The following are the core beliefs of Covenant 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.
THE BIBLE
The Holy Bible, and only the Bible, is the authoritative Word of God.
It alone is the final authority for determining all doctrinal truths.
The Bible is inspired, infallible and inerrant.
(see Prov. 30:5; Rom. 16:25,26; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20,21)
THE TRINITY
There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son (Jesus)
and Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and co-eternal.
(see Gen. 1:26; Isa. 9:6; Matt. 3:16,17; 28:19; Luke 1:35; Heb. 3:7-11; 1 John 5:7)
JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity. On earth,
Jesus was 100-percent God and 100-percent man. He is the only man
ever to have lived a sinless life. He died on the cross for humankind
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, and will return again in power and glory.
(see Isa. 9:6; John 1:1,14; 20:28; Phil. 2:5,6; 1 Tim. 2:5; 3:16)
RESURRECTION
Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body
three days after His death on the cross. As a result, 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.
(see Luke 24:16,36,39; John 2:19-21; 20:26-28; 21:4; Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 15:42,44)
REDEMPTION
Humanity was created good and upright, but through sin,
mankind fell. Humanity’s only hope for redemption
is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
(see Gen. 1:26-31; 3:1-7; Rom. 5:12-21)
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 effort.
(see Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 16:31; Gal. 2:16; 3:8; Eph. 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; Heb. 9:22)
REPENTANCE
Repentance is a change of thinking, recognizing that a former way of living is inconsistent with God’s will. Therefore it involves a turning away from sin.
(see Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 16:31; Gal. 2:16; 3:8; Eph. 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; Heb. 9:22)
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
Given at Pentecost, the baptism with the Holy Spirit is the promise of the Father.
The Holy Spirit was sent by Jesus after His ascension to empower the Church
to preach the gospel throughout the whole earth. The initial evidence
of being filled with the Holy Spirit is the believer speaking in other tongues,
as the Spirit gives him or her utterance.
(see Joel 2:28,29; Matt. 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)
SANCTIFICATION
Sanctification is the ongoing process of yielding to God’s Word and
His Spirit in order to complete the development of Christ’s character in us.
It is through the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God
that the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
(see Rom. 8:29; 12:1,2; 2 Cor. 3:18; 6:14-18; 1 Thess. 4:3; 5:23; 2 Thess. 2:1-3; Heb. 2:11)
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 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.
(see John 17:11,20-23; Eph. 1:22; 2:19-22; Heb. 12:23)
SACRAMENTS
Water Baptism: Following faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the new believer 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.
(see Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:12, 36-38; 10:47-48)
The Lord’s Supper: A unique time of communion in the presence of God when the elements of bread and grape juice (representing the body and blood of the
Lord Jesus Christ are taken in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
(see Matt. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 10:16; 11:23-26)
REGENERATION
For anyone to know God, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
(see Ezek. 36:25-27, John 3:5-8, Titus 3:5)
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 lists of these gifts in the Bible 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.
(see Rom. 1:11; 12:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:1-31; 14:1-40; Eph. 4:16; 1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:5-16; Heb. 2:4; 1 Pet. 4:10)
HEAVEN
Heaven is the eternal dwelling place for all believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
(see Matt. 5:3,12,20; 6:20; 19:21; 25:34; John 17:24; 2 Cor. 5:1; Heb. 11:16; 1 Pet. 1:4)
HELL
After living one’s life on earth, unbelievers will be judged by God
and sent to hell where they will be eternally tormented.
(see Matt. 25:41; Mark 9:43-48; Heb. 9:27; Rev. 14:9-11; 20:12-15; 21:8)
SECOND COMING OF JESUS
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.
(see Matt. 24:30; 26:63,64; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thess. 4:15-17; 2 Thess. 1:7,8; Rev. 1:7)