WE BELIEVE
We Believe, we’re made in God's image, which means we’re like Him in many ways, except that He is God and we are not. He’s loving, just and desires a relationship with us. As individuals with free will, we have the freedom to respond to the relationship God initiated with us or not.
We’re free to choose to live outside of the life God has for us, as it’s explained in the Bible. In other words, our choices either move us closer to God or further away from Him. Even the smallest decisions that separate us from God is called sin; Sin is Sin - no matter how big or small. We want you to understand that we ALL sin, and we’ll continue to do so. However even thru our sinful nature, God WILL love us and passionately pursue a deep relationship with us.
God loves us so much, that he sent his only son, Jesus, to die so the rest of us could live. The cost of sin was separation from God—spiritual death—until Jesus came and His death paid everyone’s debt of sin (before, now and future). That is some serious love, even perfect love! This gift from God is waiting for anyone who wants to receive it. That is called GRACE. God gives grace freely and abundantly to anyone who will accept the invitation. (Ephesians 2:8-9).
As for us, we need only to decide whether or not to believe and receive His unconditional love. If we decide to believe it, we have available to us a new, full life that can start right now and never stop.
On your walk to find faith it is ok to have questions and even doubt along the way, that is why SCC will be with you on your journey. Questions are always welcome and we will find the answers together. Although God reveals things to us as He walks with us, He remains mysterious and wonderful.
As a family of sinners, we welcome everyone at Shelby Christian
Specific Beliefs:
THE TRINITY - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit
We Believe, there is only one God, Creator and Lord of everything. He is infinitely perfect, all power and all-knowing and eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (The Trinity). Three distinct persons of the Trinity are all fully God; all of God’s attributes are true of each person, and together they are one God. While the word “trinity” never appears in Scripture, it is an accepted doctrine based on the Bible’s teachings. We see throughout Scripture, evidence of the Trinity.
Genesis 1:26 | Matthew 3:16-17
GOD THE FATHER -THE FIRST MEMBER OF THE TRINITY
We Believe, God the Father is the Creator, Sustainer and Ruler of all things. He is compassionate, loving and sovereign; meaning He has no limitations. He hears and answers prayers. He calls all people to believe in Him and He can be intimately known, through his Son, Jesus Christ. He saves from sin and eternal death, as he calls each person who comes to Him through His son.
JESUS CHRIST - the Son of God.
We Believe, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He came to earth fully God and fully man through a miraculous conception and virgin birth conceived by the Holy Spirit. He lived a perfect and sinless life to be a holy and worthy sacrifice. He was tempted - as we are tempted, He suffered as we have suffered, yet He did not fall into sin.
He came to serve and not to be served. Jesus was betrayed, beaten, mocked, and crucified on the cross where He died. Jesus offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on a cross. Jesus’ life was not taken from Him by anyone; He gave it as a willing sacrifice for everyone. Three days later Jesus rose from the dead, showing his power over sin and death.
After He rose from the dead, He was on earth for 40 days before He ascended into Heaven to the right hand of the Father. He is the only One who can provide access and reconciliation between God and people. Jesus will return visibly to Earth one day to rule and reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Those who have believed in Him and baptized, will be united with God eternally in Heaven. Those who have not believed in Him will be separated from God in Hell due to their sin.
John 1:1-5 | Philippians 2:5-11 | Acts 1:9-11 | John 14:2-3
THE HOLY SPIRIT
We Believe, the Holy Spirit is present in the world to make men 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 (bears witness about Jesus), and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under his control daily. He is the presence of God - living inside each follower of Jesus.
He empowers those who follow Jesus in different forms of ministry; He gives different spiritual gifts to followers of Jesus for the purpose of ministry. He empowers prayer. He gives strength and empowers followers of Jesus to overcome spiritual opposition. He sanctifies followers of Jesus. He convicts the world of sin. He guides. He gives assurance of salvation to followers of Jesus.
Acts 2:38 | Romans 8:9-11 | John 14:16-17 | John 14:26
THE BIBLE
We Believe, the Bible was 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 is truth without any mixture of error. The Bible is the authoritative and inerrant Word of God; it is God’s revelation about Himself to man. It is historically accurate and internally consistent, telling one story of redemption pointing to Jesus Christ.
God used over 40 different authors to write the 66 books of the Bible; all being divinely directed by the Holy Spirit. The Bible is the living Word of God, applicable to all time, and is not only the measure and standard of truth, but truth itself.
CHURCH
We Believe, the purpose of a local church is to organize Christians to reach unbelievers with the message of salvation, serve as a corporate body for Worship of God, provide a way for Christians to do life and be nurtured, with each other, and to grow to maturity in faith. We encourage each other in the development of gifts and talents for godly service.
SANCTITY OF LIFE
We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of immeasurable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, children who are orphaned, those who experience physical or mental challenges, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life.
MARRIAGE AND GENDER
We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union. We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.
We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person. As male or female, these two distinct, complementary genders, together reflect the image and nature of God.
Genesis 2: 20-24 | 1 Corinthians 6:18-20
FINAL AUTHORITY FOR MATTERS OF BELIEF AND CONDUCT
The statement of beliefs and faith (herein) does not exhaust the extent of these writings. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of Shelby Christians belief, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, are led by our elder and deacon team at Shelby Christian and have final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.