WE ARE
DEVOTED TO
SCRIPTURE & HOLY SPIRIT
PRAYER & HIS PRESENCE
COMMUNION & COMMUNITY
REMEMBRANCE & REDEMPTION
GENEROSITY & GRACE
WE DESIRE
AUTHENTICITY OVER APPEARANCE
INTIMACY OVER INTELLECT
PASSION OVER PERFORMANCE
KINGDOM OVER CONSUMERISM
SERVICE OVER SELFISHNESS
...MAKING OUR DECLARATION.
WE ARE FOR JESUS & FOR PEOPLE.
STATEMENT OF FAITH
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While Declaration is a multi-denominational church, we embrace the non-negotiable essentials of the Nicene Creed. With many rich faith traditions represented in our congregation, we practice unity on the essentials. On the many non-essentials, we give liberty. In everything, above all else, we put into practice love!
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THE BIBLE
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We believe the Bible is the authoritative Word of God. It alone is the final authority in determining all doctrinal truths. In its original writing, it is inspired, infallible, and inerrant. We believe and are devoted to The Bible, both the old and new testaments.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Proverbs 30:5; Romans 16:25-26
GOD
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We believe in one God the Father Almighty, who stands alone supreme, Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
Genesis 1; Psalm 24:10; John 1; Colossians 1:16; Psalm 145:5
JESUS
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Jesus is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity. On earth, Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. He is the only man ever to have lived a sinless life. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, died on the cross for mankind, and thus atoned for our sins through the shedding of His blood. He rose from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return again in power and glory.
John 1:1; 14, 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Philippians 2:5-6; 1 Timothy 2:5
HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit, given at Pentecost, is the promise of God who was sent to indwell and empower believers, while also bringing both comfort and conviction to their lives. He not only regenerates those who receive Christ as Savior, sealing them unto the day of redemption; but He also guides, instructs, and enables followers of Jesus to walk in victory and abundance, baptizing and empowering those surrendered to Him to preach the gospel throughout the whole earth.
John 16:7-11, John 3:8, John 14:16-17; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 13; Ephesians 4:30, 5:18, Joel 2:28-29,
Matthew 3:11, Mark 16:17, Acts 1:5-8
CREATION & THE FALL
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We believe that man was initially created innocent and in the image and likeness of God, but that he sinned bringing both physical and spiritual death to himself and his posterity. Because of man’s choice to rebel against God, there is now an inherited and broken sinful nature, and man is alienated from God, which brings the need of salvation.
Genesis 1:27; 2:17; 3:19; Romans 5:17; Ephesians 2:1-3
SALVATION
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We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, His blood, His death, burial, and resurrection. Salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our good works, morality, or of any human efforts. We believe salvation to be a free gift of God by which the unredeemed soul, or inner person, is made new in response to the saving faith in the Gospel of Jesus.
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Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16, 3:8; Titus 3:5; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 16:31; Hebrews 9:22, Ephesians 2:1-10; 2 Corinthians 5:17
SANCTIFICATION
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Sanctification is the ongoing process of yielding to God’s Word and His Spirit in order to develop Christ-like character in us. It is through the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life.
1 Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23; 2 Corinthians 3:18, 6:14-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3; Romans 8:29, 12:1-2; Hebrews 2:11
SPIRITUAL GIFTS
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We believe God as the Father of lights who generously gives spiritual gifts to His children to edify the Church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, confirm the power of the Gospel, and serve the world. We believe that all spiritual gifts are still valid for today and should always operate in harmony with the Word of God, never being used in violation of Biblical parameters. Every believer should eagerly desire spiritual gifts and develop these gifts to promote the Gospel in their everyday lives.
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James 1:17, Romans 1:11, 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31, 14:1-40; Ephesians 4:16; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:5-16; Hebrews 2:4; 1 Peter 4:10
THE CHURCH
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Every person who is born of the Spirit is part of the universal Church as a member of the body of believers and is encouraged by Scripture to be planted in a local church. The Church is both the representative of Jesus on earth and the earthly expression of His Kingdom. The purpose of the Church is to carry out the Great Commission. We believe in the significance of the church and the necessity of believers to meet regularly for study of the scriptures, fellowship, prayer, and the breaking of bread.
Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23; John 17:11, 20-23; 1 Timothy 3:15; Acts 2:42-47
PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVER
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We believe that every believer was created on purpose and for purpose; therefore, every follower of Jesus is a priest (A Minister on Mission) and is enabled by the Holy Spirit to fulfill his or her calling in their homes, workplaces, and community.
Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23; John 17:11, 20-23; 1 Timothy 3:15; Acts 2:42-47
SECOND COMING OF JESUS
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Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for the second time to establish His Kingdom. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures.
Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelation 1:7
WATER BAPTISM
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Following faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the new convert is commanded by the Word of God to be baptized in water in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. We choose to practice full-immersion baptism because of the Biblical parallel of being “buried with Christ in baptism and raised to walk in new life (Romans 6:4)".
Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12, 36-38, 10:47-48
COMMUNION (THE LORD'S SUPPER, THE EUCHARIST)
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We believe God wants everyone at His table (John 3:16), but we also believe there is a right and Biblical manner in which we humbly approach communion, as Paul clearly articulated for us in the book of Corinthians.
This is a beautiful and unique time in the presence of God when the elements of bread and grape juice (representing the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ) are taken in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross, which fulfilled God’s requirement of just punishment for our sin and rebellion. This finished work of Jesus enabled our covenant relationship with God. When we come together ‘at the table’, we believe God meets us in that moment in a special and supernatural way.
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Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-25