What We Believe

Elberton Christian exists to connect people with Christ

We believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, the Son of the living God, lived as God in human form.  We believe that the virgin born Son of God died for our sins, was buried, rose from the dead, ascended into Heaven and will come again to reclaim His church.  We believe that Jesus was both fully God and fully man.
(Philippians 2:5-7; John 1:1, John 1:14;
John 8:58; John 14:9; Colossians 2:9)

We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, the written record of the supernatural revelation of God to man, absolute in its authority, complete in its revelation, final in its content, and without any error in its teaching.
(II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21)

We believe in the historical creation of man (Genesis 1:27)

We believe in the sanctity of life and that life begins at conception (Psalm 139:13-16)

We believe that all people are born with a sinful nature
(Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:23)

We believe in the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman. We believe that the homosexual lifestyle is outside of God’s plan for His people.
(Genesis 2:24; Jeremiah 29:6; Isaiah 62:5, Leviticus 18:22; 20:13)

We believe in the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ on the cross to atone for the sins of mankind.  
(Isaiah 53:3-6; II Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:8)
 
We believe in the literal, bodily resurrection of Christ from the dead as prophesied.
(I Corinthians 15:1-4)
 
We believe in the literal return of Jesus Christ as promised.
(John 14:1-6; I Thessalonians 4:16-18; II Peter 3:3-4; 10, 13)
 
We believe in the assignment of all people to heaven or hell at their time of death or at the time of Christ’s return.
(Hebrews 9:27; II Thessalonians 1:8-9; Revelation 20:15;
II Corinthians 5:6-10)
 
We believe that the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life are promised to those who trust Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  
(John 3:16-17; Ephesians 2:8-9)
 
We believe that those putting their faith in Christ should repent of their sins, confess their faith and be baptized into Him.
We do not administer baptism to infants or children who have not confessed faith in Christ, nor do we baptize by any mode other than immersion.  We would ask any believer who has not been baptized by immersion to submit to that New Testament form before becoming a member of Elberton Christian Church.
  (Romans 10:9; Acts 2:38-39; Romans 6:3-4)
 
We believe that those who receive Christ also receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit:  He marks them as the possession of God, manifests the fruit of righteousness in their character, and endows them with spiritual gifts for ministry.
(II Corinthians 1:21-22; Galatians 5:22-23; I Corinthians 12:4-6)

We believe that a spiritual gift is a special ability, given by the Holy Spirit to every believer, to be used to minister to others and thereby build up the body of Christ.
(I Peter 4:10; Romans 12:6-8; I Corinthians 12:7-11)

We believe the New Testament churches were led by Apostles or by those specifically empowered by the laying on of the Apostles hands, miraculous gifts were manifested.
(Acts 2:43; Acts 8:18; II Timothy 1:6)

We believe that the New Testament churches which lacked direct apostolic leadership, non-miraculous gifts prevailed: the miraculous gifts were not present.  (Acts 8:5-8, 14-17)

While we believe that God continues to answer prayer and work miracles today, we do not expect to see the miraculous spiritual gift manifested in the New Testament Church because of the lack of apostolic leadership.

We ask that those who seek the miraculous gifts (speaking in tongues) not practice those gifts within our church worship service or promote the exercise of those among our members.

We believe that the example established by the New Testament Church was to observe the Lord’s Supper each week (Acts 20:7)

We believe that each believer should give a generous, intentional, regular, proportional gift of his/her income to the local church, as a spiritual discipline.  We believe that the tithe (one-tenth) is the standard by which Christians determine if they are giving generously.
(Malachi 3:10; I Corinthians 16:2; II Corinthians 9:6-7)
 

We believe that God answers all prayers, occasionally in miraculous ways.  We believe prayer is a spiritual discipline that should be taught and learned within the body of Christ.  
(Acts 1:14; Colossians 4:2; I John 5:14-15)

We believe that the church is the body of Christ followers who should live in community and enjoy the connection possible in the fellowship.  We believe that “one another” is God’s great idea.  (Acts 2:44-47)

We believe that the will of God is discerned through the direct teaching of Scriptures as well as through prayer, wise counsel, and a carefully consideration of circumstances.
(Proverbs 16:3; Proverbs 19:21; James 1:5; James 4:13-15; Romans 12:1-2)

We believe that we are “Christians only,” but not the only Christians. (John 10:14-16)

We believe the Church should seek unity with all believers in matters essential to the universal Christian faith and contend for liberty in all matters wherein the Lord has not spoken through His Word.
(Ephesians 4:2-6)

We believe the local church is an autonomous body which cooperates with many Christian agencies but is regulated or dominated by none. (Ephesians 5:23b)

We believe that love is to be shown to all people as the central trait of the Christian faith.  (John 13:35; I Peter 4:8)

We believe the mission of the church is to reach the spiritually lost for Christ, to teach with the goal of forming Christ in them, and to mobilize believers to accomplish God’s purposes in the world.
(Matthew 28:18-20)

We believe that full devotion to Jesus Christ is normal for every Christian. (Matthew 16:24-27)

Mission Statement
"Connecting people with Christ"
 
Values
Jesus is the leader of the church and the source of truth.
(John 4:23, Revelation 5:13-14)

The church should be culturally relevant while remaining doctrinally pure. (I Corinthians 9:19-23)

The New Testament Church is the example and guiding influence in the shape of our Church. (Acts 2, 4, 17)

Lost people matter to God and therefore matter to the church.
(Luke 5:30-32; Luke 15; Matthew 18:14)

Loving God and giving him our very best
(Genesis 4:2-5; Colossians 3:17, 23)

Excellence honors God and inspires people
(Colossians 3:17, Malachi 1:6-14, Proverbs 27:17)

The pursuit of full devotion to Christ and His cause is normal for every believer. (Philippians 2:1-11; 2 Corinthians 8:7)

Building healthy, God honoring relationships
(Matthew 27:39-40; Luke 6:12-13; Acts 2:44-47; Ephesians 5:21-6:4)

Following Christ means living a life of service to others.  
(Philippians 2:3-4)

Spiritual growth is a continuous, life-long process
(Ephesians 4:25-26; Hebrews 12:11; Philippians 1:6)