What We believe

At Joy Church, we believe that sound doctrine is essential for knowing God rightly, living faithfully, and proclaiming the gospel effectively. Our Doctrinal Statement summarizes and reflects core biblical truths that have been affirmed throughout church history as essential to the Christian faith. We hold that the Bible, as God’s inspired and authoritative Word, is the final standard for all we believe and practice. We affirm the Baptist Faith and Message 2000.

·       The Bible – The Bible is the authoritative and accurate account of who God is, what He has done, and how we should live. The 66 books of the Old and New Testament, written by human authors and inspired by the Holy Spirit, are without error in their original form and are the primary way God still speaks to us today. Deut 4:1-2, 17:19; Ps 19:7-10; Prov 30:5; 2 Tim 3:15-17; Heb 4:12; 2 Pet 1:19-21

·       God – There is one true God who is the Creator and rightful ruler of everyone and everything. This one God eternally exists as three distinct persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – each of whom has always existed and is fully and equally God.  Gen 1:1-2; Deut 6:4; Ps 24:1; Matt 3:16-17, 28:19; John 1:1-3; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Cor 2:10-11 

God the Father rules and reigns over the universe with providential care.  God the Father is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving and all-wise.

God the Son – Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who entered into and changed history. He was and is both fully God and fully man at the same time. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Through his life, death, and bodily resurrection, he did all that was necessary to make salvation possible. After rising from the grave, He ascended into heaven and will one day physically return and reign for eternity as king.  Matt 1:18-23, 28:6; Jn 1:1-2, 14; Acts 1:9-11; Rom 4:25; Phil 2:6-7; Col 2:9; Heb 1:1-3; Rev 19-22

God the Holy Spirit – The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity who lives in each Christian from salvation. Through His ministry, the Holy Spirit brings people to Jesus and empowers subsequent godly living and service. Though all Christians fully receive the Holy Spirit at salvation, they are called to seek to be continually filled with the Spirit, enabling them to live distinctive and powerful lives that point others to Jesus. The spiritual gifts seen in the Bible should be practiced in love and according to biblical guidelines.  Ezek 36:26-27; Matt 28:19; Jn 15:26; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor 3:16; 12-14; Gal 5:22-23; Eph 5:18; Titus 3:5

·      Humanity –  Every person is created in God’s image and has inherent worth from conception. Humans are made to know and enjoy God, steward His creation, and live in line with God’s plan, purposes, and precepts. Sin is humanity’s and the world’s greatest problem. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, humanity’s relationship with Him was fractured and every person since has been disobedient (sinful) by nature and by choice. As a result, we are separated from God and deserve to be judged by God. Our lives and the world are marked by the brokenness that sin creates.  Humans were created to exist forever. All who have been reconciled with God by faith in Jesus will receive God’s undeserved grace and live with Him forever in a real heaven. All who die while separated from God will receive God’s just punishment and remain separated from Him forever in a real hell.   Gen 1:26-27; Deut 10:12-13; Ps 16:11, 139:13; Is 43:7; Mic 6:8; Jn 17:3; Gen 3; Ps 51:5; Is 59:2; Matt 12:36; Rom 3:10-23, 5:12-21, 8:20-22; Eph 2:1-3; Heb 9:27; Job 19:25-27; Is 25:8; Dan 12:2; Matt 25:46; 1 Thess 4:13-18; 2 Thess 1:7-12; 1 Jn 2:25; Rev 21-22

·       Salvation – Salvation is the gift of redemption offered freely to all men. The gospel is the good news that God saves sinners through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. No one can ever be good enough to save themselves. So Jesus lived the perfect life we can’t live, died the death we deserve to die, and rose to life to give us life. Salvation is a free gift provided by Jesus that must be actively and personally received through repentance and faith in Jesus alone as Savior and Lord. We are saved from the penalty of our sin and saved for a restored relationship with God as His child. All genuine believers in Jesus will cooperate with the Holy Spirit to become more like Jesus and can be assured they can never lose their salvation because the same grace of God that saves us also changes and sustains us.  Jn 1:12, 3:16, 10:28-29; Acts 3:19; Rom 3:10-12, 8:1, 28-39; 1 Cor 15:1-3, 9-10; 2 Cor 5:18-21; Eph 2:1-10; Col 2:13-14; Titus 2:11-12; 1 Pet 1:3; Jude 24

·       The Church – The Church is the people of God set apart for the mission of God. It is composed of every genuine believer in Jesus Christ for all time. We are knit together to become the body and bride of Christ, having a special relationship with God with a corresponding special assignment from God: the Great Commission. Every Christian should belong to and actively participate in a local church, which is an organized and localized expression of the worldwide community of believers.  Matt 28:19-20; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Cor 1:2, 12:12-13; Eph 5:25-27; 1 Pet 2:9; Heb 10:24-25; Rev 4

·       Baptism / Communion – God has given two outward, visible signs of God’s inward, invisible work that all Christians should practice. They proclaim and remind us of the gospel, strengthen our faith, and celebrate what Christ has done for and in us. Baptism by immersion in water is a one-time act of obedience for followers of Jesus to publicly declare their new life in Christ after they have personally repented and believed in Him. While the Bible gives freedom in how often it is observed, communion is a repeated act with other believers that commemorates Jesus’ death on the cross and gives us a special chance to enjoy His continued presence with and work for us.  Matt 3:13-17, 26:26-30; Acts 2:38-42, 16:30-33; Rom 6:3-5; 1 Cor 10:16, 11:23-30; Col 2:12