what we believe
"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." - A.W. Tozer
Below are 10 core beliefs that we hold dearly at Beyond Church. You can expand each belief below for a more in depth view of each one.
“Watch your life and your doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” 1 Timothy 4:16 NIV
Below are 10 core beliefs that we hold dearly at Beyond Church. You can see a more detailed synopsis of each belief as you click on them.
“Watch your life and your doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” 1 Timothy 4:16 NIV
The Bible is the inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true, and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right (2 Timothy 3:16). God's word is the only completely reliable and truthful authority, and we accept the Bible as our manual for living. Our first questions when faced with a decision is, "What does the Bible say?" We practice daily Bible reading and Bible Study. The Bible is the basis for all we believe.
Our Need - Man's Fall And Redemption
We believe man is a created being made in the likeness and image of God. Through Adam's transgression and fall, sin came into the world, and death was the result. Therefore, man is spiritually dead and separated from God. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was sent to give His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God by providing us with salvation. Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the law, and it is by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ that we are saved. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father but by Him. (Romans 5:14, Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, 1 John 3:8, Ephesians 2:8, John 14:6)
You must be born again.
When anyone becomes a Christian, he becomes a new person inside. The old passes away and a new life has begun, 2 Corinthians 5:17. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it, but if you give up your life for me (Jesus), you will find true life, Matthew 16:25. God created mankind to have fellowship with Him, but they defied God by sinfully going their own way. As a result, we need God's saving grace and forgiveness. Salvation comes only through God's grace - not human effort - and must be received personally by repentance and faith. At the end, everyone will experience bodily resurrection and judgment. Only believers enjoy eternal fellowship with God.
Real Growth - Sanctification
We believe the true Christian life is evidenced by the godly fruit of the Spirit that is developed and produced in the life of a believer. This process of sanctification leads to a genuine, holy, Christ-like life and is a definite, yet progressive work of grace. This process begins at the time of the new birth and continues throughout our Christian life. (Hebrews 12:14, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 2 Peter 3:18, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Philippians 3:12-14, 1 Corinthians 1:30)
Things to Come - The Return of our Lord
We believe in the physical, bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe His coming is imminent. When He comes, the dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds (what we refer to as the rapture), to meet the Lord in the air. After this rapture event, we believe the tribulation, a period of seven years, will take place on earth. Following the tribulation, Jesus shall return to the earth as King of kings, the Lord of lords. Believers will return with Him and will reign with Christ on earth for a thousand years during what is known as the Millennial Reign of Christ. (Acts 1:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17, Revelation 20:6)
God - The Godhead
We believe our God is One, but manifested in three persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God the Father is greater than all. The Son Jesus, is the Word made flesh, the only begotten son of the Father and He has existed with the Father from the beginning. The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is our Helper, Comforter, Strengthener, Advocate, Intercessor, Counselor, and Standby. (Philippians 2:6, John 14:28, John 16:28, John 1:14, John 1:1, John 1:18, John 15:26)
Jesus is the Son of God.
John 14:6, Jesus answered, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." Acts 4:11-12, ". . . There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them." Jesus, the second Person of the Trinity, while all God, was made flesh and dwelled among us as man, and was in all points tempted as we are, but was without sin, John 1:14;Hebrews 4:15. The only One who can save us from our sin is the sinless God-man-one who is fully man, as we are, but one who is fully God, so that His payment for our sin can satisfy the infinite demands of God's justice against our sin. As man's substitute, His payment on the cross accomplished salvation for all who receive Him and His work alone. By grace, through faith, we are saved. He rose from the dead and is the only Mediator between God and man. He baptizes believers in the Holy Spirit, and is coming again to receive His body, the church.
Three Baptisms
The First Baptism: The Holy Spirit baptizes one into the body of Christ, sealing our union with Him. (1 Corinthians 12:13) The Second Baptism: Man baptizes one in water confirming their identity in Christ in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and identifies with Christ's death, burial and resurrection. (Matthew 17:5; Matthew 28:19) The Third Baptism: Jesus baptizes one in the Holy Spirit empowering them to be a witness for Him. (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8.) These three baptisms are often explained together in Scripture. (Acts 2:37-39; Acts 8:5-8,12,14-17; Acts 19:1-6)
Blessings - Divine Healing
We believe that Jesus desires the abundant life for all believers and walk in the light of His Word. This includes many blessings - spirit, soul and body. God promises to forgive all our sins and to heal all our diseases. Therefore, we believe that health and healing for the mental, emotional and physical ills of the human mind and body is available by the power of God. The Bible teaches us several pathways by which to access God's divine help and healing power and this includes: the prayer of faith, the laying on of hands, being led by the Spirit and/or by the supernatural gifts of the Spirit. Healing has been provided for in the atonement of Christ, and is the privilege of every member of the Church today. (John 10:10, Psalm 103:3, Mark 16:18, James 5:14-25, 1 Peter 2:24, Matthew 8:17, Isaiah 53:4-5)
Final Destination - Hell And Eternal Retribution
We believe that a person who physically dies without accepting and confessing Jesus Christ as Lord is hopelessly and eternally lost. This person will spend eternity in hell and the Lake of Fire, and therefore, has no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel and repenting. The Lake of Fire is literal. The terms "eternal" and "everlasting" used in describing the duration of punishment in the Lake of Fire carry the same thought and meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the duration of joy and ecstasy of believers in the presence of God. (Hebrews 9:27, Revelation 19:20)
The Bible is the inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true, and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right (2 Timothy 3:16). God's word is the only completely reliable and truthful authority, and we accept the Bible as our manual for living. Our first questions when faced with a decision is, "What does the Bible say?" We practice daily Bible reading and Bible Study. The Bible is the basis for all we believe.
God - The Godhead
We believe our God is One, but manifested in three persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God the Father is greater than all. The Son Jesus, is the Word made flesh, the only begotten son of the Father and He has existed with the Father from the beginning. The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is our Helper, Comforter, Strengthener, Advocate, Intercessor, Counselor, and Standby. (Philippians 2:6, John 14:28, John 16:28, John 1:14, John 1:1, John 1:18, John 15:26)
Our Need - Man's Fall And Redemption
We believe man is a created being made in the likeness and image of God. Through Adam's transgression and fall, sin came into the world, and death was the result. Therefore, man is spiritually dead and separated from God. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was sent to give His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God by providing us with salvation. Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the law, and it is by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ that we are saved. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father but by Him. (Romans 5:14, Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, 1 John 3:8, Ephesians 2:8, John 14:6)
Jesus is the Son of God.
John 14:6, Jesus answered, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." Acts 4:11-12, ". . . There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them." Jesus, the second Person of the Trinity, while all God, was made flesh and dwelled among us as man, and was in all points tempted as we are, but was without sin, John 1:14;Hebrews 4:15. The only One who can save us from our sin is the sinless God-man-one who is fully man, as we are, but one who is fully God, so that His payment for our sin can satisfy the infinite demands of God's justice against our sin. As man's substitute, His payment on the cross accomplished salvation for all who receive Him and His work alone. By grace, through faith, we are saved. He rose from the dead and is the only Mediator between God and man. He baptizes believers in the Holy Spirit, and is coming again to receive His body, the church.
You must be born again.
When anyone becomes a Christian, he becomes a new person inside. The old passes away and a new life has begun, 2 Corinthians 5:17. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it, but if you give up your life for me (Jesus), you will find true life, Matthew 16:25. God created mankind to have fellowship with Him, but they defied God by sinfully going their own way. As a result, we need God's saving grace and forgiveness. Salvation comes only through God's grace - not human effort - and must be received personally by repentance and faith. At the end, everyone will experience bodily resurrection and judgment. Only believers enjoy eternal fellowship with God.
Three Baptisms
The First Baptism: The Holy Spirit baptizes one into the body of Christ, sealing our union with Him. (1 Corinthians 12:13) The Second Baptism: Man baptizes one in water confirming their identity in Christ in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and identifies with Christ's death, burial and resurrection. (Matthew 17:5; Matthew 28:19) The Third Baptism: Jesus baptizes one in the Holy Spirit empowering them to be a witness for Him. (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8.) These three baptisms are often explained together in Scripture. (Acts 2:37-39; Acts 8:5-8,12,14-17; Acts 19:1-6)
Real Growth - Sanctification
We believe the true Christian life is evidenced by the godly fruit of the Spirit that is developed and produced in the life of a believer. This process of sanctification leads to a genuine, holy, Christ-like life and is a definite, yet progressive work of grace. This process begins at the time of the new birth and continues throughout our Christian life. (Hebrews 12:14, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 2 Peter 3:18, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Philippians 3:12-14, 1 Corinthians 1:30)
Blessings - Divine Healing
We believe that Jesus desires the abundant life for all believers and walk in the light of His Word. This includes many blessings - spirit, soul and body. God promises to forgive all our sins and to heal all our diseases. Therefore, we believe that health and healing for the mental, emotional and physical ills of the human mind and body is available by the power of God. The Bible teaches us several pathways by which to access God's divine help and healing power and this includes: the prayer of faith, the laying on of hands, being led by the Spirit and/or by the supernatural gifts of the Spirit. Healing has been provided for in the atonement of Christ, and is the privilege of every member of the Church today. (John 10:10, Psalm 103:3, Mark 16:18, James 5:14-25, 1 Peter 2:24, Matthew 8:17, Isaiah 53:4-5)
Things to Come - The Return of our Lord
We believe in the physical, bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe His coming is imminent. When He comes, the dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds (what we refer to as the rapture), to meet the Lord in the air. After this rapture event, we believe the tribulation, a period of seven years, will take place on earth. Following the tribulation, Jesus shall return to the earth as King of kings, the Lord of lords. Believers will return with Him and will reign with Christ on earth for a thousand years during what is known as the Millennial Reign of Christ. (Acts 1:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17, Revelation 20:6)
Final Destination - Hell And Eternal Retribution
We believe that a person who physically dies without accepting and confessing Jesus Christ as Lord is hopelessly and eternally lost. This person will spend eternity in hell and the Lake of Fire, and therefore, has no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel and repenting. The Lake of Fire is literal. The terms "eternal" and "everlasting" used in describing the duration of punishment in the Lake of Fire carry the same thought and meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the duration of joy and ecstasy of believers in the presence of God. (Hebrews 9:27, Revelation 19:20)