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What We Believe
We are a group of people who have accepted the love of God through Jesus Christ. We meet tog
WE’RE ALL AT DIFFERENT STAGES IN OUR FAITH AND COMMITMENT. ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAY AT SHEPPEY EVANGELICAL CHURCH YOU’LL RUN INTO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING JESUS FOR DECADES, PEOPLE WHO ARE BRAND NEW IN THEIR FAITH, AND OTHERS WHO ARE JUST EXPLORING THEIR OPTIONS.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO BELIEVE ANY OF THE THINGS LISTED BELOW TO COME TO S.E.C AND WE STRIVE TO MAKE EVERYONE FEEL WELCOMED AND LOVED–REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY’RE COMING FROM.
BUT IF YOU HANG AROUND S.E.C. LONG ENOUGH, YOU’RE BOUND TO BUMP INTO THE FOLLOWING IDEAS. WE LOVE TO HAVE FUN, BUT WE’RE SERIOUS ABOUT FOLLOWING JESUS, AND WE HOLD TO THE FOLLOWING BELIEFS WITH ALL OUR HEARTS:
THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
WE BELIEVE THAT THE BIBLE IS THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD: TRUE, IMMUTABLE, STEADFAST, AND UNCHANGEABLE (2 TIMOTHY 3:16, 17).
THE ETERNAL GODHEAD
WE BELIEVE THAT GOD IS TRIUNE: FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT; THE THREE ARE COEXISTENT, COETERNAL, AND EQUAL IN DIVINE PERFECTION (1 JOHN 5:7).
THE FALL OF MAN
WE BELIEVE THAT MAN, CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, BY VOLUNTARY DISOBEDIENCE FELL INTO THE DEPTHS OF SIN AND INIQUITY, BEQUEATHING SIN’S NATURE AND CONSEQUENCES TO ALL MANKIND, WITH THEIR ACCOMPANYING LOSS OF INTENDED MEANING AND PURPOSE (GENESIS 1:27; ROMANS 5:12).
THE PLAN OF REDEMPTION
WE BELIEVE THAT WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS CHRIST DIED FOR US, TOOK OUR PLACE, AND WITH HIS LIFE’S BLOOD PURCHASED THE PARDON FOR ALL WHO BELIEVE IN HIM (JOHN 3:16; TITUS 2:14).
SALVATION THROUGH GRACE
WE BELIEVE THAT SALVATION IS WHOLLY THROUGH GRACE; THAT NO HUMAN RIGHTEOUSNESS OR MERIT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO OUR RECEIVING GOD’S LOVE AND FAVOR (EPHESIANS 2:8).
REPENTANCE AND ACCEPTANCE
WE BELIEVE THAT, UPON SINCERE REPENTANCE AND A WHOLE-HEARTED ACCEPTANCE OF CHRIST, WE ARE JUSTIFIED BEFORE GOD THROUGH JESUS’ SACRIFICIAL DEATH (ROMANS 10:6-10; 1 JOHN 1:9).
THE NEW BIRTH
WE BELIEVE THAT THE CHANGE THAT TAKES PLACE IN PEOPLE AT CONVERSION IS A VERY REAL ONE; THAT HAVING RECEIVED RIGHTEOUSNESS IN CHRIST AND HAVING RECEIVED OF HIS SPIRIT, PEOPLE WILL HAVE NEW DESIRES, INTERESTS, AND PURSUITS IN LIFE (2 CORINTHIANS 5:17; GALATIANS 2:20).
DAILY CHRISTIAN LIFE
WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS THE WILL OF GOD THAT THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN GROW IN SANCTIFICATION, BECOME PARTAKERS OF HIS HOLINESS, AND DAILY GROW STRONGER IN THE FAITH, POWER, PRAYER, LOVE, AND SERVICE (2 CORINTHIANS 7:1).
WATER BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
WE BELIEVE THAT BEING BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT IS AN ESSENTIAL RESPONSE TO JESUS’ COMMAND, TESTIFYING TO HIS LORDSHIP AS CHRIST AND KING (ROMANS 6:4). WE BELIEVE IN OBSERVING THE LORD’S SUPPER, RECEIVING THE BROKEN BREAD AND THE FRUIT OF THE VINE WITH JOY AND FAITH AS WE PARTAKE ANEW OF THE LIFE AND TRIUMPH OF CHRIST’S CROSS (1 CORINTHIANS 11:24-26)