OUR BELIEFS
At Arrows Church, we understand that there is room for differing interpretations in what we consider the “non-essentials” of the faith. There are some “essential" beliefs however, we feel like it is important to agree on in order to be an integral part of Arrows Church, these include:
The Bible
The Bible is God’s Word to all humanity. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is our authoritative source of truth in an otherwise all-inclusive, anything-goes, truth-deficient culture. It is inspired by God and without error in its original form. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; John 17:17)
God
We believe in one God who exists in three distinct persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). To illustrate it, you and I are one in person and also one in being. God however is different, He is one in being and three in person. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 2:9; Acts 5:3-4)
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ (the second member of the Trinity) became flesh to reveal God to man and to become the Savior of the lost world. He accomplished this by dying on the cross and rising again on the third day. This proved that He not only had power over sin, but over death itself. (John 1:1; 14; 18; Luke 1:35; Romans 3:24-26; 4:25; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:5-8; 1 Timothy 2:5)
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make humanity aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation and remains as a guarantee of our inheritance. He provides Christians with power for living, gifts for accomplishing who God created us to be, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. (John 16:7-11; John 3:8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 13; John 14:16-17; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30; 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19)
Humanity
We believe God created humankind male and female to reflect and bear his image. As such, human beings of every ethnicity, age, ability, as well as the pre-born deserve dignity, protection, honor, respect, and Christian love. Because of Adam and Eve’s free choice to sin, God’s image in all humankind has become distorted and relationship with God has become disrupted. We believe that human gender and sex are a gift from God and should not be redefined or altered. (Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 139:13-14; Romans 1:18-27; Romans 5:12; Colossians 3:12-14; Titus 3:1-5; Revelation 7:9)
Salvation
Salvation is a “free” gift from God to us. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement, determination, or good works. It is only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness that we can be saved from the penalty of sin. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his/her life by faith. This salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. (John 10:27-30; 14:6; Acts 4:12; 13:38-39; Romans 6:23; 8:1, 29-30, 38-39; 10:9-10; Ephesians 1:4-5; 2:8-10)
The Church
We believe the Church, the Body and Bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism, made up of all born-again persons of this present age. We believe the Church began at Pentecost and that a believer is placed into the Church by the baptizing work of the Holy Spirit. We believe the local church is an assembly of professed believers in Jesus Christ who are voluntarily joined together in one locality for the purposes of worship, study of the Word of God, observance of the ordinances, Christian fellowship, equipping for and practice of Kingdom service, specifically stewarding our lives for the purpose of fulfilling the Great Commission. The Church exists to worship and glorify God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The ministry of the Church is an extension of the ministry of Jesus in the power of the Spirit. We believe that the Church is the body of Christ sent into the world to demonstrate the love, hope, and glory of God. (Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 1:1-2; Ephesians 4:11-13; Matthew 16:18; 28:19-20)
Baptism
We believe a person must first exercise faith in Jesus Christ, believing that He died for their sins, was buried, and rose from the dead. An infant or person who does not understand God’s plan of salvation can not make that kind of commitment. Baptism by water immersion is the best illustration of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ on our behalf. Baptism should also be a celebration for the new believer and the church family! (Mark 1:9; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41; 8:12-13; 18:8; Romans 6:4; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 2:12)
Communion
We believe communion is a remembrance and a celebration. When we take communion we remember Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for our sin. The bread and cup represent Christ’s body and blood broken and poured out for us. Communion is also a celebration that Jesus will return for us and take us to be with Him for eternity. (Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
Christian Marriage
We believe that Christian marriage is a sacred institution ordained by God for the well-being and propagation of humankind. It is a covenant representing the spiritual and physical union into which one man and one woman may enter for the glory of God, symbolizing the relationship of Christ to his church. As the sign of this covenant, sexual activity is reserved exclusively for the marriage relationship. According to the scriptural ideal, marriage requires sacrificial love and faithfulness to each other for life. (Genesis 1:27-28; Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:1-12; Ephesians 5:21-33; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; Hebrews 13:4)
The Bible is God’s Word to all humanity. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is our authoritative source of truth in an otherwise all-inclusive, anything-goes, truth-deficient culture. It is inspired by God and without error in its original form. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; John 17:17)
God
We believe in one God who exists in three distinct persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). To illustrate it, you and I are one in person and also one in being. God however is different, He is one in being and three in person. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 2:9; Acts 5:3-4)
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ (the second member of the Trinity) became flesh to reveal God to man and to become the Savior of the lost world. He accomplished this by dying on the cross and rising again on the third day. This proved that He not only had power over sin, but over death itself. (John 1:1; 14; 18; Luke 1:35; Romans 3:24-26; 4:25; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:5-8; 1 Timothy 2:5)
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make humanity aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation and remains as a guarantee of our inheritance. He provides Christians with power for living, gifts for accomplishing who God created us to be, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. (John 16:7-11; John 3:8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 13; John 14:16-17; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30; 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19)
Humanity
We believe God created humankind male and female to reflect and bear his image. As such, human beings of every ethnicity, age, ability, as well as the pre-born deserve dignity, protection, honor, respect, and Christian love. Because of Adam and Eve’s free choice to sin, God’s image in all humankind has become distorted and relationship with God has become disrupted. We believe that human gender and sex are a gift from God and should not be redefined or altered. (Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 139:13-14; Romans 1:18-27; Romans 5:12; Colossians 3:12-14; Titus 3:1-5; Revelation 7:9)
Salvation
Salvation is a “free” gift from God to us. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement, determination, or good works. It is only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness that we can be saved from the penalty of sin. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his/her life by faith. This salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. (John 10:27-30; 14:6; Acts 4:12; 13:38-39; Romans 6:23; 8:1, 29-30, 38-39; 10:9-10; Ephesians 1:4-5; 2:8-10)
The Church
We believe the Church, the Body and Bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism, made up of all born-again persons of this present age. We believe the Church began at Pentecost and that a believer is placed into the Church by the baptizing work of the Holy Spirit. We believe the local church is an assembly of professed believers in Jesus Christ who are voluntarily joined together in one locality for the purposes of worship, study of the Word of God, observance of the ordinances, Christian fellowship, equipping for and practice of Kingdom service, specifically stewarding our lives for the purpose of fulfilling the Great Commission. The Church exists to worship and glorify God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The ministry of the Church is an extension of the ministry of Jesus in the power of the Spirit. We believe that the Church is the body of Christ sent into the world to demonstrate the love, hope, and glory of God. (Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 1:1-2; Ephesians 4:11-13; Matthew 16:18; 28:19-20)
Baptism
We believe a person must first exercise faith in Jesus Christ, believing that He died for their sins, was buried, and rose from the dead. An infant or person who does not understand God’s plan of salvation can not make that kind of commitment. Baptism by water immersion is the best illustration of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ on our behalf. Baptism should also be a celebration for the new believer and the church family! (Mark 1:9; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41; 8:12-13; 18:8; Romans 6:4; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 2:12)
Communion
We believe communion is a remembrance and a celebration. When we take communion we remember Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for our sin. The bread and cup represent Christ’s body and blood broken and poured out for us. Communion is also a celebration that Jesus will return for us and take us to be with Him for eternity. (Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
Christian Marriage
We believe that Christian marriage is a sacred institution ordained by God for the well-being and propagation of humankind. It is a covenant representing the spiritual and physical union into which one man and one woman may enter for the glory of God, symbolizing the relationship of Christ to his church. As the sign of this covenant, sexual activity is reserved exclusively for the marriage relationship. According to the scriptural ideal, marriage requires sacrificial love and faithfulness to each other for life. (Genesis 1:27-28; Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:1-12; Ephesians 5:21-33; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; Hebrews 13:4)