What We Believe...
The following are the core beliefs of Hillside Church - Antioch 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.
About God
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one Godhead. (Genesis 1:1,26,27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; I Peter 1:2; II Corinthians 13:14)
GOD THE FATHER – We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He infallibly foreknows all that will come to pass, hears and answers prayer, concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of humanity, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. John 16:23-28; 17:5; Ephesians 1:3-14
GOD THE SON, JESUS CHRIST – Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is equal with the Father. By the Holy Spirit, Jesus was miraculously conceived and born of a virgin, Mary. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven's glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. (Matthew 1:22,23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14,15; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; I Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13)
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily. (II Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:1)
GOD THE FATHER – We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He infallibly foreknows all that will come to pass, hears and answers prayer, concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of humanity, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. John 16:23-28; 17:5; Ephesians 1:3-14
GOD THE SON, JESUS CHRIST – Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is equal with the Father. By the Holy Spirit, Jesus was miraculously conceived and born of a virgin, Mary. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven's glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. (Matthew 1:22,23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14,15; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; I Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13)
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily. (II Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:1)
About The Bible
The Bible is God's word to all people. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is God-breathed, it is absolute truth and therefore our infallible rule for faith and practice. II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20, 21; II Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5)
About People
People are made in the image of God, to be like Him in character. He is the supreme object of God's creation. Although man was created sinless, the first man, Adam, willfully disobeyed God. Mankind is now marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called sin. This condition of sin separates man from God. (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1, 2)
Marriage – We believe marriage, as first described in Genesis and later affirmed by Jesus, is a God-ordained, covenant relationship between a man and a woman. This lifelong, sexually exclusive relationship brings children into the world and thus sustains the stewardship of the earth. It is the spiritual and physical union of one man and one woman, as identified by birth or DNA, according to Scripture. (Genesis 2; Matthew 19:4-6)
Gender Identity – We believe that God wonderfully foreordained and immutably created each person as either male or female in conformity with their biological sex. These two distinct yet complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God (Genesis 1:26, 27).
Marriage – We believe marriage, as first described in Genesis and later affirmed by Jesus, is a God-ordained, covenant relationship between a man and a woman. This lifelong, sexually exclusive relationship brings children into the world and thus sustains the stewardship of the earth. It is the spiritual and physical union of one man and one woman, as identified by birth or DNA, according to Scripture. (Genesis 2; Matthew 19:4-6)
Gender Identity – We believe that God wonderfully foreordained and immutably created each person as either male or female in conformity with their biological sex. These two distinct yet complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God (Genesis 1:26, 27).
About The Fall
When Adam and Eve chose not to obey God, they ceased to be what they were made to be and became distorted images of God. This caused them to fall out of fellowship with God, and fractured all of creation ever since that time.
About Salvation
Salvation is a gift from God to man. No one can ever make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's payment for sin can man be saved from sin's penalty: eternal separation from God. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1)
About The Church
We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members by the baptizing work of the Holy Spirit of God. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work, and fellowship. We believe that the Holy Spirit gives leaders to the church to equip believers for the work of the ministry, and that God has laid upon the local church the primary task of giving the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world. Matthew 28:16-20; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 10:24-25; Ephesians 4:11-16; Ephesians 3:10
About End Times
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal joy of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked. (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:50-54.)