Core Beliefs
The following are the core beliefs of Essential Church based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.
Scripture
The Holy Scriptures was written by men divinely inspired by God and is His revelation of Himself to man. We believe that Scripture is Inerrant in the original texts, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony of Christ.
God
There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is all-powerful and all-knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.
Mankind
Man is the special creation of God, made in His own image. He created them male and female as the crowning work of His creation. In the beginning man was innocent of sin until by his choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Therefore, men become transgressors and are under God’s righteous condemnation. Because mankind is an enemy of God and incapable of righteousness in the eyes of God, and therefore only the grace of God can bring man into His holy fellowship and enable man to fulfill the creative purpose of God. The sacredness of human personhood is evident in that God created man in His own image, and in that Christ died for man; therefore, every person of every race possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love.
Salvation
Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, perseverance of the saints, and glorification. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. This is through election - the gracious purpose of God. Election is taught in the Scriptures. It is God’s eternal choice to those whom He predestined unto everlasting life, not based on anything they have done, but based entirely on His mercy and grace to choose them. Although God sovereignty elects some to salvation, we are still responsible, as God draws us to Himself, to repent of our sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable.