What We Believe
The following are some of the shared beliefs of Northwest Church based on the foundational truths taught in the Bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these Biblical truths.
God
We believe in one God who eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13:14
JEsus Christ
We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ who, being fully God, became fully man. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on a cross, and was raised from the dead.
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ” Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.” John 1:14-18
Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit lives in the Christian.
He empowers us to live a life of holiness, as well as guides, comforts, and assists us in prayer.
” ‘If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept the Spirit, because it neither sees the Spirit nor knows the Spirit. But you know the Spirit, for the Spirit lives with you and will be in you.’ ” John 14:15-17 (NIV)
” ‘But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.’ ” John 16:13 (NIV)
Resurrection
We believe Jesus will personally come again with His angels and appear to all. The dead will be raised and stand before God to be judged for the life they have lived on this earth.
“For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 (NIV)
Created
We believe we are not a cosmic accident. Everything and everyone has been intentionally made by the Creator.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1
Bible
We believe the Bible is the divinely inspired and authoritative Word of God.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
The Fall
We believe, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace …”. (Romans 3:23-24)
Salvation
We believe that salvation from the penalty of death is made possible only because Jesus Christ died as a sin offering in our place.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
Gift
We believe this salvation is offered as a gift to those who believe in Jesus Christ. Since it is a gift, it cannot be earned.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 (NIV)
Grace
We believe true faith is expressed in repentance, confession, and embodied in baptism. Baptism is immersion in water of a declared believer in Christ.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
The Lifestyle
We believe these convictions make a difference in the way we should live. We don’t keep living sinful lives because we know He will forgive us. We strive to follow His lead and tell others Jesus’ Good News of Salvation.
” ‘If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept the Spirit, because it neither sees the Spirit nor knows the Spirit. But you know the Spirit, for the Spirit lives with you and will be in you.’ ” John 14:15-17 (NIV)
” ‘But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.’ ” John 16:13 (NIV)
The Church
We believe there is one church which consists of all Christians. While denominations exist because of slight variations of theology, we believe that all believing Christians make up one church.
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:3-6
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us” – A.W. Tozer
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