Shelby Church Of Christ

· We exist to glorify God as the one and only true God.
· Jesus Christ is the only Savior and Lord of the church as a whole.
· God’s inerrant Word is truth and the foundation of all that we do.
· The Holy Spirit distributes gifts to believers to do the work of our church.
· We value the preaching of the full and complete Word of God.
· We adhere to the teachings and practices of the New Testament Church.
· Meaningful and relevant worship is the primary way our corporate body lifts Christ up and expresses love for Him.
· There is no alternative to discipling, growing, and equipping people in their Christian walk.
· We commit to spreading the Word through the Great Commission as commanded by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:16-20.
· We adhere to our historical heritage: in essentials, Unity; in nonessentials, Liberty; in all things, love.

The Essentials We Believe

1. ABOUT GOD

God is the Creator and Ruler of the Universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God. Genesis 1:1,26,27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14

2. ABOUT JESUS CHRIST

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Matthew 1:22, 23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14,15; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13

3. ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian (I Corinthians 3:15; 6:19; 2 Timothy 1:14). He is the empowering presence of God in the Christian for works of service, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance for moral living (I Corinthians 12:4-11; Galatians 5:16-25). As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily. 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18

4. ABOUT THE BIBLE

The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error. The Bible is our final authority for all matters of faith and practice. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5

5. ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS

People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us willfully sin and as a result of our individual sins we are lost and without hope apart from Jesus Christ. Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Ezekiel 18: Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1, 2; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:23

6. ABOUT SALVATION

Salvation is God’s free gift to us but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. We believe that salvation (the forgiveness of sins) comes by grace through the blood of Jesus Christ. We believe that the Bible teaches that the normal pattern we follow to receive Jesus as Savior is to believe in Christ as God’s Son and Savior of the world, to repent of personal sin, to confess Christ as Lord, and to be immersed (baptized). Each of these is taught clearly in the word of God. Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1,2; Luke 24:45-57; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9; Colossians 2:12; I Peter 3:21; Matthew 10:32; Romans 6:1-7; 10:9-7

7. ABOUT SECURITY

Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation. Our security is based on the fact that God keeps His promises, and He expects us to abide (stay) in the relationship with Christ and continue to grow. John 10:28,29; 15:1-8; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25, 10:10,14; 1 Peter 1:3-5; I Corinthians 3:11-15; Philippians 2:12; 2 Thessalonians 6:13-21

8. ABOUT ETERNITY

People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence. John 3:16; John 14:17; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:17-18; Revelation 20:15; 1 Corinthians 2:7-9