our beliefs

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

DOCTRINAL STATEMENT

Some Christians view the word "doctrine" as almost a curse word. They reason that doctrine is to be avoided because doctrine causes division among Christians. While it is true that doctrine does cause division, if the division is due to a disagreement over an important biblical teaching - division is not necessarily a bad thing. The Christian faith, more than any other, is based on doctrine.

We have # doctrines that we feel are essential and non-negotiable at Mosaic.

If any of these are removed from our beliefs, then our faith is empty and void. If they cause division to the point that someone feels they can't support them, then they should probably find another church in which to fellowship. Although every doctrine carries some importance - and there are dedicated Christ-loving believers on every side – we simply believe you should not divide over those issues.

In Essential Beliefs, we have unity

“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit… there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of us all…” (Eph. 4:3-6)

In non-essential beliefs, we have liberty

“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters… Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls… So then each of us will give an account of himself to God… So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.” (Romans 14:1, 4, 12, 22)

In all our beliefs, we show forth love

“…If I hold in my mind not only all human knowledge, but also the very secrets of God, and if I have the faith that can move mountains – but have no love, I amount to nothing at all.” (1 Cor. 13:1-2)

the essentials

the bible

The Bible is God's Word to us. Human authors, under the supernatural guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote it. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because God inspires it, it is the truth without error.

Jesus christ

We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, and His bodily resurrection from the dead to demonstrate His power over sin and death, His miracles, His ascension into heaven, and His return to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Human beings

People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God's creation. All people were born marred by a state of disobedience toward God called "sin." This state and its resulting behaviors separate people from God. That separation will be eternal in a place called Hell unless all people are born-again by the spirit of God.

Church

There is One Church (bride) for which Jesus Christ (bridegroom) is coming back. The Church is made up of born-again Christians all over the world. The Church is the people, and the people are the Church.

Kingdom Citizenship

Mosaic Church asserts that “all authority in heaven and on earth” has been granted to Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18), and no political ideology or earthly regime can claim His authority. Jesus stated that His Kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36) and rejected Satan's offer of dominion over "all the kingdoms of the world and their glory," emphasizing that we must "Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only" (Matthew 4:8-10). Furthermore, God does not share His glory with any other deity or idol (Isaiah 42:8). Consequently, we commit to worshiping Jesus exclusively, exalting His Kingdom above all others, spreading the Gospel through our words and actions rather than force, and loving others as bearers of God's image, irrespective of age, ability, identity, political beliefs, or affiliations.

god

There is one God who is the creator and ruler of the universe. He eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, & the Holy Spirit.

the holy spirit

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14). He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ (John 16:7-11). He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation (Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 6:19). He provides the Christian with the power to live a godly life (Galatians 5:16-25; Acts 1:8) and understands spiritual truth (John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:12-14). The Holy Spirit also distributes spiritual gifts among all believers (1 Corinthians 12:4-11), equipping the Body of Christ to edify its members (Ephesians 4:11-16) and fulfill the mission of the Church (Romans 12:4-8; 1 Peter 4:10-11).

Salvation

Salvation is the free gift of God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-9), offered to all and received through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9-10). It is not based on self-improvement or good works (Titus 3:5) but entirely on the finished work of Christ, whose death on the cross secured the once-and-for-all forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 10:10, 1 Peter 3:18). By faith, we are assured of eternal life with God (John 3:16, 1 John 5:11-13), made new in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and adopted as children of God (Galatians 4:4-7). From the moment of salvation, Christ lives in us (Colossians 1:27, Galatians 2:20), and we are united with Him (1 Corinthians 6:17), empowered by His Spirit to live out our new identity for His glory (Romans 8:9-11, Ephesians 2:10).

sanctification

We believe sanctification is a definitive act of being set apart as holy through faith in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:10, 1 Corinthians 6:11, Ephesians 1:4). Through salvation, believers are fully and permanently sanctified in their identity as God's children (John 1:12) and new creations in Christ (Colossians 1:22). As we experience our relationship with God in Scripture reading, prayer, meditation, and worship, the Holy Spirit renews our minds and empowers us to live according to this identity (Romans 12:2, 1 Peter 1:15, Philippians 2:13). The transformation of our behavior, then, is not about becoming holier in essence but about our actions increasingly reflecting the holiness we already possess (2 Corinthians 3:18). Through the Spirit’s work, we mature in grace and express the fruit of the Spirit in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23).

We also embrace the ancient roots of the Christian faith as expressed by the early followers of Jesus. These early followers expressed their faith and beliefs in the form of Creeds (a statement of faith and belief). The most universally accepted of these Creeds is the Apostles Creed.

THE APOSTLES CREED

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.