These statements represents the most simple and foundational beliefs of Christian orthodoxy from a biblical and historical perspective.
We believe:
- In God’s verbal inspiration of all the Scriptures of both the Old and New Testament, and that they are true, authoritative, and sufficient (Psalm 19:7-11; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
- In one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father is God. The Son is God. The Holy Spirit is God. The Father is neither the Son nor the Holy Spirit. The Son is neither the Father nor the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is neither the Father nor the Son (Genesis 1:26; Psalm 45:6-7; Psalm 110:1; Matthew 3:13-17; Matthew 28:17-20; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6).
- Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, was born of a virgin and is both fully God and fully human (Matthew 1:20; Luke 2:52; John 1:1-4, 14; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:1-3).
- In the atonement of Jesus Christ, that He died as my substitute to pay the penalty for my sin. (John 1:29; 10:1-18; Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4; 1 Peter 3:18).
- In the physical, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and that He physically ascended to heaven and will one day physically return. (Matthew 28:1-20; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-53; John 1:20-21:25; 1 Corinthians 15:12-34, John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Hebrews 9:28; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 1:7).
- There will be a future physical resurrection of the dead. Those who trust in Jesus Christ alone will be raised to eternal reward. Those who have not trusted in Jesus Christ will be raised to eternal punishment (Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15).
- I am, along with all humanity (Christ excluded), by birth and action a sinner and the deserved penalty for sin is death, both physical and spiritual (Genesis 6:5; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:23; 5:8, 12-21; 7:18; Ephesians 2:1-3; Genesis 2:15-17; Genesis 3:19; Romans 5:12; 6:23; James 1:14-15).
- That salvation is the free gift of God, entirely apart from works, and is possessed permanently by all who have by faith trusted in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Only by trusting in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone can I be reconciled to God and experience true life and joy (John 1:12; John 3:18, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:21-26; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6).
- The Holy Spirit is a divine person and that He indwells all believers. We believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the sovereign work of God that occurs at the moment of conversion, whereby the Holy Spirit places the believer in the Body of Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14).
Anyone pursuing membership and/or baptism at Church at Bergen must agree with the statements. If you'd like a full summary of the various convictions articulated in our statement of basic beliefs click here.