Who is Journey?

What We Believe

God

We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory.

Duet. 6:4, Gen. 1:1, Jn. 1:3, Ex. 15:11, Duet. 32:4, Ps. 102:25-27, Jn. 3:35, Jn. 17:11, Duet. 32:6, Mt. 3:17, Jn. 14:16, Ps. 147:5, Jer. 32:17, Eph.1:11, Eph. 3:10-12, Acts 3:21, Rev. 21:5, Ps. 19:1-2

The Bible

We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.

Heb. 1:1-2, Lk. 24:27, Lk. 1:1-4, 2 Tim. 3:16, 2 Pet. 1: 20-21, Num. 23:19, Prov. 30:5, 2 Tim. 3:15, 1 Jn. 5:13, Jn. 17:17, 2 Tim. 3: 16-17, Rom. 15:4, Mt. 28:30, 1 Jn. 2:5, Ps. 119:11, Rom. 4:21, Heb. 10:23, 2 Pet. 3:13

The Human Condition

We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image, but they sinned when tempted by Satan. In union with Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under His wrath. Only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ can we be rescued, reconciled and renewed.

Gen. 1:26-27, Gen. 3:1-6, Jn. 8:44, Ps. 51:5, Gen. 6:5, Rom. 8:5-8, Rom. 5:10, Rom. 1:18, Rom. 6:23, Acts 4:12, 1 Thes.1:10, Rom. 5: 1-2,10, 2 Cor. 3:18, 1 Jn. 3:2

Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures. Jesus - Israel's promised Messiah - was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate.

Mt. 1:21, Jn. 1:1-18, Is. 9:6, Mt. 4:2, Heb. 4:15, Jn. 10:30, Jn.1:41, Acts 2:36, Mt. 1:18, Is. 7:14, Lk.1:34-35, Mk. 15:15, Lk.24:39, Acts 1:8-11, Col. 3:1, Heb. 4:14, Rom. 8:34, Heb. 7:25

The Work of Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ, as our Representative and Substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation.

Rom. 5:18-19, Mk. 10:45, Mt. 26:28, 1 Pet. 1:18-19, Heb. 9:27-28, Is. 53:5-7, 1 Jn. 2:2, Mt. 28:6-7, Jn. 11:25, 1 Pet.1:3, 1 Cor. 6:14, 1 Pet. 1:3

The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates sinners, and in Him they are baptized into union with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God. He also indwells, illuminates, guides, equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service.

Jn. 6:14, Jn. 16:8, 1 Cor. 2:14, Ezek. 36:26-27, 2 Cor. 5:17, Tit. 3:5, Mk. 1:8, 1 Cor. 12:13, 2 Cor. 5:17, Gal. 3:28, Rom. 12:5, Eph. 2:12-13, Rom. 8:15-17, Tit. 3:7, 2 Cor. 6:18, Rom. 8:16, Jn. 14:17, Rom. 8:11, Jn. 14:17, Rom. 8:11, 1 Cor. 3:16, Eph. 1:17-19, Phil. 1:9-11, Jn. 14:16-17,26, Ps. 119:105, Jn. 16:13, Rom. 8:14, Gal 5:25, Rom. 12:4-8, 1 Cor. 12: 4-12, Eph. 4:11-13, 1 Pet. 4:10-11, Acts 1:8, Rom. 15:13, 2 Tim. 1:7, Mt. 10:17-20, Eph. 6:19, Gal. 3:3, 5:22-25, Phil. 2:1-2, 2 Cor. 13:14

The Church

We believe that the true church comprises all who have been justified by God's grace through faith alone in Christ alone. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. The true church is manifest in local churches, whose membership should be composed only of believers. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer.

Mt. 16:18, 1 Cor. 12:28, Eph. 4:4-6; 5:25, Heb. 12:28, Ps. 103:12, Is. 44:22, Jn. 3:16, Acts 16:31, Rom. 3:20-28; 4:3; 5:1,21; 8:1,30. 33-34; 10:4,9, 2 Cor. 5:21, Gal. 2:16, Eph. 2:8-9, Phil. 3:6, Tit. 3:7, Heb. 10:14, 1 Cor. 12:12-27, Eph. 1:22-23; 4:15-16, Col. 1:18; 2:19, Acts 9:31; 20:29-30, Rom. 16:5, 1 Cor. 1:2; 16:19, 2 Cor. 1:1, 1 Thess. 1:1, Philem. 1-2, Matt. 18:15-20, Acts 2:41,47; 14:23, 20:7, 1 Cor. 1:2,9; 11:20; 12:13; 14:40; 16:1-2, 1 Tim. 3:1-13; 5:9, Tit. 1:5-9, Heb. 10:25, Mt. 28:18-20, Rom. 6:3-4, Col. 2:12, Mt. 26:26-29, Mk. 14:22-25, Lk. 22:15-20, 1 Cor. 11:23-26, Jn. 6:55-56, Acts 2:38; 8:39; 16:34, 1 Cor. 10:16; 11:29-30, Col. 2:12.

Christian Living

We believe that God's justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our faith with care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the oppressed. With God’s Word, the Spirit’s power, and fervent prayer in Christ’s name, we are to combat the spiritual forces of evil. In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed.

Mt. 7:17-18; 12:33,35, Heb. 11:6, Eph. 2:9, 1 Cor. 10:31, Col. 3:17,23, 2 Thess. 2:13; 5:23, 2 Cor. 5:17, 1 Jn. 2:29; 3:9; 5;18, 2 Cor. 3:18, Tit. 3:5, 1 Cor. 6:11, Rom. 6:11,14, 1 Pet. 1:15, Phil. 2:12-13, Heb. 12:1,14, Rom. 6, 2 Tim. 1:9, Js. 2:17, 1 Pet. 2:24, 2 Pet. 1:3-11, Dt. 6:5, Lev. 19:18, Mt. 22:37-39, Mk. 12:30, Lk. 10:27, Rom. 12:10; 14:13; 15:7, Gal. 5:26, Eph. 4:32, 1 Thess. 3:13; 5:11,15, Heb. 10:24-25, 1 Pet. 4:9, Dt. 15:11, Ps. 82:3,4; 140:12, Prov. 14:21,31; 19:17; 22:9,16,22,23; 28:8; 29:7; 31:8,9, Jer. 22:16, Gal. 2:10, Js. 1:27, Ex. 23:6, Lev. 19:15, Ps. 82:3,4; 140;12, Prov. 29:7; 31:39, Is. 1:17, Jer. 9:24, Mic. 6:8, Zech 7:9,10, Mt. 23:23, Lk. 4:18, Heb. 3:13; 10:25, 2 Cor. 10:3-5, Eph. 6:11-12, 2 Tim. 4:7, 1 Jn. 5:3-4, Mt. 28:19, Jn. 20:21, Rev. 7:9, Acts 1:8, Mt. 5:13-16.

Christ’s Return

We believe in the personal, bodily and premillennial return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.

Mt. 24:30; 26:64, Acts 1:11, Rev. 1:7; 20:1-10, Mt. 25:31, Tit. 2:13, 2 Thess. 1:6-8, Rev. 19:11-21, Mt. 24:36, Mk. 13:32, Mt. 24:42-51, Rom. 13:11-14, 1 Thess. 5:1-11, Js. 5:8,9, 2 Pet. 3:10-14, Rev. 3:3, Tit. 2:13, 2 Thess. 1:6-8, 2 Tim. 4:8, Tit. 2:14, Heb. 9:28, 1 Jn. 3:2-3, 2 Pet. 3:10-14.

Response and Eternal Destiny

We believe that God commands everyone everywhere to believe the gospel by turning to Him in repentance and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace. Amen.

Acts 20:20, Mk. 1:15, Jn. 6:29; 8:24; 11:26; 14:1; 20:31, Acts 16:31, Rom. 3:22; 10:14, Gal. 3:22, 1 Tim. 1:16, 1 Pet. 1:8, 1 Jn. 3:23, Is. 55:6-7, Lk. 24:47, Acts 2:37-38; 3:19; 14:15; 26:17,18, Rm. 2:4, 2 Cor. 7:9-10, Jn. 1:2, Is. 26:19, Dan. 2:4, 1 Cor. 15, 1 Thess. 4:13-18, Rev. 20:13, Ecc. 12:14, Mt. 12:36; 26:31-32, Acts 17:31, Rm. 14:10, 2 Cor. 5:10, 2 Tim. 4:1, Rev. 20:12, Mt. 25:46, Lk. 16:26, 2 Thess 1:9, Rev. 14;11; 21:6,8; 22:14,15, mt. 25:34, 46, Jn. 14:2, Rev. 21: 1-3, Is. 65:17, 66:22, Rm. 8:19-21, Heb. 12:26,27, 2 Pet. 3:13, Rev. 21:1; 22:3, Eph. 1:6,12.

Eternal Security

Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot “lose” it. 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 us this security.

John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25, 10:10,14; 1 Peter 1:3-5

Our Lifestyle Statement - What We Practice

Beliefs are not worth much unless they are translated into actions. Based on what the Bible teaches, we feel very strongly about the following seven practices:

Bible As Our Sole Authority

“The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us to do what is right.” 2 Tim. 3:15

Since God’s Word is the only completely reliable and truthful authority, we accept the Bible as our manual for living. Our first question when faced with a decision is “What does the Bible say?” We seek to practice daily Bible reading, Bible study, and Bible memorization. The Bible is the basis for all we believe.

Autonomy of Each Local Church

“Christ is the head of His Body, the church. He is the source of the Body’s life...” Col. 1:18 (GN)

Christ is the recognized head of our church, not any person, group, or religious organization. While recognizing the value of associating and cooperating with other groups of Christians, we believe every local church should be self-governing and independent from any denominational control. In relating to any future “daughter churches” that we may sponsor, we will encourage each congregation to determine its own strategy, structure, and style.

Priesthood of Every Believer

“Christ loves us, and by His death He has freed us from our sins and made us a kingdom of priests to serve God...” Rev. 1:6 (GN) “You are...the King’s priests...God’s own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God.” 1 Pet. 2:9 (GN)

The Bible teaches that every Christian is called to “full time” Christian service, regardless of his or her vocation. We practice the truth that every believer is a minister by encouraging every member to find a place of service and ministry. Every believer has direct access to God through prayer and Bible reading.

Tithing

“A tithe of everything you produce belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.” Lev. 26:30, (Matt. 23:23)

At JourneyChurch we practice tithing for the support of Christ’s body, the church, as God commands. We recognize that giving 10% of our income is the Biblical standard of giving.

Immersion (Baptism)

"For when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ...” Col. 2:12 (GN)

We practice believer’s baptism by immersion under water - the way Jesus was baptized, and the way the Bible commands.

Spirit-led Living

(Jesus said) "I am the Vine, you are the branches. If you abide in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; but apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

We believe the only way possible to live the Christian life is by God’s power within us. So we seek to practice a daily dependence on God’s Spirit to enable us to do what is right. (Phil. 2:13, Eph. 5:18)

Telling Others About Christ

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15

It is the responsibility of every Christian to share the Good News with those with whom God brings us into contact. We practice personal sharing about Christ and inviting friends to church.