Core Beliefs
The following are the core beliefs of Eaton Community 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.
We believe that the Bible, as delivered in the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, is the Word of God, inspired (breathed out) by Him and without error in the original manuscripts. We believe it was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that it constitutes the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of man, and that it is the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
God
We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He foreknows all that shall come to pass, that He concerns Himself with the affairs of men, that He answers prayer, that He saves from sin and death and accepts into His family all who come to Him in true faith through Jesus Christ.
the Bible
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; that these three are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption.
God the Father
God the Son
We believe that Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection and ascension into heaven. We believe that He ever intercedes for His people and that He will return personally, visibly and bodily to earth.
We believe in the Holy Spirit who was sent forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, indwell and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe the Holy Spirit is an abiding helper, teacher, intercessor and guide.
God the Holy Spirit
Mankind
We believe that man was created in the image of God and originally existed in a state of righteousness and innocence. We believe that he sinned in direct violation of God’s revealed will thereby incurring physical and spiritual death. We believe that as a consequence every person is a sinner, both by nature and by his/her own acts and under penalty of eternal separation from God.
We believe that man can do nothing to save himself, but that salvation is available to all solely on the basis of the shed blood of Jesus Christ. We believe that all who repent of their sin and trust Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord are regenerated by the Holy Spirit, become new creatures and inherit eternal life, having been delivered eternally from condemnation and adopted into God’s family.
Salvation
The Church
We believe that the universal church is made up of believers living between Pentecost and the rapture; that it is the body of Christ and includes all those who have been baptized into that body by the Holy Spirit. True believers are eligible for membership in the local church which is intended for corporate worship, fellowship and service and is the instrument of God’s will in the world. We believe every local church has the right under Christ to decide and govern its own affairs.
We believe that water baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances to be observed by the Church during the present age. We believe that baptism is for believers and, as administered by immersion, depicts the believer’s identification with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Lord’s Supper was instituted as a commemoration of His death. While vitally important, these ordinances are not a means of salvation.
Christian Conduct
We believe in the imminent, personal, and pre-millennial return of Jesus Christ and that this “blessed hope” has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer. We believe in the ultimate bodily resurrection of the dead, of believers to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord and of unbelievers to judgment and everlasting punishment.
Ordinances
We believe that a true believer will live for the glory of God and the well-being of his fellow man. We believe that his conduct should be blameless before the world; that he should be a faithful steward of his possessions; and that he should seek to realize for himself and for others the full stature of maturity in Christ. We believe that a true believer will progress toward these goals.
Future Things
Human Sexuality
We believe that God lovingly and immutably creates each person as either male or female, that these two distinct, complementary sexes together reflect the image and nature of God, and that human sexuality is a gift from God given for the expression of love between husband and wife, reflecting the love God has for His people. As such it is to be exercised within the confines of marriage between one man and one woman. Sexual activity outside marriage, including but not limited to, adultery, premarital sex, homosexuality, pedophilia, and bestiality are inconsistent with the teachings of Scripture and the church. Further, transgender behavior and the use of pornography are incompatible with the biblical witness which we accept as our authority for faith and practice.
We believe that marriage is defined by God as being between one man and one woman in an exclusive relationship and that this is the only definition that can rightfully be ascribed to “marriage”. We believe that the roles of husbands, wives, fathers, mothers and children are clearly defined in Scripture, including principles of discipline, instruction and correction. We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of Eaton Community Church and to provide a biblical role model to the congregation and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by Eaton Community Church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this statement on Marriage and Sexuality.
Tolerance
Marriage and Family
We believe that all people should be accorded love and respect as those created in the image of God. As Creator, we believe God has the right to define how that image is to be reflected in human relationships. Where people hold differing views, we are committed to adhere to the biblical instruction, while speaking the truth in love. Hateful and/or harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with the Scripture. We believe that God offers redemption and forgiveness to all who repent of behaviors in violation of His character as expressed in His Word.