Core Beliefs
NorthPointe Church subscribes to The Baptist
Faith and Message (2000) as a general statement of faith.
The Baptist Faith and Message does not exhaust the extent
of our beliefs. However, we desire to highlight what we
consider to be the core beliefs of biblical Christian faith.
Faith and Message (2000) as a general statement of faith.
The Baptist Faith and Message does not exhaust the extent
of our beliefs. However, we desire to highlight what we
consider to be the core beliefs of biblical Christian faith.
The Bible
The Bible is the inspired (God-breathed), inerrant (the truth without any mixture of error), and sufficient (everything we need) Word of God. The Bible is the standard by which we measure our lives and is therefore, the ultimate source of authority for life, faith, and morality (2 Timothy 3:16; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 4:12; 6:18; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
God
There is only one God. God is the Creator of everything that exists.
He has eternally existed in community (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), which we refer to as the Trinity. He is personal, completely independent, forever unchangeable, ever-present, all-knowing,
all-powerful, holy, righteous, loving, and self-revealing (Exodus 3:14-15; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 90:2; 139:7-8; Isaiah 46:10; Matthew 3:16-17; 19:26; 28:19; Acts 17:24-25; Ephesians 4:4-6).
Jesus is the eternal Son of God. He is coequal with the Father and
the Holy Spirit. Jesus became human (the incarnation) through
his conception by the Holy Spirit and his birth of the virgin Mary.
He is fully God and fully man. He lived a perfect, sinless human life.
He died as the substitutional atoning sacrifice for our sins and physically rose from the dead three days later demonstrating his power over Satan, sin, and death. He ascended into heaven and will return again to renew all things and establish his eternal kingdom. (Matthew 1:18, 23; John 14:1-3; Acts 3:21; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Colossians 2:11-15; Hebrews 4:15; Revelation 19-21).
The Holy Spirit is coequal with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit testifies to the truth that Jesus is the Son of God, convicts people of sin, and leads us to confession of Jesus as Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit empowers the believer to resist sin and serve God. He empowers us with spiritual gifts for the purpose of building up and serving in and through the Church (John 15:26; 16:8-11; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 8:1-17; 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 2:11; 12:8-10, 28).
He has eternally existed in community (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), which we refer to as the Trinity. He is personal, completely independent, forever unchangeable, ever-present, all-knowing,
all-powerful, holy, righteous, loving, and self-revealing (Exodus 3:14-15; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 90:2; 139:7-8; Isaiah 46:10; Matthew 3:16-17; 19:26; 28:19; Acts 17:24-25; Ephesians 4:4-6).
Jesus is the eternal Son of God. He is coequal with the Father and
the Holy Spirit. Jesus became human (the incarnation) through
his conception by the Holy Spirit and his birth of the virgin Mary.
He is fully God and fully man. He lived a perfect, sinless human life.
He died as the substitutional atoning sacrifice for our sins and physically rose from the dead three days later demonstrating his power over Satan, sin, and death. He ascended into heaven and will return again to renew all things and establish his eternal kingdom. (Matthew 1:18, 23; John 14:1-3; Acts 3:21; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Colossians 2:11-15; Hebrews 4:15; Revelation 19-21).
The Holy Spirit is coequal with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit testifies to the truth that Jesus is the Son of God, convicts people of sin, and leads us to confession of Jesus as Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit empowers the believer to resist sin and serve God. He empowers us with spiritual gifts for the purpose of building up and serving in and through the Church (John 15:26; 16:8-11; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 8:1-17; 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 2:11; 12:8-10, 28).
Humanity
Human beings are made in God’s image. Because of this,
we possess inherent value and worth. Humans possess a free will,
which we should have used to bring glory to God. However,
we have used our freedom to disobey God and live for our own glory.
The Bible calls this sin. Sin causes every human being to be separated from a holy and righteous God (Genesis 1:26-27; 3;
Psalm 14:3; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:8-10, 23; 6:23).
We were created to exist forever. We will exist eternally separated from God by our sin or eternally with God because we have been forgiven of our sin by faith in Jesus. To be separated from God is hell. To be eternally with God is eternal life. Heaven and hell are real places of eternal conscious existence (John 3:16; 14:17; Romans 6:23;
8:17-18; 1 Corinthians 2:7-9; Revelation 20-22).
we possess inherent value and worth. Humans possess a free will,
which we should have used to bring glory to God. However,
we have used our freedom to disobey God and live for our own glory.
The Bible calls this sin. Sin causes every human being to be separated from a holy and righteous God (Genesis 1:26-27; 3;
Psalm 14:3; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:8-10, 23; 6:23).
We were created to exist forever. We will exist eternally separated from God by our sin or eternally with God because we have been forgiven of our sin by faith in Jesus. To be separated from God is hell. To be eternally with God is eternal life. Heaven and hell are real places of eternal conscious existence (John 3:16; 14:17; Romans 6:23;
8:17-18; 1 Corinthians 2:7-9; Revelation 20-22).
Salvation
Salvation is a free gift of God’s grace appropriated by faith in Jesus. Salvation cannot be earned (morality, good works, church membership, baptism). It is a free gift. The gift can be received only by confessing that Jesus is Lord and trusting in his work alone to cover your sin. Faith in Jesus is the only way to be saved. Salvation is eternal and permanent, guaranteed by the Holy Spirit (John 6:39; 10:27-30; 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 6:23; 10:9-10; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2:8-9).