLY BY CONSTRAINT, BUT BY CHOICE AND THEREFORE UNDER JUST CONDEMNATION WITHOUT DEFENSE OR EXCUSE. WE BELIEVE THAT WITHOUT EXCEPTION EVERY MAN IS TOTALLY DEPRAVED AND NEEDS A SAVIOR (GENESIS 3:1-6; ROMANS 3:10-19; ROMANS 1:18, 32).
SALVATION
WE BELIEVE THAT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES, AS A REPRESENTATIVE AND SUBSTITUTIONARY SACRIFICE. WE BELIEVE THAT ALL WHO BY FAITH RECEIVE HIM AS THEIR PERSONAL SAVIOR ARE JUSTIFIED ON THE BASIS OF HIS BLOOD SHED ON CALVARY. THEY ARE BORN AGAIN OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THEREBY BECOME ETERNALLY SECURE AS CHILDREN OF GOD. WE BELIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT BAPTIZES A PERSON WHO BELIEVES INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST AT THE MOMENT OF SALVATION (ROMANS 8:37-39;JOHN 10:24-30; II CORINTHIANS 5:21; I CORINTHIANS 12:13).
HEAVEN AND HELL
WE BELIEVE IN THE “BLESSED HOPE”: THE PERSONAL, PREMILLENNIAL RETURN OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. HIS RETURN HAS A VITAL BEARING ON THE PERSONAL LIFE AND SERVICE OF THE BELIEVER (I THESSALONIANS 4:13-18). WE BELIEVE IN THE BODILY RESURRECTION OF BOTH THE SAVED AND THE LOST. THE SAVED ARE RAISED TO ETERNAL, CONSCIOUS BLISS IN HEAVEN (MATTHEW 25:34; JOHN 14:2; II CORINTHIANS 5:1; REVELATION 2:7) THE LOST ARE RAISED TO ETERNAL TORMENT IN HELL IN CONSCIOUS SEPARATION FROM GOD. (MATTHEW 8:11-12; MATTHEW 10:28;MATTHEW 13:49-50; MARK 9:47-48; LUKE 12:5; REVELATION 21:8).
RESURRECTION
WE BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE CRUCIFIED BODY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, HIS ASCENSION INTO HEAVEN, AND HIS PRESENT LIFE FOR US AS HIGH PRIEST AND ADVOCATE (ACTS 1:3, 9; HEBREWS 7:25, 26).
RETURN OF CHRIST
WE BELIEVE IN “THAT BLESSED HOPE”, THE PERSONAL, PREMILLENNIAL, AND IMMINENT RETURN OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. HIS RETURN HAS A VITAL BEARING ON THE PERSONAL LIFE AND SERVICE OF THE BELIEVER (I THESSALONIANS 4:13-18).
BAPTISM AND COMMUNION
WE BELIEVE THAT CHRISTIAN BAPTISM IS A PUBLIC DECLARATION OF AND IDENTIFICATION WITH CHRIST IN HIS DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION SIGNIFIED BY IMMERSION IN WATER.
THE LORD’S SUPPER IS THE COMMEMORATION BY BELIEVERS OF CHRIST’S DEATH UNTIL HE COMES AND SHOULD BE PRECEDED BY A CAREFUL SELF-EXAMINATION (ACTS 8:13; ROMANS 6:3-6;
I CORINTHIANS 11:20-29).
THE CHURCH
UPON ACCEPTING THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AS SAVIOR, ALL BELIEVERS HAVE THEREFORE BECOME PART OF HIS BODY, THE CHURCH. THERE IS ONE CHURCH UNIVERSAL, COMPOSED OF ALL THOSE WHO ACKNOWLEDGE JESUS CHRIST AS SAVIOR AND LORD. THE SCRIPTURES COMMAND BELIEVERS TO GATHER TOGETHER TO DEVOTE THEMSELVES TO WORSHIP, PRAYER, TEACHING OF THE WORD, OBSERVANCE OF THE ORDINANCES (BAPTISM AND COMMUNION), FELLOWSHIP, SERVICE TO THE BODY THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF TALENTS AND GIFTS, AND OUTREACH TO THE WORLD IN FULFILLMENT OF THE COMMAND OF CHRIST TO MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL BELIEVERS (EPHESIANS 5:23; ROMANS 12:1; ACTS 2:42-46; I CORINTHIANS 14:26; MATTHEW 28:18-20).
WHEREVER GOD’S PEOPLE MEET REGULARLY IN OBEDIENCE TO THIS COMMAND THERE IS THE LOCAL EXPRESSION OF THE CHURCH – UNDER THE WATCH-CARE OF ELDERS AND OTHER SUPPORTIVE LEADERSHIP. ITS MEMBERS ARE TO WORK TOGETHER IN LOVE AND UNITY, INTENT ON THE ONE ULTIMATE PURPOSE OF GLORIFYING CHRIST (EPHESIANS 4:16).
CHRISTIAN LIVING (CONCERNING CONDUCT)
THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT ALL BELIEVERS ARE SAINTS, SET APART UNTO GOD AND ARE THUS RESPONSIBLE TO LIVE IN SUCH A MANNER AS NOT TO BRING REPROACH UPON THEIR SAVIOR AND LORD (ROMANS 12:1-2; I PETER 1:14-19; II TIMOTHY 2:19; TITUS 2) LEST THE WORD OF GOD BE BLASPHEMED (I TIMOTHY 6:1; TITUS 2:5). AS CHRISTIANS WE SHOULD OBEY THE WORD OF OUR LORD, SEEK THE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE, WALK AS HE WALKED, AND ACCEPT AS OUR RESPONSIBILITY THE DUTY AND PRIVILEGE OF BEARING THE GOSPEL TO A LOST WORLD (I JOHN 2:3; COLOSSIANS 3:1; EPHESIANS 5:23; MATTHEW 28:19-20). A VICTORIOUS AND FRUITFUL CHRISTIAN LIFE IS POSSIBLE ONLY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE PRESENTED THEMSELVES WHOLLY TO CHRIST AND WALK BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHICH ALL BELIEVERS ARE CALLED TO DO (ROMANS 12:1,2; GALATIANS 5:16; EPHESIANS 5:18; ROMANS 6, 7).
“I BESEECH YOU THEREFORE BRETHREN, BY THE MERCIES OF GOD, THAT YOU PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY, ACCEPTABLE TO GOD, WHICH IS YOUR REASONABLE SERVICE.” ROMANS 12:1
“WALK IN THE SPIRIT AND YOU SHALL NOT FULFILL THE LUSTS OF THE FLESH.” GALATIANS 5:16
“BE NOT DRUNK WITH WINE . . . BUT BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT.” EPHESIANS 5:18
CONCERNING MARRIAGE AND SEXUALITY
SCRIPTURE CLEARLY TEACHES THAT GOD IS THE SOLE AUTHORITY IN MATTERS OF MARRIAGE AND SEXUALITY FOR ALL PEOPLE, AND THAT MARRIAGE INVOLVES THE SACRED JOINING TOGETHER OF ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN IN FAITHFUL, PERMANENT UNION (GENESIS 2:18-24; MATTHEW 19:1-9; MARK 10:1-10; 1 CORINTHIANS 6:9-20; HEBREWS 13:4). GOD STATES IN THE BIBLE THAT HE HATES DIVORCE (MALACHI 2:16) AND SCRIPTURE STATES THAT HE INTENDS THE MARRIAGE UNION TO LAST UNTIL ONE OF THE SPOUSES DIES (GENESIS 2:24; 1 CORINTHIANS 7:10-13). SEX IS A GIFT FROM GOD TO BE ENJOYED SOLELY WITHIN THIS GOD-ORDAINED MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP, AND GOD HAS CLEARLY AND EXPRESSLY COMMANDED ABSTINENCE FROM ANY FORM OF SEXUAL OR INTIMATE ACTIVITY OUTSIDE OF THIS CONTEXT, PROHIBITING AS “SEXUAL IMMORALITY” ACTIVITIES RELATED TO, FOR EXAMPLE: LUSTFUL THOUGHT, ADULTERY, FORNICATION, PORNOGRAPHY, HOMOSEXUALITY, BISEXUALITY, OR POLYGAMY (LEVITICUS 18; MATTHEW 5:27; MATTHEW 15:9; ROMANS 1:18-32; ROMANS 13:13; 1 CORINTHIANS 5; 1 CORINTHIANS 6:9-20; GALATIANS 5; COLOSSIANS 3:5; 1 THESSALONIANS 4:3-7; HEBREWS 13:4; JUDE 1:7).
DISOBEDIENCE IN THESE MATTERS IS SIN, ALTHOUGH IT IS NO MORE OR LESS OFFENSIVE TO GOD THAN ANY OTHER SIN (ROMANS 6:23A; 1 CORINTHIANS 6:9-10; GALATIANS 5:19-21; EPHESIANS 5:3-5; COLOSSIANS 3:5-19), AND SCRIPTURE IS CLEAR THAT GOD PROVIDES REDEMPTION, HEALING, FREEDOM FROM THE POWER OF SIN, AND RESTORATION TO ALL WHO WOULD TURN FROM SIN AND EMBRACE JESUS CHRIST BY FAITH (ACTS 16:31; ROMANS 1:16; ROMANS 6:23B; 1 CORINTHIANS 6:11, EPHESIANS 2:1-10, TITUS 3:3-7). NORTHSIDE CHURCH WILL LOVE, DISCIPLE, EXHORT AND PATIENTLY ASSIST MEN AND WOMEN REPENTING OF SIN AND FIGHTING SEXUAL TEMPTATIONS OF ALL KINDS (1 CORINTHIANS 10:13, HEBREWS 2:17-18; HEBREWS 4:14-16), AND ITS FIRM CONVICTION ON SCRIPTURE’S CLEAR TEACHING ON MARRIAGE AND SEXUALITY WILL NOT SERVE AS GROUNDS FOR BIGOTRY, HARASSMENT, OR FEARFUL OR HATEFUL SPEECH OR ACTION, WHICH ARE FORBIDDEN BY GOD AND INEFFECTIVE AT PRODUCING CHANGE (LEVITICUS 19:17-18; 1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-31; 1 CORINTHIANS 2:1-5; GALATIANS 3:1-3; EPHESIANS 4:31-32; COLOSSIANS 4:5-6; 2 TIMOTHY 2:24-26; JAMES 1:19-21, 26; 1 PETER 2:1).
FINAL AUTHORITY
THIS DOCTRINAL STATEMENT DOES NOT PRESENT THE EXTENT OF OUR BELIEFS EXHAUSTIVELY. THE BIBLE ITSELF, AS THE CHURCH’S FINAL AND SUFFICIENT AUTHORITY FOR ALL OF LIFE, IS THE SOLE AND FINAL SOURCE OF ALL THAT THE CHURCH BELIEVES, AND WILL BE INTERPRETED AND APPLIED TO MATTERS NOT EXPRESSLY COVERED HEREIN BY THE CHURCH’S ELDER BOARD.