What We Believe
God
God is the creator and ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These are co-equal and are one God. (Genesis 1:1, 26, 27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:9; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
Jesus
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He became fully man without ceasing to be fully God. Having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, he lived a sinless life, revealed God and redeemed sinful man by dying on the cross as the perfect voluntary sacrifice for the sins of all people. He rose from the dead after three days, demonstrating his power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday. (Luke 1:35; John 14:16, 17, 16:8-11, Acts 1:8-11; Romans 1:3, 4; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; 2 Corinthians 3:1; 1 Timothy 6:14, 15; Titus 2:13)
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is present in the world to make us aware of our need for Jesus Christ. He indwells, guides, instructs and empowers every Christian for godly living and service. (John 14:16, 17, 16:8-11, Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 1:13, 5:18)
The Bible
The Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God, written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit and the final authority for Christian faith and practice. (Psalm 12:6, 119:105, 160; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20, 21)
Humanity
All people are made in the image of God. All are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called sin. Sin separates people from God, making union with him by human effort impossible. At the same time, we are the most valuable thing in all of God’s Creation. We have never met a human being that God did not desperately love and care about. (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139:13-16; Isaiah 53:6, 59:1, 2; Romans 3:23; Colossians 2:13-15)
Salvation
We could never make up for our sins by self-improvement or good works. But because of his love for us, God offers his gift of grace and salvation to every person through Christ and his death in our place. Each person is free to accept or reject his gift. Only by trusting in Jesus can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. We are to exercise our trust in Christ by being baptized, which depicts our union with him in his death, burial, and resurrection as well as demonstrates our faith in him. (Matthew 28:19; John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 2:38, 22:16; Romans 5:1, 6:1-4; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 3:21)
The Church
The Church is the body of Christ on earth, of which He is the head. It is not limited to any one institution or denomination; it consists of all who have placed their faith in Christ. Gold Coast is therefore but one part of the greater Church. Christians not only belong to God; they belong to each other and are called to live in a community. (Matthew 28:19, 20; Acts 2:41-47; Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 1:22, 23, 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:25).
Eternity
People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally close to him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence. (Matthew 1:8, 2:44, 46; John 2:25, 3:16; 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15)