WHAT WE BELIEVE

At Southside Christian, we seek to be a community that embodies the heart of the New Testament Church. We hold to the core principles of the Restoration Movement, seeking unity in Christ based upon God’s communication to us through the words of Scripture. Our beliefs are rooted in the idea that the Bible is God’s inspired Word, and we strive to live out its teachings faithfully in all areas of life.

As Jesus called His first disciples to be on mission, sharing the good news that is the gospel, we are excited to share the good news of Jesus the saving King with our friends, neighbors, co-workers, and families today!

We believe God created all things and made human beings in his image, so that we could enjoy a relationship with him and each other. But we lost our way, through Satan’s influence. We are now spiritually dead, separated from God. Without his help, we gravitate toward sin and self-rule.

The gospel is God’s good news of reconciliation. It was promised to Abraham and David and revealed in Jesus’ life, ministry, teaching, and sacrificial death on the cross. The gospel is the saving action of the triune God. The Father sent the Son into the world to take on human flesh and redeem us.

Jesus came as the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. He ushered in the kingdom of God, died for our sins according to Scripture, was buried, and was raised on the third day. He defeated sin and death and ascended to heaven. He is seated at the right hand of God as Lord and he is coming back for his disciples.

Through the Spirit, we are transformed and sanctified. God will raise everyone for the final judgment. Those who trusted and followed Jesus by faith will not experience punishment for their sins and separation from God in hell. Instead, we will join together with God in the renewal of all things in the consummated kingdom. We will live together in the new heaven and new earth where we will glorify God and enjoy him forever.

THE BIBLE

We believe the Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God. To the best of our ability, we aim to allow God’s revelation to us to stand as the final standard by which we measure what we believe and what we teach. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 1 Peter 1:23-25)

GOD

We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus the Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. Each person of the Trinity is fully and equally God, united in purpose, yet distinct in role. (Matthew 28:19, John 10:30)

JESUS THE CHRIST

We believe that Jesus the Christ is the Son of God, both fully divine and fully human.He was born of a virgin, lived sinlessly, died for our sins, was buried, rose on the third day, and now reigns with God, the Father.Through His kingly reign, we have been given access to forgiveness and the hope of eternal life.(Matthew 1:18-25, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Romans 6:23)

SALVATION

We believe that salvation is a gift of God’s grace, received through faith in Jesus Christ. While salvation is not something we can earn through our own effort, those who have been saved will live in a way that reflects they have surrendered their lives to King Jesus.When we commit to trust and follow Him, we express this faith by repenting from sin, confessing His name, and being baptized by immersion in water for the forgiveness of sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.(Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 2:38)

THE CHURCH

We believe that the Church is the body of Christ, composed of all believers who are united by the common cause of following Jesus faithfully. The Church is a community of believers who come together for worship, fellowship, teaching, and service, with the mission to share the gospel, make disciples, and build up the body of Christ. As some have said, the Church is a place where everyone has a chance to belong, believe and become who God had called them to be. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13, Ephesians 4:11-16, Matthew 28:19-20)

BAPTISM

Baptism, as an expression of faith, is for the remission of sins. We uphold baptism as the normative means of entry into the life of discipleship. It marks our commitment to regularly die to ourselves and to live for Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. We believe God sovereignly saves as He sees fit, but we are bound by Scripture to uphold this teaching about surrendering to Jesus in faith through repentance, confession, and baptism.(Romans 6:3-4, Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 2:38)

COMMUNION

We believe that communion is a sacred practice instituted by Jesus for the sake of His followers. It is a time of reflection and fellowship with Christ, where believers partake of the bread and the cup, remembering His body and blood given for the forgiveness of our sins. We take communion every Sunday and all are welcome to participate if they choose. (Luke 22:19-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

DISCIPLESHIP AND MISSION

We believe the call to make disciples is at the heart of the Church’s mission. Jesus commanded His followers to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19-20). At Southside, we are committed to being disciples of Christ and to making disciples in our community and beyond. We do this by living out our faith in everyday life, sharing the gospel with those who have not yet heard, and equipping others for life and mission as they grow in their relationship with Jesus.

THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the presence of God, acting in the lives of disciples and in the world as well. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, grants new life to those who follow Jesus, and empowers disciples to live godly lives. The Spirit also equips believers with spiritual gifts for service in the body of Christ. (John 14:16-17, Acts 1:8, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11)

THE RETURN OF THE KING

We believe that King Jesus will return to earth in glory to judge the living and the dead. This event will bring about the fulfillment of God’s eternal kingdom, and believers will be rewarded with eternal life, while those who reject Christ will face eternal separation from God. (Matthew 24:30, Revelation 21:1-4, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

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