STATEMENT OF BELIEF

Sturbridge Worship Center believes that:

1. Scripture is the inspired and written Word of God. God has revealed his nature and ways in creation and through acts in history, as testified to by Scripture. Our faith is rooted and defined in Scripture, both the Old and the New Testament, which equal the completely trustworthy, revealed and sufficient written Word of God. Mt 5:17-18; 15:6; 22:29; Ro 15:4; 2 Ti 3:14-17; 2 Pe 1:19-21; Ps 19
2. The Nicene Creed is a faithful summary of the biblical essentials to faith, reflecting historical orthodoxy, and serving as a point of unity among churches. See: http://christianity.wikia.com/wiki/Nicene_creed
3. There is One God, the eternal King and Creator of heaven and earth, who is Triune in nature – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Three persons, yet of one substance, harmonious in their distinct functions. Perfect in love, goodness, justice, holiness, glory and power. These three are one God - the source and sustainer of all life. 1 Ti 1: 17; 6:15-16; Deut 6:4; Jas 2:19; 1 Co 8:5-6; 1 Ti 2:5-6; Ge 1:1; 2:1; Heb 11:3; Eph 1:3; Mt 28:19; Ps 89:11; 90:2; 2 Co 13-14; Mt 3:16-17; Jude 20-21, 25; 1 Pe 1:2; Heb 9:14; Ph 2:6-11; Heb 1; Col 1:15-20; Jn 16:13-15; 17:20-21
4. God created Mankind in his own image, male and female, as equals, as the crown of his creation to rule over all the works of his hand. This call was royal and priestly in nature – to be in eternal fellowship with God, and with one another, while stewarding and bringing God’s good creation into harmonious order. This is a ruling in the image of God, not in tyrannical domination, but in servant love. The health of society and the health of the earth were and are dependent on mankind’s healthy relationship with God. As such, understanding the doctrine of the Image of God is vital for recovering a viable Christian hope for society. Ge 1:26-28; Ge 9:6; Ps 8; Ro 8:19-21; Mt 20:25-28; 22:37-40; Ex 13:14-17; Rev 5:10
5. Mankind Willfully Turned Away from God. Under the deceit of the ancient serpent, also known as Satan, mankind forfeited this high calling, and is now incapable of knowing and trusting God. Instead, humanity is born into sin, held captive to the devil, and bound over to fear and sinful desires that lead to death. This ruptured relationship with God is the source of all historical and social ills and evil. Ge 2:17; 3:1-24; Ps 51:5; Rev 12:9; Ro 1:18-32; 2:5; 3:9-19, 22-24; 5:12-14; Heb 9:27; Ez 18:4
6. God did not forsake mankind in sin and death. Since God committed the earth to mankind, he also determined to bring healing and rescue to and through mankind.  This rescue operation began immediately after the first sin, seen chiefly through God’s covenant with Abraham and Israel, and the promise of the new covenant and coming kingdom of God – pointing forward to the coming of Christ, the ultimate and true savior, and fulfillment of all God’s promises. Ge 3:15; Ge 12:1-3; 2 Sa 7; Is 9:6-7; 11:1-10; Jer 31:31-34; Da 2:44-45; 7:9-14; Mt 5:17-18; 2 Co 1:20; Ro 5:20-21; 6:23; 11:32; Ga 1:3-4; 3:22-25; Col 1:13-14
7. Jesus Christ, fully God and fully human, was revealed in the fullness of time, to bring salvation. The coming of the incarnate Son of God was the plan of God all along, making known and embodying his great love and faithfulness. He came to set the captive free and to bring abundant and overflowing life. Is 9:6; Da 7:13; Heb 1; Col 1:15-20; 1 Co 10:11; Ga 4:4-5; He 9:26; Luke 4:17-21; Jn 3:16-17; 10:10; 14:6-10
8. Jesus was crucified for our salvation and bodily raised from the dead; he then ascended to heaven where he now reigns – all in accordance with the Scriptures. In complete obedience to God, Jesus lived as a servant, culminating in his death on the cross, the new covenant in his blood. By this means Jesus identified with the suffering of the world and willingly bore the weight of the world’s sin and death. In his resurrection, Jesus demonstrated that he broke the power of sin and death. Ascending to the throne of God in heaven, he now reigns as the world’s true king and lord subduing injustice and evil and death, till the day he returns and brings all things in heaven and earth together. As Jesus lives now with a resurrected body, so this future awaits those who put their trust in God through Christ. Ph 2:5-11; Mk 10:45; Jn 12:30-33; 1 Jn 3:8; Col 2:15; Heb 2:14-18; Lk 22:20; Heb 12:24; Lk 24:5-8, 25-27, 44-49; Jn 5:36, 39; Acts 1:9; 2:23-24, 31-36; 3:17-181 Co 15:20-28, 50-57; Eph 1:10; Heb 9:15; 10:12-14;
9. Salvation begins now by faith in Jesus Christ. For those who acknowledge and repent of their sins, believing in their heart, and confessing with their mouth that Jesus is Lord – these are born again now, a new creation, forgiven and cleansed from their sins, put into right standing before God, and set free from ways of life that lead to death. This is salvation by grace, through faith. Acts 2:38-39; Ro 3:25-26; Ga 3:13; 6:15 22; 1 Jn 3:5-6; Ro 8:1-4; 10:8-13; Eph 2:1-10; Heb 9:14; Tit 3:4-7
10. The Holy Spirit is given to those who are in Christ. Exalted to the right hand of God, Jesus along with the Father, pours out the promised Holy Spirit to believers – indwelling them as the temple and people of God, sealing and guaranteeing their future inheritance with God. The Spirit also brings council and comfort; the knowledge of salvation and conviction of sin; and the power to be transformed into the image of Christ; to live in accordance with the Spirit and to put to death the sinful nature. Lk 24:49; Acts 1: 5; 2:16-17, 33, 38-39; Eph 1:13-14; 2 Co 1:21-22; Ro 5:5; Ro 8:9-17; 22-27; 1 Co 3:19; Jn 15:26-27; 16:5-15
11. The Holy Spirit empowers believers for witness and the work of ministry. Often a tangible experience, the Holy Spirit baptizes, edifies and empowers the people of God with boldness to be witnesses of the Good News of God in Christ to the world. To this end, we believe fully in the present ministry of the Spirit, including healing, and the exercising of the biblical gifts of the Spirit, including prophetic utterances and new tongues. Jn 20:22-23; Acts 1:5; 2:1-4; 4:29-31; 1 Co 12:4-11, 27-28; Ro 12:4-8; 2 Co 1:21-22
12. There is one holy, universal church. All who repent of their sins, are baptized, and confess Jesus as Lord and Savior are born again by the Holy Spirit and form the living Body of Christ. The church exists to implement the powerful healing work of Jesus and confront the work of evil in the world. Mt 16:17-18; 28:18-20; Jn 17:17-23; Acts 1:7-8; Heb 12:22-23; Ga 3:26-29; Eph 1:22; 2:13-16; 4:3-6; 5:23; 1 Pe 2:9-10; Ro 12:4-5; 1 Co 1:2; 12:27
13. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are two ordinances given by the Lord Jesus for the church. Baptism is the symbolic entryway into the people of God, whereby a believer passes from death to life. The Lord’s Supper is a continual practice in the life of the church, whereby the church remembers the work of Christ, renews inclusion in his body, and looks forward to Jesus’ return. Mt 28:18-20; Col 2:11-12; Ro 6:3-10; Acts 2:38; Lk 22:14-20; 1 Co 10:14-17; 11:23-26
14. There will be a final judgment when Jesus returns to the earth to consummate the kingdom of God. Every knee in heaven and on earth will bow and confess, “Jesus Christ is Lord.” Those who have put their hope in God will not be disappointed; they will reign with Christ forever; they will receive resurrected bodies never to perish again; heaven and earth will be one; the old order of pain and death will pass away forever; all creation will be renewed; and God will live with mankind forever. Jesus will accomplish the final defeat of Satan and all his works and those who have persisted and delighted in doing evil will be excluded forever from the presence of God and his new creation. Acts 1:9-11; Rev 21:1-8, 22-27; 22:1-7, 12-16; Is 25:6-9; Ph 2:9-11; Heb 10:12-13; 12:22-14; Ro 8:18-25; 1 Co 15:20-28, 51-57; Is 50:9-11; Is 66:22-24 Ro 14:11-12; Is 45:22-24; Ro 2:16; 2 Th 2:8-12; Rev 20:11-15; 1 Pe 3:10-13; 1 Ti 6:13-16; Rev 18:1-3; 20:7-10