OUR BELIEFS

We exist to help people know and love God,
and experience the abundant life He has for them.

Our Vision

We believe that Jesus Christ has laid out the vision and mission of His Church in the Great Commission:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you...” - Matthew 28:19-20

Our desire is to see Jesus’ vision for His Church embodied at Gospel City.

All of us who belong to Jesus owe our salvation to Him graciously revealing Himself to us, and the only way anyone is saved is ultimately through a revelation of Jesus.

Our Values

Jesus!

He is the head of the Church. He is the inventor of the Church. The Church ultimately exists for Him and her eternal destiny is to be His Bride. We are deeply passionate about our King, Jesus. All Scripture and all creation points to Him. He is the very best thing we have to offer this world and because of that we strive to reveal Jesus in everything we do.

Revealing Jesus
  • We worship because we have received a revelation of Jesus.
  • We preach The Word because it reveals Jesus.
  • We fellowship in small groups because Jesus is revealed in our love for one another.
  • We pray with passion because we desire Jesus to reveal Himself to the lost and in our own life situations.
  • We help fund and participate in local and international missions and church planting because Jesus loves the local Church and reveals Himself through it.
  • We view ourselves as ambassadors for Christ, on mission in our daily lives because we desire to reveal Jesus to our world through the way we live in it.

Everything we do is driven by the goal of Revealing Jesus.

Worship

We were created to worship God and because of the Cross we have a reason to rejoice at all times. We are constantly thanking Him for every good thing in our lives. We love to intentionally focus our whole being on the adoration of our God, putting everything in its proper order with Jesus on the Throne of our lives and nothing else above Him. Passionate worship is the only reasonable response from a people who have encountered the saving grace of God. There is no greater use of our time than to worship the God we will worship for eternity.

God’s Word

We believe the most effective way to produce disciples is by faithfully teaching the Bible and allowing the Holy Spirit to change lives through the revelation of Jesus in Scripture. The Bible is our guide in everything and we are all equal under it. It is the unchanging truth, our most direct and consistent point of connection with God, and is a treasure that brings life and blessing to all who heed it.

Growth

The Great Commission’s exhortation is to make “disciples” - disciplined followers of Jesus Christ. We desire to all grow up into Christ and become more like Him. We believe that the Lord has a unique part for each of us to play in the Church and in our world. Therefore, we have a responsibility to make the most of the things we have been entrusted with - starting with our very lives. We want to accomplish everything that Christ has planned for us!

Passion

If what we believe is really true... an indifferent response is impossible. Our forgiven past, our redeemed today, and our glorious future are reasons to always be found rejoicing, giving thanks, and reveling in the hope we have in Christ Jesus. His passion for us is incalculable. The worship of Jesus matters more than any other cause on the Earth and our passion for Him must reflect that! We believe that our zeal should only increase as we draw nearer to God and grow in our knowledge of Him. Our desperation for more of Jesus must always exceed our pride and our apathy. We need Him and we are not ashamed to say it.

Living on Mission

We are all ambassadors of Christ. We are all ministers to a broken world. We are the Church 24/7. We live with eternity in mind and the heart of Jesus beating in our chests. We are intentional about praying for our neighbors, interceding for the lost, and blessing others out of the overflow of God blessing us. We have what the world needs and we long to share it with them.

STATEMENT OF FAITH

Doctrine of God

We believe in one God eternally existing as one essence and three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, each of whom is fully God, yet there is one God.

We believe in one God eternally existing as one essence and three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Each person is fully, equally, and eternally God, yet there is one God. Each person has precisely the same nature and attributes and is worthy of precisely the same worship, honour, and praise. The entire Christian faith is bound together with the confession of God’s Trinitarian nature (Matt. 28:18–20).

We believe in God the Father, the Creator of heaven and earth. We believe in the Son, God from God, eternally begotten but not made, who in history assumed to Himself a human nature for the sake of our salvation (John 1:14; Heb. 1:3). He is fully God and fully man. Through Him, all things came into being and were created. He was before all things, and in Him, all things hold together by the word of His power (Col.1:15–20). He suffered, died, was buried, resurrected, ascended, and sits at the right hand of the Father until He returns for the final judgment and consummation of the Kingdom. We believe in the Holy Spirit who eternally proceeds from the Father and the Son and is sent by the Father and Son to give new life (John 15:26–27). The Holy Spirit unites believers to Jesus Christ in faith, brings about the new birth, and dwells within the regenerate (Eph. 1:13–14). The Holy Spirit has come to glorify the Son who, in turn, came to glorify the Father. He will lead the Church into a right understanding and rich application of the truth of God’s Word. He is to be respected, honored, and worshiped as God, the third person of the Trinity. The triune God, Father, Son, and Spirit, is the Creator of all things, visible and invisible. As the immortal and eternal Creator, He sovereignly rules over all of His creation (Ps. 24:1).

Doctrine of Revelation

God has made Himself known to the world in Jesus Christ, the Scriptures and creation.

We believe that God has made Himself known to His creation. He has revealed Himself to us in His Son, the incarnate Word (Heb. 1:1–2), in Scripture, the inspired Word (2 Tim. 3:16), and in creation (Ps. 8; Rom. 1:20).

We believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the perfect revelation of who God is. Jesus Christ is the “image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15), “the exact imprint of his nature” (Heb. 1:3), and a perfect reflection of God the Father (John 5:19).

We believe the Scriptures, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, are the inspired Word of God and are therefore without error in their original writings. These writings alone constitute the verbally inspired Word of God, which is utterly authoritative and free from error. The Scripture is sufficient for all that God requires for us to believe and do and is, therefore, to be believed as God’s instruction in all that it teaches; obeyed as God’s command in all that it requires; and trusted as God’s pledge in all that it promises (Is. 40:6–8). As God’s people hear, believe, and obey the Word, they are equipped as disciples of Christ and witnesses to the gospel (Rom. 10:14–17).

Doctrine of Creation and Providence

We believe that God created the world from nothing and governs all things at all times in all places.

God created the whole world from nothing (Gen. 1:1–2; Ps. 24:1). God’s creative work is the overflow of the love present within the Trinitarian fellowship. Creation, according to the design of God, was good (Gen. 1:3–31).

God doesn’t let the world exist, He makes the world exist. He upholds the universe by the word of His power, and He holds the world together in Himself (Col. 1:17).

Doctrine of Humanity

We believe that all humanity is created in the image of God and possesses intrinsic dignity and worth.

God made humanity - male and female - in His own image (Gen. 1:27–30). Set apart as His image-bearers, every human being is sacred. All men and all women, bearing the image of God, are meant to represent God in His creation (1 Cor. 10:31). God declares the created order to be very good, distinguishing men and women as His agents to care for, manage and govern over it. They enjoy equal access to God by faith in Christ Jesus and are both called to move beyond passive self-indulgence to significant private and public engagement in family, church, and civic life. Adam and Eve were made to complement each other in a one-flesh union in the covenant of marriage that establishes the only God-ordained pattern of sexual relations for men and women. In God’s wise purposes, men and women are not simply interchangeable, but rather they complement each other in mutually enriching ways.

Doctrine of Sin

We believe that sin has fractured all things, leaving the world in desperate need of salvation.

Through the temptation of Satan, humanity transgressed the command of God and fell from their original holiness and righteousness (Gen. 3). Now the entire human race inherits a corrupt nature that is opposed to God and His law (Rom. 3:9–20). Therefore, all humans are under condemnation. This depravity is radical and pervasive. It extends to the mind, will, body and affections. Unregenerate humanity lives under the dominion of sin and Satan (Eph. 2:1–3). He is at enmity with God, hostile toward and hateful of God.

Doctrine of Salvation

We believe that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

We believe that, due to universal death through sin, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless born again (John 3:5–8); that salvation is only by grace through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ; and that all who receive the Lord Jesus Christ through faith are declared righteous by God and become children of God (Heb. 10:19–25).

We believe the Scriptures teach that regeneration, or the new birth, is that act of God by which the Holy Spirit imparts a new nature and a new spiritual life, not before possessed, and the person becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus (Gal. 2:20). The mind is given a holy disposition and a new desire to serve God, the dominion of sin is broken, and the heart is transformed from a love of sin and self to a love of holiness and God.

Doctrine of the Church

We believe that the Church is the body of Christ sent into the world to shine forth the glory of God.

God, by His Word and Spirit, creates the Church, calling sinful humanity into the fellowship of Christ’s body (1 Cor. 12:12–31). By the same Word and Spirit, He guides and preserves that newly redeemed humanity. The Church is made up of those who have become genuine followers of Jesus Christ and have personally appropriated the gospel. The Church exists to worship and glorify God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The ministry of the Church is an extension of the ministry of Jesus in the power of the Spirit.

The ultimate mission of the Church is to bring glory to God by making disciples (Matt. 28:18–20). The Church is called to make disciples through worship, prayer, the teaching of the Word, observance of the ordinances, fellowship, the exercise of our gifts and talents, and the proclamation of the gospel both in our community and throughout the world.

We believe there are two ordinances of the Church. One is that of a believer’s baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and the other is the Lord’s Supper.

Water baptism is only intended for those who have received the saving benefits of Christ through the new birth of the Holy Spirit. In obedience to Christ’s command and as a testimony to God, the Church, oneself, and the world, believers are baptized by water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Water baptism is a visual and symbolic demonstration of a person’s union with Christ in the likeness of His death and resurrection. It signifies that a former way of life has been put to death and vividly depicts the release from the mastery of Satan, sin, and death.

As with water baptism, the Lord’s Supper is to be observed only by those who have become genuine followers of Christ. This ordinance symbolizes the breaking of Christ’s body and the shedding of His blood on our behalf and is to be observed repeatedly throughout the Christian life as a sign of continued participation in the atoning benefits of Christ’s death. As we come to the table with an attitude of faith and self-examination, we remember and proclaim the death of Christ, receive spiritual nourishment for our souls, and signify our unity with other members of Christ’s body.

Doctrine of Resurrection and Consummation of the Kingdom of God

We believe that Jesus Christ is returning to the world in the future to judge the living and the dead.

The consummation of all things includes the future, physical, visible, personal, and glorious return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead and the glorification of those alive in Christ, the judgment of the just and the unjust, and the fulfillment of Christ’s kingdom in the new heavens and the new earth. In the consummation, Satan, with his hosts and all those outside Christ, is finally separated from the benevolent presence of God, enduring eternal punishment (Rev. 20:7–15), but the righteous, in glorious bodies, will live and reign with Him forever, serving Him and giving Him unending praise and glory. Then the eager expectation of creation will be fulfilled, and the whole earth shall proclaim the glory of God, who makes all things new (Rev. 21:1–5).

Distinctive || Complementarianism

Men and women are absolutely equal in essence, dignity, and value but are distinct by divine design. As part of God’s good created order, men and women are to have different yet complementary roles and responsibilities in the home and church. As it relates to the church, men and women are both expected to lead; however, the office of elder is reserved for qualified men (1 Tim. 3; Titus 1).

For an in-depth study on the role of women in ministry, we recommend Mike Winger's series, which can be found here.

Distinctive || Gifts of the Holy Spirit

The gifts of the Holy Spirit that we see on display in the New Testament are still active within the life of the church. These gifts did not end with the close of the New Testament or the death of the last apostle (1 Cor. 12:1–11).

Distinctive || Baptism by Immersion

The precedent we find in the New Testament is baptism following conversion by immersion into water. Baptism by immersion is meant to symbolically depict the believer’s real union to Christ in His death and resurrection (Rom. 6:1–14). (For more on this distinctive, consider attending one of our Baptism classes, held several times throughout the year.)

BIBLICAL OBLIGATIONS OF GOSPEL CITY CHURCH

Elders to the Gospel City Church Body

As shepherds and overseers of a local church, elders are entrusted with protecting, leading, equipping, and caring for the corporate church body and her individual members. The following is a rather extensive overview of the requirements for elders as spelled out within the Scriptures.

The elders covenant…

  • to appoint elders and deacons (including staff members who serve in these offices) according to the criteria assigned to them in the Scriptures (1 Tim. 3:1–13; Titus 1:5–9; 1 Pet. 5:1–4).

  • to prayerfully seek God’s will for our church community and steward her resources to the best of our ability based on our study of the Scriptures and following of the Spirit (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:1–4).

  • to care for the church and seek her growth in grace, truth and love (Matt. 28:16–20; Eph. 4:15–16; Col. 1:28; James 5:14; 1 Pet. 5:1–4).

  • to provide teaching and counsel from the whole of Scripture (Acts 20:27–28; 1 Tim. 4:16; 2 Tim. 4:1–5; Titus 2:1).

  • to equip the members of the church for the work of ministry (Eph. 4:11–16).

  • to be on guard against false teachers and teachings (Matt. 7:15; Acts 20:28–31; 1 Tim. 1:3–7; 1 John 4:1).

  • to lovingly exercise discipline, when necessary, for the glory of God, the good of the one disciplined and the health of the church as a whole (Matt. 18:15–20; 1 Cor. 5; Gal. 6:1; James 5:19–20).

  • to set an example and join members in fulfilling the obligations of church membership stated below (Phil. 3:17; 1 Tim. 4:12; Titus 2:7–8; 1 Pet. 5:3).

Members to the Gospel City Church Body

As those who have experienced the grace of a life changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ, we have the opportunity to reflect the character of Christ through the pursuit of certain attitudes and actions and the rejection of others. The Scriptures refer to this reality as “living by the Spirit” (Rom. 8). The requirements of this membership covenant are in no way intended as an addition to the biblical obligations of a believer. Rather, this document functions primarily as an accessible yet non-exhaustive explanation of what the Scriptures teach about the obedience that faith produces.

I covenant…

  • to submit to the authority of the Scriptures as the final arbiter on all issues (Ps. 119; 2 Tim. 3:14–17; 2 Pet. 1:19–21).

  • to pursue the Lord Jesus Christ through regular Bible reading, prayer, fellowship and practice of spiritual disciplines (Luke 18:1; Acts 17:11; 1 Cor. 9:24– 27; Eph. 5:1–21; 1 Thess. 5:12–22).

  • to follow the command and example of Jesus by participating in the ordinances prescribed to His Church:
    • by being baptized after my conversion.
    • by regularly remembering and celebrating the person and work of Christ through communion.

  • to regularly participate in the life of Gospel City Church by attending weekly services, engaging in gospel-centered community and serving those within and outside of this church (Acts 2:42–47; Heb. 10:23–25; Titus 3:14).

  • to steward the resources God has given me, including time, talents, spiritual gifts and finances. This includes regular financial giving, service and participation in community that is sacrificial, cheerful and voluntary (Matt. 25:14–30; Rom. 12:1–2; 2 Cor. 8–9; 1 Pet. 4:10–11).

  • by God’s grace through the power of the Holy Spirit, to pursue holiness in all areas of life as an act of worship to Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 1:13–16, 4:1–3).

  • to take seriously the responsibility of Christian freedom, especially actions or situations that could present a stumbling block to another (1 Cor. 8:1–13).

  • to submit to the correction of God through His Holy Spirit by:
    • following the biblical procedures for church discipline where sin is evident in another - the hope of such discipline being repentance and restoration.
    • receiving righteous and loving discipline when approached biblically by fellow believers (Ps. 141:5; Matt. 18:15–20; 1 Cor. 5:9–13; Heb. 12:5–11).

  • to do the following when I sin:
    • confess my sin to God, that I can walk in the cleansing and forgiveness available in Christ
    • if I ever find myself ensnared by a particular sin repeatedly, I will seek help from a fellow brother or sister in Christ to put my sin to death (Rom. 8:13; Col. 3:5; James 5:16; 1 John 1:6–10).

  • to submit to the elders and other appointed leaders of the church and diligently strive for unity and peace within the church (Eph. 4:1–3; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:5).

  • to do the following should I leave the church for righteous reasons:
    • to notify one of the elders
    • to seek another church with which I can carry out my biblical responsibilities as a believer

AFFILIATION

Locally, we are part of the CNBC WestCoast family of churches.

Nationally, we are part of the Canadian National Baptist Convention.

We were planted in partnership with the SEND Network.