WHAT WE BELIEVE

The Sanctuary is a Bible-based, Spirit-filled fellowship and we base our beliefs and lifestyle on biblical principles. We believe God changes people's lives through the power of His Spirit. This includes physical and emotional healing, deliverance from addiction, restoration of relationships, and the infilling of the Holy Spirit. We believe that Jesus is fully divine and fully human, and we confess Him as Lord and Savior.

Based on Scripture, we believe the following . . .

About the Bible
The Bible is the infallible Word of God and the authority for salvation and Christian living (2 Timothy 3:15-17). God has communicated this grand narrative through the written word, inspiring some 40 authors over a period of some 1600 years to pen the 66 books of the Protestant canon. This library of history, poetry, and prophecy, as originally written in its original languages, is trustworthy and without error. Every word is the result of divine inspiration and guidance (2 Tim. 3:16) expressed through human personalities and styles (2 Pet. 1:21). Accordingly, the scriptures hold highest authority over all other means of revelation. They are not to be added to or detracted from (Deut. 4:2; Deut. 12:32; Prov. 30:5-6; Rev. 22:18).

About God
There is one God, who has revealed Himself as our Father, in His Son Jesus Christ, and as the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is God manifested in flesh. He is both God and man (Deuteronomy 6:4; Ephesians 4:4-6; Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 3:16).

About Sin and Salvation
Everyone has sinned and needs salvation. Salvation comes by grace through faith based on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:23-25; 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9).

About the Gospel
The saving gospel is the good news that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. We obey the gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Peter 4:17) by repentance (death to sin), water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ (burial), and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit (resurrection) (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Acts 2:4, 37-39; Romans 6:3-4).

About Christian Living
As Christians we are to love God and others. We should live a holy life inwardly and outwardly, and worship God joyfully. The supernatural gifts of the Spirit, including healing, are for the church today (Mark 12:28-31; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10).

About the Future
Jesus Christ is coming again to catch away His church. In the end will be the final resurrection and the final judgment. The righteous will inherit eternal life, and the unrighteous eternal death (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:11 15).

Humanity
We are flawed people, frail, broken, and often foolish. That's why we love Jesus. He does what we can't — reconnects us to Himself and saves us from ourselves. This dependence on him defines us and it frees us to stop pretending that we're impressive. We call it grace, an invitation out of the exhausting madness of trying to hide the junk of our lives. We are free to be nothing in ourselves.

Truth
We submit to the revelation of God, no matter how much it may offend us. We consider the post-modern ideals of pluralism and self-determined truth to be mere arrogance masquerading as humility. Uncertainty in matters on which God has spoken clearly is folly.

Community
We lay down our lives for each other, as Jesus did, in the hope of imaging God to a watching world. No one has ever seen God, but he makes himself known through his people, the church. Individual Christianity does not exist. We are a body, every part as much in need of every other.

Creation
As an expression of divine love and glory, God chose to create the universe and all living things therein. He made everything out of nothing by the power of His word — all of which was good (Gen. 1:1-31).

Restoration
Believers partake in God's kingdom, even as they await the kingdom's full consummation on the earth. Jesus has promised to return one day, not again as a humble peasant, but in glory to judge the nations. He will bring final justice and usher in a resurrection of all peoples, some to eternal torment, others to eternal peace (Rev. 11:18). He will establish new heavens and a new earth in which the redeemed people of God will live in perfect, sinless harmony and worship forever (2 Pet. 3:13).