Beliefs

Statement of faith

Elm City Church adheres to the doctrinal statement of the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA). The following Statement of Faith represents the core, orthodox beliefs of the Church from a biblical and historical perspective, and summarizes some (but not all) of the EFCA doctrinal statement:

+ We believe that the Scriptures are true, authoritative, and sufficient (2 Timothy 3:16).

+ We believe that there is only one living and true God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-6; John 17:3).

+ We believe in the unity of the Godhead: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We believe that they are three distinct persons, of one substance, and equal in power and authority (Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3:13-17).

+ We believe that we, along with all of humanity (Christ excluded), are sinners by nature and choice (Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:23; 5:8, 12-21; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 John 1:8-10) and that the deserved penalty for our sin is death, both physical and spiritual (Genesis 2:15-17; 3:19; Romans 5:12-14; 6:23; James 1:14-15).

+ We believe that Jesus Christ is exactly who he claimed to be as the eternal Son of God, born of a virgin, both fully God and fully human, and without sin. We believe that in His first coming, Jesus inaugurated the fulfillment of the kingdom of God (Matthew 1:20; John 1:1-4; 14; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:1-3).

+ We believe that Jesus Christ was crucified, suffered, and died as a substitute to pay the penalty for our sin (John 1:29; 10:1-18; Romans 5:8).

+ We believe that Jesus Christ physically overcame death, rose from the grave, ascended into heaven, and now sits at the right hand of the Father (Matthew 28:1-20; Mark 16:19; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

+ We believe that Jesus Christ will one day physically return to the earth to bring about the consummation of the kingdom of God and to judge the living and the dead (John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 2 Timothy 4:1; Hebrews 9:28; Revelation 1:7).

+ We believe that only by trusting in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone can we be reconciled to God and experience true life and joy (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5-6).