Based on the eternal truths marked out in Scripture, Mars Hill Fellowship Church adopts the following Statement of Faith as our core beliefs:

About God

We believe there is one true God who is the Creator and the Ruler of the universe (Gen. 1:1). He exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19). These three are equal and are one God.  

Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10,11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22; Psalm 90:2; 1 Peter 1:2; 
2 Corinthians 13:14.

About Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, is the eternal Son of God.  We affirm his virgin birth (Matt. 1:23), his sinless life (Heb. 4:15; 7:26), his substitutionary atoning death on the cross (1 Cor. 15:3), and his bodily resurrection on the third day (John 11:25; 1 Cor. 15:4). He will physically return again to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Acts 1:11; 1 Tim. 6:13-16). 

Luke 1:31,35, 1 Peter 2:22, Acts 2:22; Acts 10:38; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:4; Acts 1:9,11; 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3

About the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity, indwells believers and empowers each Christian to live a godly life (Rom. 8:11). The body of each believer is a "temple" in which the Holy Spirit is present (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Therefore, every believer must foster a life of being filled with the Spirit, which is both an initial and an ongoing experience (Ephesians 5:18). The Holy Spirit provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, guidance in doing what is right and spiritual gifts to edify the church. We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the promise of the Father for empowering believers to witness about Christ (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4).

About the Bible

We believe that the entire Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired, infallible and inerrant Word of God and that men were moved by the Spirit to write the books of Scripture (2 Pet 1:20-21). The words of the Bible are the primary source for teaching and equipping Christians for faith in Christ Jesus and a life of righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Timothy 1:13, Psalms 119:105, 160; 12:6; Proverbs 30:5; Matthew 5:18; 24:35 

About Humanity

We believe that human beings were created in the image of God to be in relationship with Him (Gen. 1:26), but became alienated from that relationship through sinful disobedience (Gen. 3). As a result, humanity is incapable of coming back into a right relationship with God by their own effort (Romans 5:12).

Genesis 1:26,27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans 5:12-19.

About Salvation

We believe that man’s only hope of redemption from the problem of sin is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross (Mark 10:45). Therefore, salvation is received only when a person places his faith in the death and resurrection of Christ as the sufficient payment for one's acknowledged sin (Acts 2:38).  Salvation is not earned but is a gift available by the grace of God alone (Eph. 2:8-9).  The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Rom. 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Eph. 4:24; Titus 2:12).

Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17; John 10:10; 19:30; Acts 17:30-31; Romans 5:1-2; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Peter 2:24; Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7.

About the Christian Life

We believe that for every Christian the old way of living for oneself is in the past and the new way of living for Christ is for the present and for the future (2 Cor. 5:17). By obedience to the Scriptures and daily yielding to the Spirit we will mature and become conformed to the image of Christ, which is exhibited by love for God and for one's neighbor (Matt. 22:37-39).  We believe that the charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit are to operate in the local church until Jesus returns.

Acts 2:4; 10:44-46; 19:6; Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10; Ephesians 4:11.

About the Church

We believe that the church is the body of Christ, of which Jesus is the Head (Col. 1:18) and every professing believer is an integral part. The purpose of the church is to gather believers under the authority of the Word to glorify God and to be a powerful witness for Jesus Christ in a lost world (Matt. 28:18-20). The church is ordained by God as the primary instrument in the earth to disciple men, and to establish the kingdom of God through prayer, fellowship, and the ministry of the Word.  God provides leadership gifts to the church to prepare His people for effective ministry, so that the body of Christ may be built up, reaching unity and maturity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God.

We practice two ordinances in the church instituted by Christ Himself: water baptism by immersion (Luke 3:21-22) and Holy Communion (Luke 22:14-20).

Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:42-47; 6:4; 20:28; Ephesians 4:11-16; 2 Timothy 2:2; Hebrews 10:25; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:22,23; 2:22; 4:11-17; Hebrews 12:23.

About the Future

We believe that the hope for all believers is that on the Last Day: Christians who have died will be reunited with those still alive during the second coming of Jesus Christ (1 Thess. 4:16-17). This event will be followed by a final judgment (Rev. 20:11-15), and the appearance of a new heaven and a new earth (Rev. 21-22).

Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29; 6:39, 40, 44, 54; 11:24; Acts 24:15; Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-5:11; Titus 2:13; Revelation 20:11-15; cf. also Matthew 25:31-46

About Eternity

We believe that 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. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.

John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:11-15.

 

In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity…