Our Statement Of BELIEF
Everyone is welcome at SCC regardless of whether or not you believe everything we believe. In fact, you can belong before you believe!
We believe that the Bible is the only adequate guide for living a Christian life. Our Essential truths. Our Statement of Faith. These things don’t change at Sebastian Christian Church. This is what we believe, and it’s who we are at the core as a church. The following statements of belief will help you become better acquainted with the preaching and teaching emphasis you are likely to experience at SCC.
We believe that the Bible is the only adequate guide for living a Christian life. Our Essential truths. Our Statement of Faith. These things don’t change at Sebastian Christian Church. This is what we believe, and it’s who we are at the core as a church. The following statements of belief will help you become better acquainted with the preaching and teaching emphasis you are likely to experience at SCC.
We Believe...
We believe in one God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit
God exists as a Trinity: three co-equal and co-eternal beings in one. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and everywhere present. (Genesis 1:2, 26 | Psalm 45:6-7 | Psalm 110:1 | Isaiah 6:8 | Matthew 3:16-17 | Matthew 28:19 | John 1:1-5 | John 13:20 | 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 | 2 Corinthians 13:14 | Ephesians 2:18 | James 1:17 | 1 Peter 1:2)
We believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of all things visible and invisible. He is the ultimate authority of the universe, holy and perfect. He is the source of all life and the sustainer of all that exists. He can only be known through His Son, Jesus Christ. (Genesis 1:1; | Acts 17:24-28 | Hebrews 11:3)
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s one and only Son, our one and only Savior. Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God, co-equal with the Father. He lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all by dying on the cross. He rose from the grave after three days, showing His power over sin and death. (John 1:14 | 1 John 4:9 | John 3:16 | 2 Peter 3:18 | Luke 23:44 – 24:8 | John 20:24-29 | 1 Corinthians 15:3-8)
God exists as a Trinity: three co-equal and co-eternal beings in one. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and everywhere present. (Genesis 1:2, 26 | Psalm 45:6-7 | Psalm 110:1 | Isaiah 6:8 | Matthew 3:16-17 | Matthew 28:19 | John 1:1-5 | John 13:20 | 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 | 2 Corinthians 13:14 | Ephesians 2:18 | James 1:17 | 1 Peter 1:2)
We believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of all things visible and invisible. He is the ultimate authority of the universe, holy and perfect. He is the source of all life and the sustainer of all that exists. He can only be known through His Son, Jesus Christ. (Genesis 1:1; | Acts 17:24-28 | Hebrews 11:3)
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s one and only Son, our one and only Savior. Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God, co-equal with the Father. He lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all by dying on the cross. He rose from the grave after three days, showing His power over sin and death. (John 1:14 | 1 John 4:9 | John 3:16 | 2 Peter 3:18 | Luke 23:44 – 24:8 | John 20:24-29 | 1 Corinthians 15:3-8)
We believe in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He lives in every believer from the moment of salvation, providing power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. Christians seek to live under His control daily. (John 16:5-15 | Acts 1:7-8 | Romans 8:26-27 | 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19 | 2 Timothy 1:14)
We believe in Salvation. Salvation is the forgiveness of sins, restoring the broken relationship between humankind and God. It is a gracious gift from God, received by faith alone in Christ alone. Anyone seeking salvation must believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, repent, and be baptized. (Isaiah 12:2 | John 3:16 | John 14:6 | Acts 2:38 | Acts 4:12 | Romans 3:23)
We believe in Baptism. The Bible teaches that we are saved by grace through faith. Baptism is a public confession of that faith in Jesus to God, the church, and the world. Following our understanding of Scripture, we practice baptism by immersion; the Greek word used exclusively throughout the New Testament for baptism is “baptizo,” which means to plunge, dip, or immerse. Jesus modeled this form of baptism and commanded it, making baptism a symbolic act of obedience and faith. Baptism by immersion represents the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, symbolizing our old self dying, being buried in the water, and raised as a new creation in Christ Jesus. Anyone who has professed faith in Jesus Christ should be baptized at his or her conversion or soon after. (Ezekiel 36:25–26 | Matthew 3:11–17 | Matthew 28:19 | Acts 2:38–41 | Romans 6:4 | 1 Corinthians 12:13 | Hebrews 10:22)
We believe that the Church is the Body of Christ, the Ecclesia, or gathering of believers for worship and fellowship, with Jesus as its head. Our primary purpose is to make disciples who follow Jesus and help others do the same. To be healthy, each part of the body must work together in unity. Within the church, we believe the Bible teaches that the Elders are to exercise authority over the local congregation. (Acts 2:42–47, 20:28 | Romans 12:4–5 | Philippians 1:1 | 1 Timothy 3:1-7, 14–15 | Titus 1:5-9 | 1 Peter 5:1-4)
We believe in the Return of Christ. Jesus will return to earth and reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords for eternity. No person knows the date or the hour but can prepare for His return by living faithfully to Christ’s commands. (Luke 21:25–28 | John 5:28–29 | 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 | Hebrews 9:27–28 | Revelation 1:7)
We believe in the reality of heaven and hell. Heaven is a place of eternal life and joy in the presence of God for those who have trusted in Jesus. Hell is a place of eternal separation from God for those who reject His offer of salvation. Our eternal destination is determined by our response to Jesus Christ. (Matthew 18:9 | Matthew 22:13 | Matthew 25:46 | Luke 16:19–23 | John 3:16 | John 14:1-3 | Romans 6:23)
We believe in the reality of heaven and hell. Heaven is a place of eternal life and joy in the presence of God for those who have trusted in Jesus. Hell is a place of eternal separation from God for those who reject His offer of salvation. Our eternal destination is determined by our response to Jesus Christ. (Matthew 18:9 | Matthew 22:13 | Matthew 25:46 | Luke 16:19–23 | John 3:16 | John 14:1-3 | Romans 6:23)
We believe all people have value and are the supreme object of God’s creation. (Genesis 1:26–27 | Exodus 20:13 | Psalm 127:3 | Psalm 139:13–15 | Jeremiah 1:5 | Matthew 18:1–6 | Ephesians 1:4, 5, 11, 12)
Further, we believe that people are created by God and for God. He makes humans in His image, creating both male and female. Each person is valuable and worthy of dignity, regardless of disability, gender, race, or age. (Genesis 1:26 | Genesis 2:7 | Genesis 2:19 | Genesis 5:1 | Genesis 1:27)
We believe that people are separated from God as the result of disobedience. All are born with a sinful nature and all sin against God. No human effort can restore the broken bond between people and God, (Genesis 2:17, 3:1-24 | Romans 5:12-14 | Hosea 6:7)
We believe all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, children who are orphaned, those who experience physical or mental challenges, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Genesis 9:5-6 | Deuteronomy 30:19-20 | Jeremiah 1:5 | Psalm 139:13-16 | Proverbs 6:16-19 | Matthew 18:14)
We believe in the historically Christian view of marriage and sexual expression. We believe that marriage is a one-flesh covenant union between two sexually different persons (male and female) from different families, and that all sexual relationships outside the marriage covenant are sin. God has given his people two best ways to enjoy connection in family: celibate singleness for the sake of kingdom work with undivided attention, or lifelong marriage between one woman and one man. Biological sex is an essential part of human identity. All forms of abuse, slander, dehumanization, or oppression toward fellow humans is an affront against God’s sacred image, which has been stamped upon all people. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 | Isaiah 62:5 | Matthew 19:4-6 | Mark 10:6-9 | Ephesians 5:31 | 1 Corinthians 7:2-11)
Further, we believe that people are created by God and for God. He makes humans in His image, creating both male and female. Each person is valuable and worthy of dignity, regardless of disability, gender, race, or age. (Genesis 1:26 | Genesis 2:7 | Genesis 2:19 | Genesis 5:1 | Genesis 1:27)
We believe that people are separated from God as the result of disobedience. All are born with a sinful nature and all sin against God. No human effort can restore the broken bond between people and God, (Genesis 2:17, 3:1-24 | Romans 5:12-14 | Hosea 6:7)
We believe all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, children who are orphaned, those who experience physical or mental challenges, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Genesis 9:5-6 | Deuteronomy 30:19-20 | Jeremiah 1:5 | Psalm 139:13-16 | Proverbs 6:16-19 | Matthew 18:14)
We believe in the historically Christian view of marriage and sexual expression. We believe that marriage is a one-flesh covenant union between two sexually different persons (male and female) from different families, and that all sexual relationships outside the marriage covenant are sin. God has given his people two best ways to enjoy connection in family: celibate singleness for the sake of kingdom work with undivided attention, or lifelong marriage between one woman and one man. Biological sex is an essential part of human identity. All forms of abuse, slander, dehumanization, or oppression toward fellow humans is an affront against God’s sacred image, which has been stamped upon all people. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 | Isaiah 62:5 | Matthew 19:4-6 | Mark 10:6-9 | Ephesians 5:31 | 1 Corinthians 7:2-11)
Final Authority for Matters of Belief and Conduct
This statement of belief does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. We believe the Bible is God’s Word, written by men guided by the Holy Spirit. It comprises 66 books that are both infallible and authoritative because they were inspired by God. The Bible itself as the Word of God speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe.(Mark 12:36 | John 14:26 | 16:12-15 | Acts 1:16 | 1 Corinthians 2:12-13 | 2 Timothy 3:14-16 | 2 Peter 1:20-21)
This statement of belief does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. We believe the Bible is God’s Word, written by men guided by the Holy Spirit. It comprises 66 books that are both infallible and authoritative because they were inspired by God. The Bible itself as the Word of God speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe.(Mark 12:36 | John 14:26 | 16:12-15 | Acts 1:16 | 1 Corinthians 2:12-13 | 2 Timothy 3:14-16 | 2 Peter 1:20-21)