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
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!
THE BIBLE
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
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
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 is the promise of God who indwells believers and brings both comfort and conviction to their lives. He regenerates those who receive Christ as Savior and indwells them permanently, sealing them unto the day of redemption. It is Holy Spirit who enables the ability to walk in victory and abundance, while also giving spiritual gifts, leading, instructing, and empowering those surrendered to Him.
John 16:7-11, John 3:8, John 14:16-17; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 13; Ephesians 4:30, 5:18
CREATION & THE FALL
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
We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection. Salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our good works, morality, or of any human efforts.
Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16, 3:8; Titus 3:5; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 16:31; Hebrews 9:22
REGENERATION
Regeneration is the work of the Holy Spirit in which the unredeemed soul, or inner person, is made new in response to the saving faith in the Gospel of Jesus. Regeneration is the necessary beginning point for a life of discipleship, believing in loyalty to Jesus Christ & God the Father.
Ephesians 2:1-10; 2 Corinthians 5:17
SANCTIFICATION
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
BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe the baptism of the Holy Spirit, given at Pentecost, is the fulfillment of the new covenant promise of the Father for all believers. Each believer is baptized by Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ as part of salvation and regeneration. Every believer should also expect and seek the gift of the Holy Spirit that can be distinct and subsequent to his or her baptism into the Body of Christ. This baptism experience continuously empowers the believer for Christian service in God’s reconciliatory and redemptive work in the world. The presence of the Spirit in the believer is God’s definite means of endowment of gifting and power for service. As the believer surrenders more to the Spirit’s control, this empowerment will produce more and more fruit in the life of the believer.
Joel 2:28-29; Matthew 3:11; Acts 1:5, 2:1-4, 17, 38-39, 8:14-17, 10:38, 44-47, 11:15-17, 19:1-6; 1 Corinthians 12:13
GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (SPIRITUAL GIFTS)
We believe the Holy Spirit is displayed through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify 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, should always operate in harmony with the Word of God, and should never be 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.
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
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
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
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
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)
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.
Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-25
NICENE CREED
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father; through Him all things were made. For us and for our salvation He came down from heaven: was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became truly human. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered death and was buried. On the third day He rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
*The holy catholic Church in this Creed is not talking about the Catholic tradition/denomination, but the universal church at large.