What We Believe
OVERVIEW:
- The mission of the church is to make disciples (followers) of Jesus.
- There is one God, and He exists in three Persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
- The Bible is the infallible Word of God and the basis for what we believe and practice.
- Mankind is born with a sinful nature.
- Through Jesus, mankind can receive God's forgiveness of sin and a new nature in Christ.
- Baptism is how we identify ourselves with our new life in Jesus.
- The Lord's Supper is how we remember Jesus's death and celebrate our new life in Him.
- Jesus is coming again.
Statement of Purpose
The purpose of the church at Western Hills is to glorify God and fulfill the great commission given in Matthew 28:19-20. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (KJV). We do this by practicing New Testament forms of evangelism, by teaching and mentoring each believer to be a disciple of Christ, by strengthening families, and by supporting Christian laborers throughout the world.
Statement of Faith
We believe there is only one true God, existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are co-eternal and coequal from all eternity, each with distinct personalities but of one essence. The Bible is verbally inspired by God in its original writings, is truth without any mixture of error, and is the sole rule of faith and practice.
Adam was directly created in innocence and in the image of God and was not evolved from pre-existing forms of life. By voluntary transgression, he fell; and thus the whole race is now sinful by nature and practice and, therefore, under just condemnation to eternal separation from God.
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who entered into the world through the virgin birth, living among us without sin as perfect man and perfect God. He shed His blood on Calvary as a vicarious substitute for all sinners, was buried and rose again bodily, and ascended to the right hand of the Father, from whence He will personally return. Men are justified by grace through faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ without any mixture of works. The Holy Spirit convicts the sinner; regenerates; sanctifies; indwells the believer; and fills the believer for effective service.
We believe in the priesthood of the believer and that God has made provision for each believer to be victorious by being led of the Spirit and not walking after the flesh.
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost – the just unto the resurrection of life eternal and the lost unto the resurrection of eternal damnation. Satan is a person, and hell is a place of eternal, conscious punishment for him, his hosts, and all unbelievers.
We believe in the bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ for His Church.
We believe Christians are commanded by Scripture to abstain from all forms of compromise with unbelief. The Bible sets forth principles of Godly living, and we must learn and follow these principles to both avoid and refute the false teachings and false concepts of our day. Christians are commanded to follow Scriptural methods of discerning, exhorting, warning, and reproving those who violate or reject the principles of Scripture. The Bible is clear that a person who continuously lives an immoral life or brings shame to the name of Jesus Christ is not a follower of Jesus Christ. Therefore, Western Hills cannot hire, employ, or allow its employees to participate or facilitate behavior such as: (1) sexual immorality including but not limited to adultery, promiscuity, or homosexuality; (2) physically destructive behavior including but not limited to alcoholism or drug addiction; and (3) any other behavior which is in conflict with Biblical commands, teachings, and principles as determined by the Pastors/Elders. In addition, Western Hills property and/or facilities cannot be used for any purpose that contributes or facilitates sinful behavior including the performance of marriage ceremonies between members of the same gender. Any violation of these principles would be a violation of the closely held Biblical and religious beliefs of Western Hills Church and its members and would be in direct contravention to the goals and purposes of Western Hills Church.
The purpose of the church at Western Hills is to glorify God and fulfill the great commission given in Matthew 28:19-20. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (KJV). We do this by practicing New Testament forms of evangelism, by teaching and mentoring each believer to be a disciple of Christ, by strengthening families, and by supporting Christian laborers throughout the world.
Statement of Faith
We believe there is only one true God, existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are co-eternal and coequal from all eternity, each with distinct personalities but of one essence. The Bible is verbally inspired by God in its original writings, is truth without any mixture of error, and is the sole rule of faith and practice.
Adam was directly created in innocence and in the image of God and was not evolved from pre-existing forms of life. By voluntary transgression, he fell; and thus the whole race is now sinful by nature and practice and, therefore, under just condemnation to eternal separation from God.
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who entered into the world through the virgin birth, living among us without sin as perfect man and perfect God. He shed His blood on Calvary as a vicarious substitute for all sinners, was buried and rose again bodily, and ascended to the right hand of the Father, from whence He will personally return. Men are justified by grace through faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ without any mixture of works. The Holy Spirit convicts the sinner; regenerates; sanctifies; indwells the believer; and fills the believer for effective service.
We believe in the priesthood of the believer and that God has made provision for each believer to be victorious by being led of the Spirit and not walking after the flesh.
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost – the just unto the resurrection of life eternal and the lost unto the resurrection of eternal damnation. Satan is a person, and hell is a place of eternal, conscious punishment for him, his hosts, and all unbelievers.
We believe in the bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ for His Church.
We believe Christians are commanded by Scripture to abstain from all forms of compromise with unbelief. The Bible sets forth principles of Godly living, and we must learn and follow these principles to both avoid and refute the false teachings and false concepts of our day. Christians are commanded to follow Scriptural methods of discerning, exhorting, warning, and reproving those who violate or reject the principles of Scripture. The Bible is clear that a person who continuously lives an immoral life or brings shame to the name of Jesus Christ is not a follower of Jesus Christ. Therefore, Western Hills cannot hire, employ, or allow its employees to participate or facilitate behavior such as: (1) sexual immorality including but not limited to adultery, promiscuity, or homosexuality; (2) physically destructive behavior including but not limited to alcoholism or drug addiction; and (3) any other behavior which is in conflict with Biblical commands, teachings, and principles as determined by the Pastors/Elders. In addition, Western Hills property and/or facilities cannot be used for any purpose that contributes or facilitates sinful behavior including the performance of marriage ceremonies between members of the same gender. Any violation of these principles would be a violation of the closely held Biblical and religious beliefs of Western Hills Church and its members and would be in direct contravention to the goals and purposes of Western Hills Church.