The Waters Church Statement of Faith

The authority of the Bible.

We believe that the Holy Bible is the inspired, God-breathed and infallible Word of God. We desire to live how the Bible tells us to live. The Bible, which is composed of 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, in its entirety originated with God and reflects the backgrounds, styles and vocabularies of the human authors. We hold that the Scriptures are infallible and inerrant in the original manuscripts. They have the unique, full and final authority on all matters of faith and practice and there is no other writing similarly inspired by God.”

Proverbs 30:5-6; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 4:12; Matthew 5:18; 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Jesus Christ is the only way to God the Father.

In John 14:6, Jesus said that HE IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE AND THAT NO ONE CAN COME TO THE FATHER BUT THROUGH HIM. We believe that our access to God the Father comes only through His Son, Jesus Christ. We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who took on the very nature of a servant and was made in human likeness by a miraculous conception and virgin birth. He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father and voluntarily atoned for the sins of the human race by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing justification for all who trust and believe in Him alone. Raising to life after three days, He conquered sin and death and appeared over a period of 40 days to His followers. He ascended into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of the Father, where He continually makes intercession for believers. He shall come again to earth, personally and visibly to consummate history and the eternal plan of God.

John 1:13, 18, 29; Psalm 2:7; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; 1 John 1:3; Hebrews 1:8-9; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Corinthians 15:3-6; Ephesians 1:6-8; Colossians 1:13-14; John 3:16

The Trinity.

We believe that there is only one true God who is revealed in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality.

Matthew 3:16-17; Luke 3:22; John 1:1-2; John 14:15-17; John 15:26

Salvation by faith not by works.

The central purpose of God’s revelation in Scripture is to call people into fellowship with Himself. Originally created to have fellowship with God, man defied God, choosing to go his own way, and was thus alienated from God because of sin and suffered the corruption of his nature. The salvation of mankind is wholly a work of God’s free and unmerited grace. It is never the result, in whole or in part, of human works of goodness, and it must be personally appropriated by repentance and faith in the finished work of the cross of Jesus Christ.

Jonah 2:9; Isaiah 53:6,10-11; John 10:27-29; John 3:16; Romans 3:24-25; Romans 5:8-9; Romans 8:38-39; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, 21; Galatians 2:16; 2 Peter 1:3; Ephesians 1:4-7; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 John 4:10; Philippians 1:6

Jesus’ Second Coming.

We believe that Jesus Christ is coming back to the physical earth a second time. believe that no man knows the day or the hour at which this event will occur. believe at some point throughout the “second coming events” that believers will ascend with Him to live eternally in heaven while non-believers will unfortunately be sent to eternal damnation in hell. also believe in the final judgment of all mankind given by God the Father. Furthermore, we do not hold fast to any one particular interpretation of an eschatological event as it relates to timing, order or millennial reigns. do believe in the one essential component which is the glorious return of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1:7; Matthew 25:46; Matthew 24:30-31; Matthew 24:36, 42-44; Revelations 20:11-15

Universal membership of the church.

The result of union with Jesus Christ is that all believers become members of His body, the church. re is one true church comprised of all those who trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Scripture commands believers to gather together and devote themselves to worship, prayer, the teaching of the Word, observance of Baptism and Communion as the sacramental ordinances established by Jesus Christ, fellowship, service to the body and outreach to the world. Under the leadership of pastors, who are given the responsibility to equip God’s people for ministry, all believers are called and gifted to fulfill Jesus’ Great Commission. We believe the instructions of Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20 embody what the mission of the church should be.

Matthew 18:18; Acts 1:4-5; Acts 2:46-47; Acts 11:15; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 1:22-23; Luke 22:19-20

Unity in the Church.

In the essentials we will have UNITY, in the non-essentials we will have LIBERTY. We will diligently preserve the unity of the spirit of peace and will ask each member to commit to this end. We believe in pursuing common ground toward the essential truths of scripture. In non-essentials we will have liberty to discuss and debate various scriptures and ministry philosophies amongst one another. We will strive to keep unity with each other and above everything else pursue love. Jesus made it very clear that the two greatest commandments are to love the Lord our God and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Additionally, one of Jesus’ greatest prayers is that the church would be one just as He and His Father are one. We believe unity in the essentials is critical if the church is to move forward. The pastor must promote and foster unity among the congregation. Anyone who will purposely cause dissension and division among the church should be addressed by an elder and/or pastor and will be scripturally encouraged to return to embracing the spirit of peace among one another.

Ephesians 4:1-16; John 17:23; Romans 15:5; Colossians 3:14; Psalms 133:1; 1 Peter 5:5b

The Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit, the third person in the Trinity, was sent into our world on the Day of Pentecost following the ascension of Jesus. He is always present and active, enlightening the minds of sinners to understand their need of a Savior and regenerating those who repent and believe in Jesus. We believe that when someone receives the free gift of salvation, he then also receives the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives assurance, strength and wisdom to every believer and uniquely endows each one with gifts for ministry. By faith and a fully surrendered life, the Holy Spirit fills the life of the believer with power over sin and in witness, evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit’s transforming work changes the life of the believer so that we look like Jesus.

Genesis 1:2; Matthew 1:18; John 3:5-7; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Ephesians 5:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:13

A true believer pursues a life of holiness and obedience to Jesus Christ.

We believe the essential accompaniment of a genuine saving relationship with Jesus Christ is a life of holiness and obedience, attained by believers as they submit to the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. The Holy Spirit guides believers in understanding and applying Scripture in all areas of daily life. He makes it possible for believers to lead a life of Christ-like character and bear fruit to the glory of the Father. It is God’s will for us to live Godly lives. Success in this life is being the best we can be for the glory of God. The greatest pursuit of life is to love the One True God with all our hearts, soul, minds and strength and our neighbor as ourselves. Holiness and obedience are obtained only through complete surrender to Jesus Christ.

Matthew 7:21-27; John 15:1-10; 1 Peter 1:15

Marriage and Human Sexuality.

Marriage has been instituted by God. This Church defines marriage as the exclusive covenantal union of a man and a woman in which such union is a lifetime commitment. A civil government’s sanction of a union will be recognized as a legitimate marriage by the Church only to the extent that it remains consistent with the definition found herein.

Legitimate sexual relations are exercised solely within marriage. Hence, sexual relations outside of marriage (referred to in the New Testament as “porneia”) including, but not limited to adultery, premarital sex, homosexuality, and pedophilia are inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible and the Church. Further, lascivious conduct, transgender behavior, and the creation, distribution or viewing of pornography are incompatible with the biblical witness.