What We Believe
"We are ancient in faith, Protestant in conviction, charismatic in expression, and centered on Jesus Christ.”
Historic Christian Faith
At The Dwelling Place Church, we joyfully affirm the historic Christian faith as expressed in the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed. These ancient confessions summarize the essential beliefs of historic Christian faith and unite us with followers of Jesus Christ throughout the centuries and around the world.
Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell*.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
(*he descended to the dead)
(*that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places)
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages,
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made; of the same essence as the Father.
Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven;
he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and was made human.
Our Protestant Heritage: The Five Solas
The Dwelling Place Church affirms the historic Protestant theology summarized in the Five Solas of the Reformation. These convictions express our belief that salvation is accomplished by God's grace alone, received through faith alone, found in Christ alone, revealed through Scripture alone, and ultimately directed to the glory of God alone.
The Five Solas summarize the central convictions that shaped Protestant theology during the Reformation and continue to affirm the biblical foundations of the Christian faith. They serve as a reminder that all we believe and practice is grounded in the authority of God's Word, centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ, and lived for the glory of God.
Scripture Alone (Sola Scriptura)
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired, authoritative, sufficient, and trustworthy Word of God. Scripture is the final authority for faith, doctrine, and Christian living, and all teachings of the Church must be tested and submitted to the truth revealed in God's Word.
Faith Alone (Sola Fide)
We believe sinners are justified before God by grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ. Our right standing before God is not earned through human works or merit, but is received through trusting in the finished work of Christ. Genuine faith produces a transformed life marked by obedience and good works.
Grace Alone (Sola Gratia)
We believe salvation is entirely a gift of God's grace. Because humanity is unable to save itself, God freely extends mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ, calling people into salvation not because of their own goodness, but because of His love and kindness.
Christ Alone (Solus Christus)
We believe Jesus Christ alone is the mediator between God and humanity and the only source of salvation. Through His incarnation, sinless life, sacrificial death, resurrection, and reign, Christ has accomplished redemption for all who believe in Him.
To the Glory of God Alone (Soli Deo Gloria)
We believe all things exist for the glory of God. Salvation, worship, ministry, and every aspect of the Christian life are ultimately directed toward honoring and magnifying the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Our Authority and Statement of Faith
We gladly affirm the historic creeds as faithful summaries of essential Christian truth and embrace the Five Solas as a historic expression of Protestant conviction. These affirmations reflect our commitment to the truth revealed in God's Word, which we believe to be the inspired, authoritative, and final standard for all matters of faith, doctrine, and Christian living. Our Statement of Faith is rooted in these biblical convictions and expresses the beliefs that shape the worship, ministry, and mission of The Dwelling Place Church.
The Holy Scriptures
We believe that the Holy Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God.
The Scriptures are God-breathed and were written by human authors as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. As God's written Word, they are completely trustworthy in all that they affirm and are the final authority for faith, doctrine, and Christian living. Through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, believers are enabled to understand and faithfully apply God's Word.
The One True God: The Trinity
We believe there is one living and true God, eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, holy, loving, just, and worthy of all worship. God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things and exists eternally as one God in three distinct Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
We believe in the Trinity: one God, eternally existing in three Persons who are co-equal, co-eternal, and one in essence. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit perfectly share the same divine nature and are worthy together of all glory, honor, and worship.
God, The Father
We believe God the Father is eternal, holy, loving, and perfect in all His ways. As Creator and Sustainer of all things, He reigns with sovereign authority over heaven and earth and faithfully accomplishes His good purposes.
In His great love, He sent His Son for the redemption of the world, and through Jesus Christ He adopts into His family all who repent and believe the gospel. As our heavenly Father, He lovingly provides for, disciplines, and preserves His children, who are called to live for His glory.
God, The Son Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, proclaimed the Kingdom of God, performed miracles, died on the cross as the atoning sacrifice for our sins, accomplishing our redemption, rose bodily from the dead on the third day, ascended into heaven, and now reigns at the Father's right hand.
He will personally and visibly return to establish the fullness of His Kingdom.
God, The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is fully God and actively works in the world to glorify Jesus Christ. He is the Comforter, our helper and teacher; He is the one who leads us into all truth. He convicts people of sin, regenerates those who believe, indwells every Christian, sanctifies believers, empowers them for holy living and ministry, distributes spiritual gifts according to His will, and equips the Church for worship, witness, and service.
We believe the gifts of the Holy Spirit described in the New Testament continue to be available today for the building up of the Church and the advancement of God's Kingdom. These gifts should always operate in love, humility, and biblical order.
Humanity
We believe humanity was created in the image of God with inherent dignity, value, and purpose, to know and glorify Him. Through Adam's sin, humanity fell from fellowship with God, bringing sin and death into the world. As a result, every person is born with a sinful nature and is unable to restore themselves apart from God's saving grace.
Though the image of God has been corrupted by sin, it has not been erased; therefore, every person possesses inherent worth and can be reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Salvation
We believe salvation is the free gift of God's grace, received through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus accomplished complete redemption for all who believe.
Salvation includes forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, justification, regeneration, adoption into God's family, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the promise of eternal life.
We believe that genuine faith produces a transformed life characterized by repentance, obedience, and continual growth in Christlikeness. Good works are the fruit of salvation and not its basis.
Baptism in the Holy Spirit
We believe that believers may experience a distinct empowering work of the Holy Spirit for witness, ministry, and service. This empowerment equips Christians to boldly proclaim the gospel and minister in the power of God.
We believe that Scripture describes various evidences of the Spirit's work, including spiritual gifts and transformed character. We do not teach that any single spiritual gift is the required evidence of the Spirit's fullness.
Sanctification
We believe that every believer is called to continual spiritual growth through the work of the Holy Spirit. As Christians yield to God's Word and Spirit, they are progressively transformed into the image of Christ.
We believe God calls His people to pursue holiness in every area of life while depending daily upon His grace.
Christian Living
We believe believers are called to live lives that glorify God through faith, obedience, love, humility, and service.
Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Christians are called to pursue holiness, love their neighbors, care for those in need, forgive others, and faithfully represent Christ in the world.
The Church
We believe the Church is the Body of Christ, composed of all who have been united to Him through faith and regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Christ alone is the Head of the Church. The Church exists to worship God, proclaim the gospel, make disciples, encourage one another, and demonstrate God's Kingdom.
Through the Holy Spirit, every believer is gifted for ministry, and God appoints leaders to equip His people for service. We believe Christ will preserve His Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Mission
We believe Jesus Christ has commissioned His Church to make disciples of all nations by proclaiming the gospel, baptizing believers, and teaching them to obey all that He has commanded. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we bear witness to the Kingdom of God in word and deed through lives of holiness, compassionate service, and faithful gospel proclamation.
Until Christ returns, the Church is entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation, inviting all people to repentance, faith, and new life in Jesus Christ.
The Ordinances
Water Baptism
We believe Jesus Christ commanded water baptism for all who believe in Him. We practice believer's baptism as a public confession of faith and an act of obedience to Christ. Water baptism symbolizes our union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection, testifying to the new life we have received through His saving grace.
Though baptism does not impart salvation, it is a sacred ordinance by which believers publicly identify with Christ and with His Church.
The Lord's Supper
We believe the Lord's Supper is a sacred ordinance instituted by Jesus Christ for His Church. Through the bread and the cup, believers remember and proclaim Christ's death, celebrate His resurrection, and anticipate His return.
While the elements remain bread and cup, we believe Christ is truly present with His people by the Holy Spirit, strengthening and nourishing believers as they receive the Lord's Supper in faith. We therefore partake with reverence, thanksgiving, and joyful expectation.
Spiritual Gifts
We believe every believer has been given spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit for the common good and the building up of the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit distributes these gifts according to His will, equipping every believer for faithful service and ministry.
We believe the gifts of the Holy Spirit continue to operate in the Church today and are to be exercised in love, humility, and submission to the authority of Scripture, always glorifying Jesus Christ, strengthening His Church, and advancing His Kingdom.
Spiritual Warfare
We believe the Christian life involves a continual spiritual conflict against sin, the flesh, the world, and the powers of darkness. Jesus Christ has overcome Satan through His death and resurrection, and believers share in His victory through faith. Therefore, we are called to stand firm by putting on the whole armor of God, abiding in His Word, praying in the Spirit and according to God's Word, and walking in obedience to Christ.
Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we resist the devil with confidence, knowing that God is faithful to preserve and strengthen His people.
Divine Healing
We believe Jesus Christ revealed the compassion and power of God through His ministry of healing and that He continues to minister healing to His people today. Through the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit, believers are encouraged to pray in faith for the healing of the sick, following the biblical exhortation to call upon the Lord and pray for one another.
We believe God hears and responds to prayer according to His wisdom and sovereign purposes, and we trust Him as the source of all healing, restoration, and wholeness.
Marriage, Sexuality, and Human Dignity
We believe every person is created in the image of God and possesses inherent dignity, value, and worth. God created humanity as male and female and established marriage as a lifelong covenant between one biological man and one biological woman, with sexual intimacy as a gift to be enjoyed within that covenant. We believe God's design for marriage and sexuality reflects His good purposes for humanity.
As a Church, we are called to uphold biblical truth while extending the grace, compassion, and love of Christ to all people, inviting them to experience forgiveness, transformation, and new life through Jesus Christ.
The Return of Christ
We believe Jesus Christ will personally, visibly, and gloriously return in fulfillment of His promises. His coming is the blessed hope of the Church, calling believers to live in faithfulness, holiness, and joyful expectation.
At His return, Christ will judge the living and the dead, bring His Kingdom to its fullness, raise the dead, and make all things new. We eagerly await the day when He will reign forever and God's redemptive plan will be fully accomplished.
Resurrection and Eternal Destiny
We believe there will be a bodily resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. Those who have trusted in Jesus Christ will be raised to everlasting life, enjoying the fullness of God's presence and the inheritance prepared for His people.
Those who reject God's gracious offer of salvation will face final judgment and eternal separation from Him. We affirm that every person will stand before Christ, whose judgment is perfectly just, holy, and true.
The New Creation
We believe God will bring His redemptive work to completion by creating a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells. Sin, death, sorrow, and suffering will be no more, and God will dwell with His people forever.
In the joy of His presence, believers will worship Him, reign with Christ, and delight in the fullness of His eternal Kingdom, where all things are made new.
These beliefs represent the biblical convictions that guide The Dwelling Place Church as we seek to know God, follow Jesus Christ, walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, and make His presence known in our community and throughout the world.