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Live Offensively

Live Offensively Creed

Our Core Worldview Beliefs

About the Word of God

We believe the is what it says it is. It doesn't merely contain truth, it is absolute truth.

The Bible1 is the only sufficient, certain, infallible, inspired, and inerrant Word of the living God2 and the rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience3. It is the highest and ultimate moral authority/standard, so it is by nature self-attesting, self-testifying, and self-authenticating4. To disbelieve or disobey any part of the Bible is to disbelieve or disobey God Himself5. The Bible is necessary for knowledge of the gospel6, for maintaining spiritual life7, and for knowledge of God's will8.

About God

We believe God is who He says He is: the one and true Creator9 that exists, Yahweh, Jehovah, the Holy God of the Bible.

In the beginning, according to Genesis, God created the universe and all things in both the physical and spiritual realms out of nothing10. God can be known, but only through revelation. Even though God has revealed his existence in nature11, true knowledge of Him only comes by supernatural revelation, not human wisdom – because man is sinful12. Yet, we cannot know Him exhaustively13.

God is Holy14, in which He is15 immutable16, eternal17, infinite yet personal, omnipresent18, love and loving19, light20, spirit21, omniscient22, omnipotent/sovereign23, truthful24, faithful25, good26, just27, merciful28, gracious29, patient30, wrathful31, jealous32, invisible33, supreme34, perfect35, beautiful36, glorious37, and wise38.

Within the one being that is God, there exists eternally three co-equal and co-eternal persons, namely, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit39.

About Man

We believe life begins at conception, and every human being has been created in the image of God, which sets us apart from the rest of creation and gives our lives value40.

In addition to our value, because of the fall of Adam we have also become fallen, though we remain image bearers of God. Every person born since the fall of Adam possesses the sinful nature41. This means all men are naturally slaves to sin and are unable to come to Christ without God's grace42. Since all have sinned and transgressed God's law43, all are worthy of just punishment44. But, the gift of God is eternal life, peace, and freedom, which is found in Jesus the Christ45.

About Christ and the Holy Spirit

We believe Jesus Christ is who He claimed to be: Jesus of Nazareth, begotten, not created, God incarnate, Lord, the promised Messiah who has power not only to judge sinners, but to forgive sins and free people's hearts.

Jesus Christ was fully God and fully man in one person, and will be so forever46. He was born of a virgin47, had a real physical human body, mind, soul48, and never sinned49. He also possessed all the attributes of true deity50. This allowed Him to bear our sins on a cross and complete the Father's plan for salvation perfectly: mediating51, propitiating52, justifying53, redeeming54, adopting55, and liberating and healing56 on behalf of all who believe. He rose from the dead three days later57, conquering sin and promising eternal life for all who repent of their sin and trust in Him. He ascended to heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father58 and is coming again59!

The Holy Spirit is currently at work in the world, especially in the church, to manifest the active presence of God. As a part of the Trinity and in fulfilling promises given to us, He regenerates60, purifies61, reveals62, teaches63, unifies64, secures65, and empowers God's people66.

About Redemption

We believe salvation comes by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone67.

No man is able to obtain the redemption and salvation that is found in Christ Jesus apart from being born again, the Holy Spirit's work of regeneration68. What God demands and man cannot provide, Jesus provides and gives freely and sufficiently69.

When sinners repent of their sin and believe in Christ, the perfect righteousness of Christ is imputed to them so they stand justified and blameless before God most Holy70. Christ's atonement is therefore substitutionary, which means our unrighteousness is nailed to the cross with Christ71, we are forgiven, and we have true peace with God72. Thus, there is a double transaction, where our unrighteousness is imputed to the cross and His righteousness is imputed to us.

Not only does our status change, but also our condition. We are a new creation73, given a new heart with new desires and are able to live74, please, serve, and enjoy His character, presence, calling, kingdom, and creation.

Three Eternal Truths

We believe in three eternal truths75 that are key to understanding our lives and the world around us: things are not what they seem76, a battle is under way77, and we have a crucial role to play78.

Test Yourself

If You:

  • Understand you have broken God's commandments and stand guilty before Him,
  • Repent of your sin and ask for His gracious forgiveness,
  • Trust and believe in Jesus who was murdered and resurrected for you,

You're part of the family of God and we are all brothers and sisters in Christ! In fact, you're given incredible power by the Holy Spirit to change the world through living Godly, boldly, and thereby offensively each day.

If You:

  • Aren't ashamed of the gospel of Christ,
  • Are completely available for God,
  • Believe God can use you to change the world,

You're ready to fulfill the calling of living powerfully, boldly, and offensively for God!

References

If you have any questions about our creed, please contact us

  1. By Bible, we mean the 66-books found in the Old and New Testament Scriptures.
  2. By sufficiency, we mean the canon today contains all the words of God we need for salvation, trusting him perfectly, and obeying him. By infallibility and inerrancy, we mean God does not lie, His Word is trustworthy, unfailing, and does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact.
  3. II Timothy 3:15-17, Isaiah 8:20, Luke 16:29-31, Ephesians 2:20.
  4. II Peter 1:19-21, II Timothy 3:15-16, II Thessalonians 2:13, I John 5:9, John 17:17.
  5. John 15:20, Numbers 23:19, Proverbs 30:5, Psalm 12:6.
  6. Romans 10:13-17.
  7. Matthew 4:4, I Peter 2:2.
  8. Deuteronomy 29:29, Psalm 1:1-2; 119:1.
  9. Genesis 1:1, John 1:3, I Corinthians 8:6, Colossians 1:16, Hebrews 1:2.
  10. Genesis 1-2, Revelation 4:11, Hebrews 11:3, Psalm 33:6, 9.
  11. Romans 1:17-21, Psalm 19:1.
  12. I Corinthians 1:21;2:14, II Corinthians 4:3-4; John 1:18, Romans 1:18-25.
  13. Psalm 145:3; 139:6; 147:5, Romans 11:33.
  14. By holiness, we mean that He is separated from sin and devoted to seeking His own honor. Psalm 71:22; 78:41, Isaiah 1:4, Psalm 99:9.
  15. The listed attributes of God in this creed have been primarily compiled by Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology and A.W. Pink's Attributes of God.
  16. By mutability, we mean God is unchanging in his being, perfections, purposes, and promises, even while God acts and feels emotions and feels differently in response to different situations. Psalm 102:25-27, Malachi 3:6, James 1:17, Isaiah 46:9-11, Numbers 23:19, I Samuel 15:29.
  17. Psalm 90:2, Job 36:36, John 8:58.
  18. By omnipresent, we mean God does not have size or spatial dimensions and is present at every point of space with his whole being, yet God acts differently in different places. Genesis 1:1, Deuteronomy 10:14, Jeremiah 23:23-24, Psalm 139:7-10, I Kings 8:27, Colossians 1:17, Amos 9:1-4, Psalm 16:11, I Samuel 4:4, Colossians 2:9.
  19. I John 4:8, John 17:24, John 3:35, Galatians 2:20, Romans 5:8, I John 4:10, John 3:16.
  20. I John 1:5, John 8:12.
  21. John 4:24.
  22. By omniscient, we mean God fully knows Himself and all things actual and possible in one simple and eternal act. Job 37:16, I John 3:20, I Corinthians 2:10-11, Hebrews 4:13, Isaiah 46:9-10, Psalm 139:1-2, I Samuel 23:11-13, Matthew 11:21, Psalm 90:4.
  23. By omnipotence, we mean God is able to do all His holy will. Psalm 24:8, Genesis 18:14, Jeremiah 32:17, Ephesians 3:20, Matthew 19:26.
  24. By truthfulness, we mean that He is the true God, and that all His knowledge and words are both true and the final standard of truth. Jeremiah 10:10-11, John 17:3.
  25. By faithfulness, we mean God will always do what he has said and fulfill what He has promised. Numbers 23:19, II Samuel 7:28, Psalm 141:6, Proverbs 30:5.
  26. By goodness, we mean God is the final standard of good, and that all that God is and does is worthy of approval. Luke 18:19, Psalm 34:8; 100:5; 106:1.
  27. By righteousness/justice, we mean God always acts in accordance with what is right and is Himself the final standard of what is right. Deuteronomy 32:4, Genesis 18:25
  28. By mercy, we mean his goodness towards those in distress. Exodus 34:6, Psalm 103:8. II Samuel 24:14, Matthew 9:27, Romans 9:15.
  29. By grace, we mean his goodness toward those who continue to sin over a period of time, to those who deserve punishment. Exodus 34:6, Psalm 103:8, Romans 9:15. Psalm 119:132, I Peter 5:10, Romans 11:6, I Corinthians 15:10.
  30. By patience, we mean his goodness in withholding punishment toward those who sin over a period of time. Exodus 34:6, Psalm 103:8. Romans 2:4; 8:25, Exodus 34:6, Numbers 14:18, Psalm 86:15, Jonah 4:2, I Timothy 1:16.
  31. By wrath, we mean that God intensely hates all sin. Exodus 32:9-10
  32. By jealous, we mean that God continually protects his own honor. Isaiah 48:11, Exodus 20:5, Romans 1:18, Ephesians 2:3, Hebrews 3:11.
  33. By invisibility, we mean God's total essence, all of his spiritual being, will never be able to be seen by us, yet God still shows Himself to us through visible, created things.
  34. Romans 9:21-22, I Chronicles 29:11, II Chronicles 20:6, Job 23:13; 42:2, Proverbs 21:30.
  35. By perfect, we mean God completely possess all excellent qualities and lacks no part of any qualities that would be desirable for him. Matthew 5:48, Psalm 18:30.
  36. By beauty, we mean God is the sum of all desirable qualities. Psalm 27:4; 73:25.
  37. By glory, we mean God's glory is the created brightness that surrounds God's revelation of himself. Psalm 24:10; 104:1, Luke 2:9, Revelation 21:23.
  38. By wisdom, we mean God always chooses the best goals and the best means to those goals. Romans 16:27, Job 12:13, Psalm 104:24, I Corinthians 1:21, 27.
  39. This means God is Trinity. (The definition of the Trinity described in reference to this footnote was used in James White's book, The Forgotten Trinity). Jesus is 100% God (John 1:1-3, John 17:5, Galatians 1:1), the Holy Spirit is 100% God (Acts 5:3-5), and the Father is 100% God (John 6:27, I Corinthians 8:6). Each person has different roles in redemption, but the only distinctions between the members of the Trinity are in the ways they relate to each other and to creation. God is said to be one (Deuteronomy 4:35, Isaiah 46:9, I Corinthians 8:4-6, Ephesians 4:4-6, James 2:19) and three (Genesis 1:2, 27, Isaiah 9:6; 48:16) at the same time. The Trinity is a mystery, not a contradiction, because God is one in being, three in persons. While the “Trinity” is never mentioned in the Bible, it is clearly evident in Scripture (I Corinthians 13:14, Matthew 28:19).
  40. By image of God, we mean man is like God and represents God. Genesis 1:26; 5:3.
  41. Romans 5:12-21, Ephesians 2:1-5, Psalm 51:5; 58:3.
  42. John 8:34,Genesis 6:5, Genesis 8:21, Ecclesiastes 9:3, Jeremiah 17:9, Mark 7:21-23, John 3:19, Romans 8:7, 8, I Corinthians 2:14, Ephesians 4:17-19, Ephesians 5:8, Titus 1:15, John 8:44, Ephesians 1:1-2, II Timothy 2:25, 26, I John 3:10; 5:19, Titus 3:3, Romans 3:9-12; 6:20, John 6:44, Isaiah 53:6, 64:6, James 3:2, 8.
  43. Romans 3:23, James 2:10.
  44. Romans 6:23.
  45. Ibid.
  46. Colossians 1:19; 2:9, Matthew 1:23, Revelation 5:13, I Corinthians 8:6, Acts 1:11.
  47. Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:35, Galatians 4:4-5.
  48. John 4:6, Luke 2:40, Matthew 4:2, Luke 24:42, John 16:28, Luke 2:52, John 11:35; 12:27; 13:21.
  49. John 15:10, II Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 4:15, Luke 4:13.
  50. Matthew 8:26-27, John 2:1-11, Matthew 8:27, Mark 2:8, John 1:48, John 6:64, Matthew 28:20, John 21:17, John 2:19, John 10:17-18, Hebrews 7:16, Philippians 2:9-11, Hebrews 1:6, Revelation 5:13, Mark 2:5-7.
  51. Mark 10:45; 1 Tim. 2:5-6.
  52. Romans 3:24-26, Hebrews 2:17, I John 2:1-2.
  53. Romans 3:24-28; 5:1-2, II Corinthians 5:21.
  54. Romans 3:24, Colossians 1:14, Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 9:12, 1 Peter 1: 18-19, Revelation 5:9.
  55. Galatians 4:3-7, Ephesians 1:1-4.
  56. Isaiah 61:1.
  57. Matthew 28:1-20, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-53, John 20:1-25.
  58. Acts 1:9-11, Acts 7:55-56, Hebrews 1:3, Ephesians 1:20-21.
  59. I Thessalonians 4:17; 5:23, James 5:7, Hebrews 9:28, Revelation 22:20.
  60. Titus 3:5, John 6:63, I John 5:1, Romans 8:11.
  61. I Corinthians 6:11, Titus 3:5, Galatians 5:22-23, II Thessalonians 2:13, I Peter 1:2.
  62. II Peter 1:21, Numbers 11:25-26, John 1:32, Acts 2:2-3, I Corinthians 12:7-11, Matthew 4:1, Galatians 5:16-26.
  63. John 14:26, Luke 12:12, I Corinthians 2:12.
  64. Acts 2:44-47, II Corinthians 13:14, Philippians 2:1-2, I Corinthians 12:7-13, Colossians 3:14.
  65. II Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 4:30, Romans 6:37-65, Romans 8:29-30; 33.
  66. Numbers 27:18, Judges 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 13:25, Exodus 31:3, Isaiah 11:2, Matthew 3:16, Acts 1:8, Luke 4:14; 4:36.
  67. Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:9-10, John 3:16, Acts 16:31; 1 Tim. 1:15-16; 1 Pet. 1:8-9.
  68. Titus 3:5, John 3:6-7, I John 5:1.
  69. II Corinthians 5:21.
  70. See previous references on what Christ accomplished.
  71. Colossians 2:14.
  72. Romans 5:1-2.
  73. Galatians 6:15.
  74. Romans 6:7, 11, Ezekiel 36:26.
  75. While these three truths are not purely exegetically derived, they are certainly implied and supported throughout divine Scripture.
  76. Genesis 28:12-16, Luke 24:13-32, I John 5:19, II Corinthians 3:15; 4:3-6.
  77. Ephesians 6:10-11, John 10:10.
  78. Romans 10:14, Ephesians 2:10, I Peter 3:15.