OUR BELIEFS

At The Rock we care about spending time with Jesus, learning from Jesus, in order to be more like him and share the life of God that he reveals. Actions speak louder than words, but here are some of our core beliefs that guide us:

About God
We believe that God is the Creator of the universe. God exists eternally as one being in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are each fully and equally God, yet the three are always one in being, action, will, and character. This is the Trinity, a communion of love, for God is love.
Genesis 1:1,26,27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; I Peter 1:2; II Corinthians 13:14, 1 John 4:8

About Humanity
We believe that we are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like God in character. Male and female are equally created in the image of God, for God transcends human gender. Although humanity has tremendous potential for good, we are marred by a nature and attitude of disobedience toward God called sin. This separates us from God.
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2

About Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus temporarily gave up divine privileges to become human and live among us. As both God and human, he is the only person who can reconcile us to God.

Jesus lived a sinless life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to heaven's glory and will return again to end sin and death and to reign as our loving Lord.

Jesus is the special and ultimate revelation of God to us, and his teaching is the authority on who God is, how we should live, and how we interpret Scripture.
Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5 & 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; I Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; I Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13; Philippians 2:6-11, Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:15-20

About The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Jesus-follower from the moment they accept Christ’s free gift of eternal life.

The Spirit provides the Jesus-follower with power for transformed living, understanding of spiritual truth, use of spiritual gifts, and guidance in doing what is right. We seek to live by the Spirit’s leading.
II Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13 & 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 2:12 & 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18

About The Bible
We believe that the Bible is God's Word to all people. It was written by human authors under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for a Christ-follower’s beliefs and living, and is without error in its original writings. While Jesus is the infallible Word of God, the Bible is the true, authoritative, and faithful witness to this Word.
II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20-21; II Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160 & 12:6; Proverbs 30:5

About Salvation
We believe that salvation (being rescued from sin and given eternal life) is a gift from God to humanity. We cannot escape sin by self-improvement or good works. By trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness we are rescued from sin. Eternal life begins the moment someone receives Jesus Christ into his/her life by faith.
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6 & 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1

About The Church
We believe that the Church is the Body of Christ on earth. Christ is the Head and we are the members of the body that respond to his leadership and direction for our lives. The body should assemble together for worship, connect with one another over fellowship and prayer, and listen to God’s teaching to become conformed to the image of Jesus and the leading of the Spirit.
Ephesians 4:4; 5:25-32; Matt. 16:18; 1 Corinthians 12:12,13: Matthew 28:19,20; Acts 2:41-47; 18:8; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

About Evil
We believe evil in the world is a consequence of agents choosing against God and against love. We believe that Satan is the enemy of God. He’s the originator of false views, the accuser of humanity’s conscience, and the chief power behind the sin, dysfunction, and disaster in the world. However, he and his followers are destined for final defeat at the hands of Jesus Christ and will face everlasting destruction.
Isaiah 14:12-15; 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 11:14; Ephesians 2:1-2; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 12:10; Revelation 20:10