Beliefs

Washington Community accepts the Bible as the revealed will of God that sets forth the standard for life and godliness.

A believer is more than a person that has a list of beliefs. A BELIEVER IS SOMEONE WHOSE BELIEFS HAVE SHAPED HIM OR HER TO LIVE DIFFERENTLY BASED ON THOSE BELIEFS. The following are the beliefs that Christians have adhered to for centuries and if we allow the Holy Spirit room in our lives these beliefs will form us to live differently:

I. The Scripture Inspired

The Bible is the inspired Word of God, the revelation from God to man, the infallible rule of faith and conduct, and is superior to conscience and reason but not contrary to reason (II Timothy 3:15-17; I Peter 1:23-25; Hebrews 4:12.

II. The One True God

The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent, self-revealed "I AM" and has further revealed Himself embodying the principles of relationship and association; i.e. as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29; Isaiah 43:10; Matthew 28:19).

III. Man, His Fall and Redemption

Man was created good and upright, for God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness." But man, by voluntary transgression, fell; and his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Genesis 1:26-31, 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21).

IV. The Salvation of Man

Conditions to Salvation: The Grace of God, which brings salvation, hath appeared to all men through the preaching of repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ; man is saved by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost; and being justified by grace through faith, he becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 2:11; Romans 10:13-15; Luke 24:47; Titus 3:5-7).

The Evidences of Salvation: The inward evidence to the believer of his salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness.

V. Baptism in Water

Baptism in water should be observed, as commanded in the Scriptures, by all who have repented and have believed on Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. By so doing, they declare to the world that they have died and have been buried with Jesus and have also been raised with Him to walk in newness of life (Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47,48; Romans 6:4-6).

VI. The Lord's Supper

The Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements of bread and the fruit of the vine, is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ, a memorial of His suffering and death and approaching of His second coming, and is enjoined by all believers "until He comes" (John 6:48,51,53-57; Luke 22:19,20,22; II Peter 1:4; I Corinthians 11:26).

VII. The Promise of the Father

All believers are entitled to earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the Baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all believers in the early Christian church receiving of power for life and service, the giving of gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; I Corinthians 12:1-31).

This wonderful gift is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Acts 2:38,39; 10:44-46; 15:7-9).

VIII. Entire Sanctification

The Scriptures teach a life of holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. By the power of the Holy Ghost, we are able to obey the command, "Be ye Holy, for I am Holy." Entire sanctification is the will of God for all believers and should be earnestly pursued by walking in obedience to God's Word (Hebrews 12:14; I Peter 1:15, 16; I Thessalonians 5:23,24; I John 2:6; Romans 8:3,4).

IX. The Church

The Church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with a divine calling for the fulfillment of the great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the Church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven (Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23).

X. The Ministry and Evangelism

A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for a twofold purpose: (1) the evangelization of the world, and (2) the edifying of the body of Christ (Mark 16:15,20; Ephesians 4:11-13).

XI. Divine Healing

Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement and is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 8:16,17; Mark 16:18; John 5:14).

Prayer for the sick is provided for in James 5.

XII. The Blessed Hope

The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ; and their translation, together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, is imminent and is the blessed hope of the church (I Thessalonians 4:16, 18; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; I Corinthians 15:51,52).

XIII. The Millennial Reign of Jesus

The revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven, the salvation of the nation of Israel, and the millennial reign of Christ on the earth is the Scriptural promise and the world's hope (II Thessalonians 1:7; Revelation 19:11-16; Romans 11:25-27; Revelation 20:1-7).

XIV. The Lake of Fire

The devil, the fallen angels, the beast, the false prophet, and whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life shall be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Revelation 19:20; 20:10-15; Matthew 25:41).

XV. The New Heavens and the New Earth

"We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwells righteousness" (II Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1).