Our Beliefs
What we believe and why we believe it.
About Celebration Church’s Beliefs
Celebration Church is about reaching all people with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.
We welcome all people regardless of age, race, sexual orientation, religion, or political beliefs.
We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity.
Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with the doctrines of the church.
Anyone seeking God and wanting to learn more of the teachings of Christ is welcome and will not be excluded from attending Celebration Church.
We welcome all people.
The Bible
The Bible, and only the Bible, is the authoritative Word of God. It alone is the final authority in determining all doctrinal truths. In its original writing, it is inspired, infallible, and inerrant.
II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20-21; Proverbs 30:5; Romans 16:25-26
The Trinity
There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and co-eternal.
I John 5:7; Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3:16-17; Hebrews 3:7-11; Isaiah 9:6
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity. On earth, Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. He is the only man ever to have lived a sinless life. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, died on the cross for mankind, and atoned for our sins through the shedding of His blood. He rose from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return again in power and glory.
John 1:1, 14, 20:28; I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Philippians 2:5-6
Salvation
We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ; His death, burial, and resurrection. Salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our good works or of any human efforts.
Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16, 3:8; Titus 3:5; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 16:31; Hebrews 9:22
Repentance
Repentance is the commitment to turn away from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Christ, which allows us to receive His redemption and to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Thus, through repentance, we receive forgiveness of sins and appropriate salvation.
Acts 2:21, 3:19; I John 1:9
Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Given at Pentecost, it is the promise of the Father, sent by Jesus after His Ascension, to empower the Church to preach the Gospel throughout the whole earth.
Joel 2:28- 29; Matthew 3:11; Mark 16:17; Acts 1:5, 2:1-4; 17, 38-39, 8:14-17, 10:38, 44-47
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, and confirm the power of the Gospel. The Bible list of these gifts are not necessarily exhaustive, and the gifts may occur in various combinations. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of Biblical parameters.
Hebrews 2:4; Ephesians 4:16; I Timothy 4:14; II Timothy 1:6-7; I Corinthians 12:1-31, 14:1-40
The Church
The church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of Jesus' Great Commission. Every person who is born of the Spirit is an integral part of the church as a member of the body of believers. There is a spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:22; 2:19- 22; Hebrews 12:23; John 17:11, 20-23
Water Baptism
Following faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the new convert is commanded by the Word of God to be baptized in water in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12, 36-38; 10:47-48
Communion
A unique time of communion in the presence of God when the elements of bread and grape juice (the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ) are taken in remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross.
Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25
Resurrection
Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after His death on the cross. Both the saved and the lost will be resurrected; they that are saved to the resurrection of life, and they that are lost to the resurrection of eternal damnation.
Luke 24:16; John 2:19-21, 20:26-28; Acts 24:15; Philippians 1:21-23, 3:21
The Second Coming
Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for the second time to establish His Kingdom. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures.
Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; I Thessalonians 4:15-17; II Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelation 1:7
Marriage
Marriage is a picture of Christ’s relationship with His Bride – the Church. It is defined from the beginning of Scripture as a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman. God designed sexual intimacy for a marriage relationship and does not endorse or condone it in any other context.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5; Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-5
Giving
As stewards of God's resources, we commit to living a life of cheerful giving and generosity that is consistent with and obedient to God’s word
Leviticus 27:30; Proverbs 3:9; Malachi 3:8-10; 2 Corinthians 9:7