Chattanooga Valley Church of the Nazarene “ Statement Of Beliefs"
About God
We believe that there is one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is the sovereign and supreme Creator and Ruler of the universe.
Genesis 1:1; Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14
About Jesus Christ
We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ who is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. God raised Him from the dead after three days to demonstrate God's power over sin and death. Jesus ascended to Heaven's glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; John 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13
About the Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation and provides the Christian with power for godly living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right.
1 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, John 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18
About the Bible
We believe the Bible is the authoritative and sufficient Word of God consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments. The Bible is God's Word to us, written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it contains all truth necessary to faith and how to live the Christian life.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105, 160; Psalm 12:6; Proverbs 30:5
About Human Beings
People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God's creation. Although every person is created with tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an inherited nature of disobedience toward God called sin which is the result of the disobedience of our Original Parents. Until properly addressed, this sin-nature separates all people from God.
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2
About Salvation
Salvation is God's free gift to us, but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin‘s penalty which is spiritual death. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith, we are saved from the dominion of sin. New life begins the moment a person receives Jesus Christ into their life by faith.
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6; John 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1
About Holy Living
The Christian life is received by faith, but must then be lived out practically. Beyond salvation remains the decision to let Christ be the Lord of our life. This is a point in time when a believer surrenders all that they are and have to God. At that time of surrender and daily consecration, the Holy Spirit enables the believer to live with increasing Christ-likeness. We believe this growth will continue all through life to the extent each person continues to live a life fully yielded to God.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; John 17:17; 1 Peter 1:2; Ephesians 5:26; Romans 12:1-2
About Eternity
People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence, and our destination to either is determined by our choices in this life.
John 3:16; John 14:17; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:17-18; Revelation 20:15; 1 Corinthians 2:7-9
