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OUR BELIEFS
Doctrine is an essential part to the Bridge’s DNA. In the book of Titus, Paul commands we must “teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine” (2:1). Multiple times in the book of 1 Timothy, Paul urges, “watch your life and doctrine closely” (4:16) and, “command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer” (1:3). It’s obvious God cares about sound doctrine, so we do too.
The Bridge is a non-denominational church that affirms what is written in the Apostles and Nicene Creeds.
View more about what we believe below.
ABOUT GOD
God is the Creator and Ruler of the Universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
Genesis 1:1,26,27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 Corinthians 13:14
ABOUT ETERNITY
Man was created to exist forever. He will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence.
John 3:16; 1 John 2:25, 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15
ABOUT SALVATION
Salvation is a gift from God to man. Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can man be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily.
1 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18
ABOUT THE CHURCH
A New Testament church of Jesus Christ is a local body of baptized believers who are associated by covenant agreement in the faith and fellowship of the gospel and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. This church is an autonomous body. The New Testament speaks also of the church as the body of Christ, which includes all the redeemed of all the ages.
Matthew 16:15-19, 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42,47; Acts 5:11-14, 6:3-6, 13:1-3, 14:23,27; Acts 15:1-30, 16:5; 20:28; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 3:16, 5:4-5, 7:17, 9:13-14, 12; Ephesians 1:22-23, 2:19-22, 3:8-11,21; Ephesians 5:22-32; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:9-14, 3:1-15, 4:14; Hebrews 11:39-40; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 2-3, 21:2-3
ABOUT MAN
Man is made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. He is the supreme object of God’s creation. Although man has tremendous potential for good, he is marred by acts of disobedience toward God called “sin.” These acts separate man from God.
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2
ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13
ABOUT ETERNAL SECURITY
Because God gives man eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives this security.
John 10:29; 1 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25, 10:10-14; 1 Peter 1:3-5
ABOUT THE BIBLE
The Bible is God’s Word to all men. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian's beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error.
1 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 1:20-21; 1 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5
ABOUT BAPTISM & THE LORD'S SUPPER
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members memorialize the death of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, and anticipate His second coming.
Matthew 3:13-17, 26:26-30, 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11, 14:22-26; Luke 3:21-22, 22:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42, 8:35-39, 16:30-33, 20:7; Romans 6::3-5; 1 Corinthians 10:16,21; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29; Colossians 2:12
PRIESTHOOD OF BELIEVERS
We also hold to the biblical concept called the Priesthood of the Believer which simply means that we must all come to grips with our own private convictions about certain issues of belief under the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
One of the ways we guard both sound doctrine and unity in our church is through what we call the "Three Doctrinal Tiers." As we make decisions as a church and come together as a family, we sort out the issues that we are willing to defend (1st tier), dialogue about (2nd tier), and disagree on (3rd tier).
Three Doctrinal Tiers
1st Tier Issues — what we are prepared to defend. (i.e. the death and resurrection of Jesus, saved by grace alone, etc.)
2nd Tier Issues — what we humbly dialogue. (i.e. gifts of the Holy Spirit, baptism, church governance, etc.)
3rd Tier Issues — what we may disagree about, but shouldn’t bother us. (i.e. church attire, music preference, etc.)
