These beliefs, values, DNA and structure describe who we are as a church and the convictions that have shaped our culture over the years. They communicate who God has called us to be and direct where we're going.
THE BIBLE
The Holy 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
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; 28:19, Luke 1:35, Isaiah 9:6, Hebrews 3:7-11
JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity. On earth, Jesus was 100% God and 100% man in 100% unity. He is the only man ever to have lived a sinless life. Jesus Christ was conceived by God the Father, through the Holy Spirit in the virgin Mary's womb, performed miracles, died on the cross for mankind and thus, 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, intercedes for the Saints, and will return again in power and glory.
John 1:1,14; 20:28, Matthew 1:18, 25, Luke 1:35, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18, 23-25, Luke 1:27-35, I Timothy 3:16, Isaiah 9:6, Philippians 2:5-6, I Timothy 2:5
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
HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is God, the Lord and giver of life, who was active in the Old Testament and is present in the world today to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He empowers the saints for service and witness, cleanses man from the old nature, and conforms us to the image of Christ.
Given at Pentecost, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the promise of the Father, sent by Jesus after His Ascension, to empower the Church to preach the Gospel throughout the whole earth. 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. All believers are biblically encouraged 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.
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, 11:15-17, 19:1-6, Hebrews 2:4, Romans 1:11,12:4-8, Ephesians 4:16, II Timothy 1:5-16, 4:14, I Corinthians 12:1-31; 14:1-40, I Peter 4:10
CHURCH
The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Holy 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
RESURRECTION AND SECOND COMING
Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after His death on the cross. In addition, 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. 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.
Luke 24:16, 36, 39, John 2:19-21, 20:26-28, 21:4, Acts 24:15, I Corinthians 15:42, 44, Philippians 1:21-23, 3:21, Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64, Acts 1:9-11, I Thessalonians 4:15-17, II Thessalonians 1:7-8, Revelation 1:7
THE WORD OF GOD
We at NHC value the Bible as God's revealed truth and the catalyst for life transformation and change. The Word of God is one of the greatest gifts He has given us. It's so many things – divinely inspired, relevant, applicable, perfect, supernatural, simple, complex, comforting and challenging. It literally is the last word – nothing will be added to it and it has the final say in questions of how we live our lives, lead our families, and function as a church.
The Bible is not a self-help book; it's not a collection of ancient sayings that may or may not apply in today's world, and it's not a mysterious book of answers to life's most confusing questions. More than anything else, the Bible shows us who God is. As we come to know God and walk deeper in relationship with Him through reading His Word, He begins to change us. In the process, God gives us His character. What comes naturally to Him (God) but is so difficult for us (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, compassion, mercy, justice, etc.) begins to show up in our lives.