beliefs
Scriptures
At Ecclesia we believe that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the inspired Word of God. For this reason, they are highest authority concerning questions of faith, ethics, and conduct. They are the compass of life and the revelation of God ‘s character and will. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Mathew 5:18; 2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12)
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God
At Ecclesia we believe in one God who exists in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each member of the Trinity is coeternal in His being, coeternal in His power, and coeternal in His glory. Furthermore, each member shares the same attributes of perfection—omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, and infallibility. (2 Corinthians 13:14; Colossians 2:9; Matthew 28:19)
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Man
At Ecclesia we believe that man was originally created in the image and likeness of God. We believe that sin caused Adam’s race to fall, it inherited a sinful nature, and it finds itself short of God’s glory. In and of themselves, humans are totally depraved and totally incapable of remedying its lost condition. (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:22-23; Ephesians 2:1-3)
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The Person and Work of Jesus
At Ecclesia we believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who became a man without ceasing to be God. We believe that He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of Mary (a virgin). His purpose was and is to reveal God and redeem mankind from his sin. We believe that Jesus redeemed believers through the shedding of His blood at the cross. This act was a substitutional sacrifice and our justification was assured through His physical resurrection from the dead. We believe Jesus ascended into heaven, was highly exalted, and sits at the right hand of the Father as our King, Lord, High Priest, Intercessor, and Advocate. Furthermore we believe that Jesus will return to judge both the living and the dead. (John 1:1-2; Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:7; Acts 1:9-10; Romans 14:9; 2 Timothy 4:1)
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Salvation
At Ecclesia we believe that salvation is a free and unmerited gift from God. This gift is based on His grace and received and appropriated through personal faith in the Lord Jesus, who shed His precious blood at the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. (Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter: 1:18-19)
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
At Ecclesia we believe that the Holy Spirit is the member of the Godhead, who convicts the world of sin, justice, and righteousness. He is the regenerating agent that baptizes the believer into the Body of Christ and seals him/her until the day of redemption. Furthermore, we believe that there is a baptism in the Holy Spirit; this is an experience that follows the experience of being born again. This infilling was promised by the Father, it was foretold by the prophet Joel, it was taught and assured by the Lord Jesus Christ, and it occurred for the first time on Pentecost- shortly after Jesus resurrected. We believe that that baptism provides the believer with the external sign of speaking in tongues and that it provides the believer with the power to be a faithful witness of Jesus and access to the mystical spiritual gifts. (John 14:16-17, 20:22; Acts 1:8, 2:1-4; 1 Corinthians 12-14)
The Church
At Ecclesia we believe that the church—the Body of Christ, and his bride to be—is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again believers. For this reason, it is privileged with divine power and it has been given the task of announcing God’s salvation and wisdom. We believe that the establishment and continuity of the local church is a Biblical mandate and that these churches form the invisible and universal church. We believe that the local church should have autonomy; yet, it should be under the freely accepted authority of Spiritual Fathers; this authority should be without control and free of hierarchical structures. (Matthew 16:18; Acts 20:28)
The Conditional Preservation of the Believer
At Ecclesia we believe that although salvation is a free gift that cannot be attained through good works or tradition, there does exist a human element of acceptance and appropriation based on man’s free will. God does not obligate anyone to be saved. Furthermore, we believe that man’s free will can choose to reject salvation after having been saved. In other words—men can lose their salvation. God does not obligate anyone to remain saved. For this reason the believer is exhorted to be firm, constant, persevere and rooted in the faith. (John 15:5-6; Galatians 5:4; Hebrews 6:4-6; 2 Peter 3:17)
Heaven and Hell
At Ecclesia we believe that there has been set aside an eternal abode for all human beings. The where—that is heaven or hell (hell for the unsaved and heaven for the saved)—is solely determined by one’s decision to believe in faith or reject the gospel message. (John 14:1-3; Revelation 20:11-15)