Theology is the study of God. Doctrine is a set of beliefs about God. Our study of God will shape what we believe about God, which shapes how we relate to God, how we understand ourselves, and how we engage the world around us. If we are thinking wrongly about God in our theology and doctrine, our thinking in other areas of life would also be negatively affected.
At GENESIS, theology and doctrine matters! What we believe about God has not been formed based upon what we want God to be like. Our understanding of God has been formed through careful study and examination of God’s Word—the Bible.
In short, here is a snapshot of our doctrine—what we believe about God:
BIBLE
We believe that the Bible, both Old Testament and New Testament, are God’s spoken Word. We believe the Bible is inspired by the Spirit of God and inerrant in the original writing. We believe the 66 books of the Old Testament and New Testament are God’s completed and sufficient revelation for the total wellbeing and salvation of mankind. Simply put, the Bible is not a book of dos and don’ts, nor is it just a book filled with clever ideas or wise sayings. The Bible is a book about Jesus and how we can know Him and love Him!
Related Scriptures: Psalm 119:160; Matthew 5:17- 18; 1 Corinthains 2:12-13; 2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 10: 15-16; 2 Peter 1:20-21
GOD
We believe in one God—namely the God of the Bible—who is three persons, a Trinitarian God: Father, Son, and Spirit. God is the Creator, Sustainer, and Sovereign over ALL things. God is eternal— He has no beginning and no end. He has chosen to reveal Himself to us in three primary ways: creation, the Bible, and, most clearly, through Jesus Christ. We believe that Jesus is God. God is good, and He rejoices to do good to you for both your benefit and His glory. God is missional and desires an eternal relationship with all people, which He declares is possible only through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Related Scriptures: Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 139:1-10; Isaiah 41:4, 45:5, 46:10; Jeremiah 32:17; Matthew 28:19; John 1:18, 4:24; 1 Corinthains 8:6; Colossians 1:17.
JESUS CHRIST
We believe Jesus Christ was both fully God and fully man; therefore, His deity was total and His humanity perfect. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and, as the Son of God, lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father. He lovingly, sacrificially, and voluntarily atoned for the sins of all by being crucified and dying on the cross as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of mankind. The birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus secured peace with God both now and forever for those that look to Him in faith.
Related Scriptures: Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 1:18-25, 25:31-46; Mark 10:45; John 1:1, 4:26, 8:58; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 5:18-19; 1 Corinthains 15:12-19; 2 Corinthains 5:21; Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 1:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; Hebrews 2:14, 4:14-16, 9:24, 10:5; Revelation 11:15-17, 20:4-6,11-15, 22:13.
HOLY SPIRIT
We believe the Holy Spirit is a gift from God given to all who confess Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior. He is beyond anything we could ever comprehend or imagine. The Holy Spirit cannot be taken away from those to whom God has given His Spirit. He is the third Person in the Trinity and is fully divine. He thinks, acts, feels, speaks, and relates; He is not an impersonal force. We believe the He is actively working in the world, the Church, and those who have yet to confess Jesus as God. The Holy Spirit is the source of every gift to the Church and the One who regenerates those who believe in Jesus—taking us from death to life. He sanctifies all who believe in Jesus—the Holy Spirit is the One at work in us making us more like Jesus.
Related Scriptures: Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139:7-10; John 3:5-8, 14:16,26, 16:8,13; Acts 1:8, 5:3-4; Romans 8:9,13; 1 Corinthains 3:16, 12:13; 2 Corinthains 3:17; Galatians 5:16-17,25; Ephesians 4:30; Titus 3:5.
HUMANITY
We believe that man was created in the image of God to have perfect fellowship and friendship with God. We believe that Adam and Eve knowingly and willingly rebelled against God in the Garden of Eden, thus separating themselves from God. All mankind has followed in the footsteps of Adam and Eve—all have rebelled and sinned against a Holy God. God is just in punishing sinful humanity—eternity apart from Him in Hell. Without exception, we are all sinners in need of a Savior.
Related Scriptures: Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 1:18,32; 3:10-19, 23, 6:23.
SALVATION
We believe that Jesus Christ came to seek and save the lost. Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sin and was raised back to life on the third day, thus conquering death and defeating Satan and sin. Salvation is a gift from God that cannot be earned or taken away. There is only one way to receive eternal life, forgiveness of sins, and peace with God both now and forever. Our performance, no matter how good we think it may be, will always fall short of God's holiness—salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone!
Related Scriptures: Acts 4:12; Romans 8:37-39; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Timothy 1:15-16; 1 John 2:1-2.
CHURCH
We believe that those who look to Jesus alone to be made right with God are the people of God—the Church. Jesus Christ is the Head of the
Related Scriptures: Matthew 16:18, 28:19-20; Acts 2:41, 15:13-17; Romans 12:4-9; 1 Corinthains 12:7,12-13; Ephesians 1:5-18, 22-23, 4:12-16, 5:23,30; Colossians 1:18, 2:19; 1 Peter 4:10.
END TIMES
We believe that Jesus Christ is alive and will return to this earth: personally, visibly, and imminently, in power and great glory, to gather the people of God, raise the dead, judge the nations, and bring His eternal kingdom to
Related Scriptures: Matthew 20:1-16, 25:14-30,46; John 5:24-29; Romans 2:5-11; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, 9:25, 15:13; 2 Corinthians 5: 10; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:7- 10; 2 Timothy 2:11; Revelation 14:11, 20:11-15.
LIFE
We believe that Christians (followers of Jesus) are called to live in obedience to God at all times in all places. Christians are called to reflect the generosity of God in all that we do, being faithful stewards of what He has entrusted to us. Christians are to set their minds and hearts on things eternal and are called to walk as Jesus walked—being the hands, feet, and heart of Jesus to the world in which we live. We believe that the Spirit of God encourages, equips, and empowers the people of God to live lives that are
Related Scriptures: Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 12:1-2, 6-7, 21:1-2; Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 5:18, 23; Colossians 3:1; 2 Timothy 2:19; Titus 2; 1 Peter 1:14-19; 1 John 2:3.