WHAT WE BELIEVE
Bible
The 66 books of the Old and New Testament Scriptures are verbally inspired by God, inerrant in the original writings, and are the supreme and final authority in faith and life.
Psalm 19:7; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21
God
The one true God exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Genesis 1:26; Isaiah 45:21-22; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22; 2 Corinthians 13:14
Jesus
Jesus Christ is pre-existent deity, begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived without sinning, died a vicarious death, was bodily resurrected, ascended into heaven, is true God and true man, and presently is the only Mediator between God and man as High Priest and Advocate.
Matthew 1:18-25, 28:1-10; John 1:1-14; Acts 2:22-36; 1 Corinthians 15:1-58; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 7:23-28; 1 Peter 2:24
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Godhead, possessing divine attributes. God the Holy Spirit shared in the creation of the universe, is responsible for the Scriptures, was instrumental in the incarnation, and was active in the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ.
Genesis 1:1-2; Exodus 31:3-5; Psalms 51:11; Matthew 12:28; Luke 1:35; 2 Peter 1:21
Man
Man was created in the image of God; but he sinned and subsequently incurred physical death and spiritual death, which is separation from God, necessitating the new birth for his salvation. Man is born with original sin from Adamic actions.
Genesis 1:26-27; 2:16-17; 3:1-24; John 3:3-5; Romans 5:12, 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:21
Salvation
All who receive the Lord Jesus Christ by faith are justified fully by His shed blood, are born again by the Holy Spirit, and thereby become children of God. All believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and baptized by Him into that spiritual body, the Church, of which Christ is the head.
John 1:12-13, 3:3-7, 14:16-17; Acts 16:31; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:13; 1 John 1:7 6.
All who trust in our Lord Jesus Christ are eternally secure by God’s decision.
John 3:16; 3:36; 10:28-29; Romans 8:35-39; Jude l
The Church
The Church Universal, the bride of Christ, includes worldwide believers from the day of Pentecost to the rapture. A local New Testament church consists of a company of baptized believers who have voluntarily associated themselves for worship, for instruction, and for service.
John 20:21; Acts 2:41; Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:11-16, 5:25-32; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18.
A local New Testament church is an autonomous, self-governing body, free from interference by any convention or other ecclesiastical or political authority. Therefore, the Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from the dictates or patronage of the other. Matthew 18:17, 22:21; Acts 4:19, 5:29, 6:3-6, 13:2-4, 15:2, 15:22-31
Communion & Baptism
The Lord commanded two ordinances for His church: baptism and communion. Baptism – the immersion of a believer in water – in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit sets forth the essential facts of redemption: the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ; and the essential facts in the experience of the believer: death to sin and resurrection to newness of life. The Lord's Supper commemorates the Lord's death until He comes.
Matthew 26:26-29, 28:19-20; Acts 8:34-39; 16:30-33; Romans 6:1-5; 1 Corinthians 11:20-34
Future
The return of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent. He will rapture His Church ("the blessed hope") prior to the Great Tribulation, then physically and visibly return with His Church to the earth to establish His Kingdom after the Tribulation.
a. Rapture: John 14:2-6; 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 4:13-18; Titus 2:11-13; Revelation 3:10 b. Return: Isaiah 9:6-7, 24:22-23; Zechariah 14:4; Acts 1:10-11; Jude 14-15; Revelation 19:11-20:6
There will be a bodily resurrection of the saved and lost. The saved shall appear at the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive rewards and to dwell with Him for all eternity. The lost shall be judged at the Great White Throne and be cast into eternal Hell.
Luke 16:19-31; John 5:29; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, 15:1-58; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:11-15
Satan
The devil (called Satan) – his existence and personality – is the great adversary of God and His people.
John 12:31; Revelation 12:1-10; 20:10
As a church, we are honored to have been born out of the conservative Baptist tradition, reflected in the name we carried for more than 70 years: Mesa Baptist Church (MBC).
We are grateful for that heritage, yet our beliefs, teaching, and statement of faith are not defined by any single tradition or denomination. They are shaped by careful study of God’s Word, which we hold as our supreme authority in all matters of life, doctrine, and ministry.
As we pursue our mission and serve alongside other churches, we associate with the Venture Church Network for fellowship, collaboration, and wise counsel.
*This is our Abridged Statement of Faith. Our expanded Statement of Faith is available on request.