What We Believe

The Bible is God’s Word to all humankind, written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Old and New Testaments are the only written revelation from God to man. The Bible is infallible and is the authoritative rule of faith and conduct for mankind. “All Scripture is inspired by God, and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16)  

Isaiah 55:10-11; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:21

God is love, sovereign, omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, and holy. He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth. While God is one, He is also a triune, eternal being known as the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit.  

Genesis 1-2; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19

Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is the second person of the triune God and the eternal Son of God. Jesus became man without ceasing to be God. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all humankind by dying on a cross. The Bible declares His bodily resurrection from the dead and his power over sin and death. Jesus ascended to Heaven and is exalted at the right hand of God the Father to now function as our High Priest, where He acts as our Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate.  Jesus will come again and will judge the living and the dead.  

Matthew 1:18-23, 28:1-6; Hebrews 7:22-28; 1 Peter 2:21-25; John 1:1-14, 8:54-49; 1 John 3:4-5; Acts 2:22-24, 10:37-43; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; 2 Corinthians 5:21

Man was created in the image of God. However, Adam and Eve willfully disobeyed God, as do all people.  That first sin had several repercussions. Man was excommunicated from the Garden of Eden, a curse was pronounced, the process of physical death began, and man died spiritually. Sin separated humankind from God, severing our fellowship from Him and His holiness.  

Genesis 1:26-27, 2:16-17, 3:6-23; Romans 3:23, 5:12-19, 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22

Salvation is a gift from God to man. Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works.  Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty of our sins and rose from the dead on the third day according to Scripture. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as Savior and surrendering to Him as Lord can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty.  

Acts 4:12; John 1:12, 3:3,16, 14:6; 1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 8:12, 9:23-28; 1 John 4:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Revelation 3:5; Philippians 3:20-21; Galatians 4:4-7, 5:22-23; Romans 4:4-5, 8:16-17; Ephesians 1:13-14, 2:8-9; 1 Peter 1:3-5

The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son of God and is present in the world to make mankind aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, conviction of sin, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to daily live under His control and by His power. We believe that God is sovereign in bestowing spiritual gifts. It is, however, the believer’s responsibility to submit the development and use of those gifts for God’s purposes. This is an act of worship to bring focused glory to God not personal glory.  

1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16, 11, 12:7,13, 14:1-33; Ephesians 1:13, 4:1-6, 7-8; Galatians 5:22-23, 25; Romans 12:1-8; 1 Peter 4:10-11; 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 14:16-17, 16:7-13; Acts 1:8

We believe that all true Christ-followers are eternally secure through God’s power. We believe that it’s the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation, without using their Christian liberty as an occasion for surrendering to sin.

John 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Romans 8:1, 38-39; 1 Corinthians 1:4-8; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11-14

The Church is the body of Christ and its purpose is to glorify and worship God, to present the Gospel to the world, and to make disciples by caring for and equipping God’s people for faithfulness and ministry.

1 Corinthians 12:12-28, 14:12; Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 4:11-16

Man was created to exist forever. He will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or in union with God trough forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally with him is eternal life. Heaven and hell are places of eternal existence. There will be a final judgment in which each person will stand at the judgment seat of Christ. Those whose names are written in the Book of Life will be deemed righteous through Christ’s righteousness and will enjoy God for eternity and those not found in the Book of Life will be separated from God for eternity.  

Matthew 25:31-46; John 2:25, 3:16; Romans 2:1-9, 6:23; 1 Corinthians 4; 1 John 5:11-12; Revelation 20:11-15, 21:1-4

We believe that all human beings are created by God and that each human bears His image. To be created in His image is to possess a value beyond compare. Nothing else in God’s creation has this distinction; it’s a privileged status reserved only for humankind. This means that every person, from conception to natural death, possesses inherent dignity and immeasurable value. This includes preborn children, elderly individuals, people with physical limitations or special needs of any kind, etc. Christians are called to value all human life in both their attitudes and their actions.  

Psalms 139:13-14; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:15, 41-42

 People matter to God; therefore, they matter to us. Every person is deserving of compassion, love, kindness, respect and dignity. Our beliefs on any topic do not provide grounds for bullying or hate. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes towards any individual are not in alignment with the Bible’s teachings, including The Great Commandment and The Great Commission.

Genesis 1:26-27; James 1:27, 2:1-4; Luke 10:25-37; Philippians 2:1-11; Psalm 8:4-5; Proverbs 14:31; Matthew 7:12, 25:40; 1 Peter 2:17

God calls Christians to serve him whether in the married state or in the state of sexually abstinent singleness. Marriage is neither a command for all believers or a God-ordained goal for all believers, and as such should never be held out as a measure or test for faithfulness to Christ. Faithful singleness is as noble a state as faithful marriage, whether it be a temporary state, a calling, or even an unsought circumstance.

Matthew 19:8-12; 1 Corinthians 7:1-40

  God created a place for oneness in relational, spiritual, emotional, and physical intimacy through marriage between one man and one woman. Although culture and customs have wavered in their definition of marriage, God alone has the ultimate authority regarding marriage relationships for believers. Marriage is clearly outlined throughout scripture for the purpose of understanding the relationship between the church (the bride of Christ) and Jesus (the bridegroom). The marriage bed is to be kept undefiled. Though sexual intimacy outside of marriage (one man and one woman) is sinful, the Gospel provides redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin and receive love and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.  

Genesis 2:18-24; Mark 10:5-9; 1 Corinthians 7:2-6; Ephesians 5:22-33; Hebrews 13:4; Revelation 21:2, 9; Matthew 5:31-32, 19:1-12; Ephesians 5:25-33

Stewardship of sexuality is a life-long responsibility for any and every believer. There is a difference between temptation (attraction), lust (fostering sexual desire), and unrepentant sin (action). Because of Christ, we do not have to be held captive by sexual immorality but can walk in His forgiveness, grace, and power on a daily basis.  

• Any sexual behavior or intimacy outside of marriage (between one man and one woman) is considered sexual immorality, which is identified in Scripture. This includes (equally): sexual intimacy within premarital relationships, same-sex relationships, bisexual relationships, polyamorous relationships, adultery, bestiality, incest, or pornography.  
• Because the human body is a creation of God where gender identity is biologically determined, disagreement with one’s biological sex (though a legitimate emotionally difficult experience), is regarded as an opportunity to trust God as the designer. Actions to embrace or adopt another gender identity other than the one biologically assigned by God are deemed to be in opposition to the Creator and therefore sinful.  
• Metro Community Church strives to be a safe place for any person sincerely struggling with sexual temptation of any kind. For those struggling with temptation and repenting of sin, we will provide grace,  love, care, and direction to encourage each of us to walk in God’s upward, inward, and outward love.

Genesis 1:27, 2:24; Matthew 15:19; 11:28-30, 19:1-9; Ephesians 5:31; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 10:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5; Romans 1:26-32; Galatians 5:16-17; Hebrews 2:17-18, 4:14-16, 13:4; Revelation 21:1-4