We believe that all the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in their original writings. The Bible contains all the words of God that we need in order to completely know and trust Him; and is the final authority and standard for faith and practice – sufficient for counsel in every issue of life. (Psalm 119:97-104; Psalm 119:160; Matthew 4:4; Matthew 5:18, 5:46-47; I Thessalonians 2:13; II Timothy 3:15-16; Hebrews 4:12)
We believe there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory; that this triune God created all, upholds all, and governs all. (John 1:1-3; John 17:3; Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 3:22)
We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love; that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; that He hears and answers prayer; and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (John 14:12-14)
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31, 35), His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; I Peter 2:22), His miracles and teachings (Acts 2:22; 10:38), His substitutionary, atoning death (I Corinthians 15:3; II Corinthians 5:21), bodily resurrection and ascension into heaven (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; I Corinthians 15:4); perpetual intercession for His people (Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:25-26), and personal, visible return to earth (Acts 1:9-11). We believe that He is one and the same as God. He was fully human and fully God. (John 1:1-14)
We believe the Holy Spirit was sent to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower in ministry all who believe in Christ. We believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that He is an abiding Helper, Teacher, and Guide. We believe that Jesus Christ baptizes the seeking believer with the Holy Spirit and power for service, either at the time of, or subsequent to, regeneration, which is a separate work from the indwelling Spirit for salvation. (John 14:26; John 16:13-15)
We believe in the present day ministry of the Holy Spirit, the baptism with the Holy Spirit, and in the exercise of all biblical gifts of the Spirit as reflected through the fruit of that same Spirit, in the Holy Spirit, who came forth from the Father and Son. (Mark 16:17; Acts 2:4; 10:46; 19:6; Galatians 5:22-23; I Corinthians 12 and 14)
We believe all people are by nature separated from God and responsible for their own sin, but that salvation, redemption, and forgiveness are freely offered to all by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. When a person repents of sin and accepts Jesus Christ as his/her personal Lord and Savior, trusting Him to save, that person is immediately born again – his/her sins are forgiven, and that person becomes a child of God, destined to spend eternity with the Lord. (Mark 16:16; Acts 4:12; Acts 16:30-31; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:1-9; Romans 6:22-23; Romans 10:9-10)
Man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God. Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life. (Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; II Corinthians 5:17; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7)
Jesus established His church in Matthew 16:18, gave His followers who became the first church a “great commission” in Matthew 28:19-20, and empowered His church in Acts 2:4.
The church, ecclesia, describes an assembly or company of Christians in the following ways: The whole body of Christians, world-wide, who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; or a local church constituting a company of Christians gathering for worship, prayer, ministering to one another, teaching God’s Word and being a light to the lost world (Matthew 5:14). The “church” is also referred to in scripture as “the body of Christ.” (Acts 2:42-47; I Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 4:12)
In I Timothy 3:15 the Apostle Paul calls the church, “the pillar and ground of the truth.” Truly local churches that are committed to truth in obedience to God’s Word are the hope of the world
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ committed two ordinances to the Church:
- baptism, and
- the Lord’s Supper.
We believe in baptism by immersion for children and adults who receive Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47, 48; Romans 6:4)
The Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements of bread and the fruit of the vine, is the symbol
expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4); a memorial of His suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26); a prophecy of His second coming (1 Corinthians 11:26) and is open for all believers in Jesus Christ to receive.
Summit Springs Church is committed to the Biblical example of local church elders to provide leadership committed to integrity and accountability, and give oversight for the various functions of the church including establishing doctrine and church policies, and assist in pastoral oversight of the congregation. (I Timothy 3:1-16; Titus 1:5-9)
We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and lost – the saved to eternal life in heaven (Matthew 25:34; John 14:2; II Corinthians 5:1; Revelation 2:7), and the lost to eternal torment in hell in conscious separation from God (Matthew 8:11; 10:28; 13:49-50; Mark 9:47-48; Luke 12:5; Revelation 21:8).
We believe in the rapture of the church and the pre-millennial return of the Lord Jesus Christ, the “blessed hope” – the Second Coming of Christ with His saints to rule the earth, which will be personal and visible. (Isaiah 11:6-9; Matthew 24; Acts 1:9-11; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 1:7; 19:11-14; 20:1-6)
Societies and cultures change their values, but God’s Word does not change. Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever.” Therefore, Summit Springs Church believes God’s Word has the answer to every life issue because God is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 18:8)
Specifically, relating to current controversial cultural issues, we believe in God’s creative order for man – that God created mankind male and female (Genesis 1:26-28). God established the covenant of marriage between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5; Romans 1:18-32; Ephesians 5:31).
All sexual relationships, homosexual or heterosexual, outside the Biblical covenant of marriage are considered sinful in the eyes of God (I Thessalonians 4:3-8; I Corinthians 6:15-20).
We also believe in the sanctity of life for the unborn and that abortion destroys human life. (Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 139:13,16; Galatians 1:15)