What We Believe

Sequoia Community Church, Statement of Faith

We believe the Bible to be the divinely inspired God breathed word.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for

reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16

We believe in one God, existing in three distinct persons; Father, Son

and Holy Spirit.

When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water, and

behold the heavens were opened to Him and He saw the Spirit of God

descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from

heaven saying “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3: 16 &17

We believe that Jesus Christ is pre-existent, born of a virgin, that He

ministered on the earth, died on a cross, rose back to life on the third

day, and that He will return to the earth as King.

Pre- existent: In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and

the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. John 1:1-2

Born of a virgin: Therefore the Lord HImself will give you a sign; Behold

the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name

Immuanuel Isaiah 7:14

Ministered on the earth: And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their

synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of

sickness and all manner of disease among the people. Matt. 4:23

Died on the cross: And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father,

into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Luke 23:46

Resurrected; To whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by

many infallible proofs. Being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the

things pertaining to the kingdom of God. Acts 1:3

His promised return: “And behold I am coming quickly and My reward is with

Me, to give to every one according to his work.” Revelation 22:12

His Kingship: They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer

them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and

chosen and faithful. Rev. 17:14

We believe that a new birth is necessary for salvation and that

salvation is by grace through faith.

That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that

God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves it is

the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

We believe that water baptism by immersion is meant to be a public

and symbolic act showing oneness with Christ in His death, burial,

and resurrection.

Buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith

in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. Col. 2:12

We believe that communion is a symbolic act showing our oneness

with Jesus in His death and victory over sin. Communion is to be

taken corporately and privately by the church proclaiming Jesus’

death until He returns.

And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, Take, eat; this is My body

which is]broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.

” In the same manner He

also took the cup after supper, saying,

“This cup is the new covenant in My

blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.

”For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes." 1 Corinthians 11:24-26

We believe in the regular continuous gathering of the saints known

as the church body. That through the Church’s unity we demonstrate

God’s love to a hurting and lost world.

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage

one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Heb 10:25

I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me,

Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you

sent me. John 17:21

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who

are of the household of faith. Gal 6:10

We believe the Great Commission is to be fulfilled by the Church

through preaching the gospel and making disciples.

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, Matthew 28:19

We believe mental, physical, and emotional wholeness is God’s

desire and made available to all His children.

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32

I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

John 10:10

But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed

Him, and He healed them all Matthew 12:15

We believe in the resurrection of all people, the redeemed will

enjoy eternal life with God, while the lost will spend eternity

separated from His presence.

“Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves

will hear His voice “and come forth—those who have done good, to the

resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of

condemnation. John 5:28-29

We believe in the present day ministry of the Holy Spirit, to convict

mankind of sin, to comfort, to teach, to lead, and guide the believer.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never

leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive

him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know

him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. John 14:16-17

We believe the baptism of the Spirit to be a subsequent

experience to salvation made available to all believers, that we

are to be continually filled with God’s person through His Spirit

at work in the earth today.

But this spoke of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the

Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified. John

7:39

Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received

the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come

down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had

fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord

Jesus.Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Acts

8:14-17

We believe that marriage is designed by God to be between one man

and one woman and that because God created men and women in His

image as co-heirs, women are also called into ministry.