At Community Church of Waterford, we have unity in the following essential beliefs:

“There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6 NIV)

God

We believe there is one true, holy God, eternally existing in three equal persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In the beginning, God demonstrated His power, wisdom, and goodness by creating the world and everything in it. Through His divine power and providence, God continues to sustain His creation, operating within history to fulfill His redemptive purposes. (Genesis 1:1, 26-27, 2:3, Psalm 90:2, Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14, 1 Peter 1:2, 1 John 4:7-8)

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ, the eternal second person of the Trinity, was fully united with a human nature by a miraculous conception and virgin birth. He lived in perfect obedience to the Father, voluntarily paid the price for the sins of all people by dying on the cross as their substitute, and satisfied divine justice, bringing salvation to all who trust in Him alone. After His physical death, Jesus Christ rose from the dead and ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father as the only intercessor between God and humans. He promises to return to earth, personally and visibly, to fulfill history and the eternal plan of God. (Isaiah 9:6, Matthew 1:22-23, John 1:1-5, 14:10-30, Acts 1:9-11, Romans 1:3-4, I Corinthians 15:3-4, I Timothy 6:14-15, Hebrews 4:14-15, Titus 2:13

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, was sent to earth by the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit applies Christ’s saving work by enlightening the minds of sinners to their need to be saved. He renews and indwells each believer upon salvation, becoming their source of assurance, strength, wisdom, and gifting for building up the church. The Holy Spirit guides believers in understanding and applying the Bible and empowers them to lead a life of Christ-like character. (John 14:16-17, 16:7-13, Acts 1:8, 1 Corinthians 2:12, 2 Corinthians 3:16-17, Galatians 5:25, Ephesians 1:13, 5:18

The Bible

The sole basis of our belief is the Bible – the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. We believe Scripture in its entirety originated with God and He revealed it to chosen authors. Scripture speaks with the authority of God while simultaneously reflecting the backgrounds, styles, and vocabularies of these human authors. We hold that the Scriptures, in their original manuscripts, are infallible and inerrant; they are the unique, full, and final authority on all matters of faith and practice. There are no other writings similarly inspired by God. (Psalm 12:6, 119:105, 160, Proverbs 30:5, 2 Timothy 1:13, 3:16, Hebrews 4:12, 2 Peter 1:20-21).

The Church

All who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord are united with Him as members of His body, the one true church. Scripture commands believers to gather for worship, prayer, fellowship, and the teaching of the Word; to observe baptism and communion as established by Jesus Christ; to offer service to the body through development and use of talents and gifts; and to reach out to the world. The local expression of the church is wherever God’s people meet regularly in obedience to this command. Cared for and guided by the church’s leadership, church members are to work together in love and unity for the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ. (Acts 2:42-47, Romans 12:9-13, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Ephesians 4:11-13, Hebrews 10:23-25).

Salvation

The central purpose of God’s revelation in Scripture is to call people into fellowship with Him. Originally created to be in relationship with God, humans defied Him by going their own independent way, resulting in alienation from Him and the innate inability to please God. This fall took place at the beginning of human history; since then all people have suffered these consequences and are in need of the saving grace of God. The salvation of humanity is completely a work of God’s free grace; it is not in any way the result of human works or goodness. Each person can receive salvation by repentance and faith. God’s Word assures individuals that He will continue His saving work in them forever. (John 1:12, 14:6, Romans 5:1, 10:9-10, Romans 6:23, Galatians 3:26, Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5).

Baptism

Baptism is an outward expression of an inward commitment to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Community Church of Waterford believes the decision to be baptized is up to the individual and that he or she must fully understand what it means to be a Christ follower. (Matthew 3:16-17, 28:18-20, Acts 2:41, 8:12).

Communion

Communion is a time we set aside for intentionally remembering the price Jesus paid for our sins, and to restore our relationship to God. The elements of communion, the bread and the cup, are reminders of the broken body and the shed blood of Jesus. Communion shall be celebrated as scheduled by the Senior Pastor or Elder Team. At Community Church of Waterford, communion is open to everyone whose heart is right and who longs to experience God afresh and new. (1 Corinthians 10:16, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

Eternity

People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life in Heaven. Heaven and hell are real places of eternal existence. (John 3:16, Romans 6:23, 8:17-18, 1 Corinthians 2:7-9, Revelation 20:15).

In non-essential beliefs, we have liberty.

“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves.” Romans 14: 1, 4, 12, 22 NIV

In all our beliefs, we show love.

“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:2 NIV