What We Believe – Destination Church

The Word of God: We believe that the Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God, fully trustworthy for faith and conduct, without error in the original manuscripts, and the final authority in all matters of faith and instruction for a God-honoring life. [For this reason, we place a strong emphasis on preaching and teaching the Bible.] 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 2:12-13

The Godhead (Trinity): We believe that there is one living and true God, the creator of all things, eternally existing in three distinct persons, Father, Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit – and that these are one. These three are coequal and co-eternal. Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14

Mankind: We believe that man was created by God in his own image; that man sinned and by sin incurred physical and spiritual death; that all humans are born with a sinful nature, and choose sin, and are therefore under just condemnation; that man is unable through his own effort to restore himself to right relationship with God. [We believe in the dignity of all people, made male and female in God’s image to love, be holy, and care for creation, yet corrupted by sin. All humanity is lost in sin but can receive forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ, being born again.]

Jesus Christ: We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of men, conceived of the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He is fully God and fully man yet without sin. We believe in his sinless life, his miracles, and his teaching. Luke 1:26-35; John 1:18; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7

We believe Jesus Christ died in our place and for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day, personally appearing to his disciples. Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8

We believe in the bodily ascension of Jesus to heaven, his exaltation and enthronement at the Father’s right hand. Acts 2:33; 5:31; 1 Peter 3:21-22

Salvation: We believe that all who repent and trust Jesus Christ as Savior are made alive (born again) by the Holy Spirit, cleansed of their sins, delivered from condemnation, and granted the righteousness of Christ and life abundant and unending. These are gifts of grace provided entirely by the merits of Christ’s death and resurrection, not by individual effort. Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 9:12,22; Romans 5:11

Baptism: We believe in baptism by immersion in water [when possible] for the believer in order to fulfill the command of Christ, a sign to the church and to the world of our union with him and his body. Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:37-41; 19:1-6

The Holy Spirit: We believe that the Holy Spirit abides within all believers, guiding, strengthening, teaching, and setting them apart unto God. John 14:16-17; Romans 8:9-17; 1 John 4:13

We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit, a tangible experience of God’s empowering presence. Mark 1:8; Acts 2:1-4; 8:14-17; 10:44-46

We believe in the present availability of all the gifts of the Spirit mentioned in the Scriptures and manifested in the early church [including the ministry gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors/teachers]. We believe that the proper employment of these gifts is essential to the growth and maturity of the body of Christ, the church. 1 Corinthians 12-14; Ephesians 4:11

The Church: We believe in the universal church [all true believers for all time], a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all who are born of the Spirit are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a family of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and joined together for worship, fellowship, and work. We believe that God has entrusted to the church the task of making the good news of Jesus known to the world and continuing the work Jesus began, and that every Christian has a place of service in the church’s mission. Ephesians 2:19-22; Acts 1:8; 2:42; Hebrews 10:23-25; Matthew 10:7-8; John 14:12

The Lord’s Supper: We believe in the breaking of bread, commonly called communion or the Lord’s Supper, instituted by Jesus for the commemoration of his death as an expression of our participation in his death and eternal life and of our union with his body, the church. Matthew 26:26-29; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 11:23-32

Christian Discipleship/Maturity: We believe in the Spirit-filled life and the ongoing Spirit-transformation of character (sanctification) in the believer. We believe that discipleship is life, not just knowledge. As we walk together, we keep the goal in mind of living, thinking, serving, loving, and dying like Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Ephesians 4:17-32; 5:18-21; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 7:1; Philippians 1:27; 2 Peter 1:5-9

We believe that Christian discipleship includes and influences every aspect of life, and that sexual activity is to be set apart within the covenant of marriage between one man and one woman. Any sexual immorality, including pornography, rape, incest, pedophilia, fornication, adultery, homosexual or bisexual practice, is forbidden by God; freedom from any and all sexual sin is found in Jesus Christ. Genesis 1:27-28; 19:5-7,13; 26:8-10; Leviticus 18:1-30; 20:13; Romans 1:26-29; 7:2; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:9-11; 7:10; Ephesians 5:21-33; 1 Timothy 1:8-11; Hebrews 13:4

The Last Things: We believe in the personal and visible return of Jesus to the earth [in power and glory] to judge the living and the dead. Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 2 Timothy 4:1

We believe in the reality and personality of Satan and the eternal judgment of Satan and his angels. Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10-15

We believe in the resurrection of the dead, in everlasting life for the believer and everlasting punishment of the unbeliever. John 3:16; 5:24; 14:2-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9