C H U R C H O F C H R I S T
EASTSIDE
WHAT WE BELIEVE
THE CHURCH
We believe that the Church is the Body of Christ and that every other body is foreign to the will of God through the New Testament scriptures. We believe the church to be not a physical building but the universal body of baptized believers living in relationship and harmony under the direction of the head, Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 6:15; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Romans 16:5; 1 Peter 2:4-5; Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31; Romans 12:4-5; Ephesians 4:11-16.)
GOD
We believe there is one God, manifested in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is the Creator of all things and the Ruler of the Universe (Philippians 2:6; Matthew 3:16-17; John 10:30).
JESUS CHRIST
We believe Jesus Christ is alive. He is Son of God, God the son and head of the Church. He existed before the beginning, came to earth through a virgin birth, fully God and fully man. He was crucified and He rose again three days later, providing salvation for all mankind. (John 1:1; Isaiah 9:6, Acts 1:9-11).
HOLY SPIRIT
We believe the Holy Spirit dwells in the hearts of all believers. He gives us the power to live the Christian life, guides us into what is right, and reveals all truth (John 15:26; 2 Corinthians 3:17, Ephesians 1:13).
THE SCRIPTURES
We believe the Bible is the inspired infallible Word of God. It is our final authority in determining what we believe, what we practice and how we live (2 Tim. 3:16; I Thess. 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).
SALVATION
We believe that because of sin, all men are separated from God and in need of salvation. The free gift of salvation is made possible through Jesus Christ, His death on the cross, and His resurrection from the dead. Salvation is available to all, received by grace through obedient faith, and no other way. (Rom 3:23, 2 Cor. 7:10; 1 John 5:12; John 3:3-5)
WATER BAPTISM
Jesus commanded that His followers be baptized in water as their identification with His death, burial and resurrection. We believe that when a person is water baptized, it symbolizes the passing away of their old life and the beginning of their new life in Christ and is essential in the salvation process being FOR the remission of sin (Romans 6:3-4; Acts 2:38; Acts 8: 36-39; Colossians 2: 9-13, Gal 3:27).
CONGREGATIONAL THEME
ONE family. ONE faith. ONE focus.
I Corinthians 12:12-26
Our congregational theme is one of urgency, unity, and uniformity. As we travel this jouney together, this congregation’s leadership has one goal in mind: For the Eastside Church of Christ to become a unified family, transparent in all things, growing in faith, and focused on the cross.
ONE FAMILY?
We are family. As Paul describes in I Corinthians 12:12-26, we are all an important part of the spiritual body of Christ (the church). We all have various functions, but our independent functions work together for a collective cause. This year, we want to focus on getting to know one another better, loving one another harder, and bearing one another longer. Once we become a true family, there is NOTHING we cannot accomplish. In the spirit of Paul, in this text, we will rejoice with them that rejoice and suffer with those that suffer this year – Not because it’s protocol, but rather because it is a call of the heart. You will hear us refer to our congregation more as a “family”, because that what we truly are.
ONE FAITH?
Ephesians 4:5 reminds us that there is but “One Lord but One Faith, One Baptism”. Our goal is for our Eastside Family is for us to have the same conviction that we serve a God who is able to do “exceedingly & abundantly more than we could ask or dream (Eph. 3:20).” We will believe in God like we never have before. We will pray with a conviction that we never have before. We will go out and reach the lost like we never have before… TOGETHER. One Family, living out one faith!
ONE FOCUS?
For us to move as a congregation, we must be focused. Our focus must be on the cross and the cross alone. Our charge to the congregation is to live out our mission of being “cross-eyed”. When we are cross-eyed (focused on the cross), there are no distractions that can deter us from our mission. This year, nothing else matters but the cross. It’s from the cross that we will gather our direction, strength, perseverance, guidance, and protection. As a family, it is imperative that we share the same focus – the cross.
So we ask you to join us, as we live as ONE Family, living out ONE Faith, cross-eyed with ONE focus!
