Mountain View Church of Christ » What We Teach and Believe

Key Verses

John H — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:48:42 +0000

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal live. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:16-17

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
1 John 3:16

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
Romans 1:16

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:1

Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
2 Timothy 4:7,8

Personal Responsibility

John H — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 22:01:39 +0000

We believe that the Lord calls us according to His purpose to be Holy (1 Peter 1:15-16, 2 Corinthians 7:1). Each of us has a personal responsibility to not just look at the Word but to do what it says (James 1:22-25). The Word teaches us that we are to go and make disciples (evangelize) (Matthew 28:18-19). Therefore, each of us has a responsibility to tell our friends, neighbors and family about the love of Jesus and His offer of salvation.

We believe that each Christian must be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks the reason for the hope that we have (1 Peter 3:15). We are to love Him and obey His teaching (John 14:23), to mature as Christians (Hebrews 6:1), to be involved in the work of the congregation (Romans 12:4-10) and to be faithful unto death (Revelation 2:10). We are never to lack in zeal, but keep our spiritual fervor for serving the Lord (Romans 12:11). We must avoid immoral behavior because the body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:13). We are to cease sinning (1 John 3:6) and no longer conform to the pattern of this world (Romans 12:2). Colossians 3:17 provides an excellent summary, “and all we do in word or deed to do it all in the name of Jesus”.

Back to “What We Teach and Believe”

Pattern for Marriage

John H — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 21:54:58 +0000

We believe the marriage relationship was orgained and created by God (Hebrews 13:4) as a special relationship between a man and woman. God’s original plan, from the beginning, was one man and one woman for life (Matthew 19:4-6). We believe that God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16) and recognizes only one reason to dissolve a marriage (Matthew 19:9).

God has established a pattern (1 Corinthians 11:3) for the man, wife and family similar to Jesus and His Church. The husband is to love his wife and the wife is to show respect for her husband. While our roles are different, husbands and wives are equal in Christ’s sight. They complement each other. Like the congregation operates as one, the husband and wife also should function together as one (Ephesians 5:31) in raising their children to know and love the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). Children are taught obedience (to be respectful) by their parents (Colossians 3:20).

Back to “What We Teach and Believe”

Worship

John H — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 21:51:43 +0000

We believe that the members of the congregation assemble to worship God (Hebrews 10:26) and to encourage one another (Hebrews 10:25). We perform our spiritual act of worship by offering ourselves as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). Together we are a whole (1 Peter 2:5) and each of us contributes our talents, time and energy to the work of the congregation (Romans 12:4-12). We believe that each member is responsible and is to be significantly involved in the work of the Church, which includes evangelism (Matthew 28:18-20), edification (Romans 14:19), and benevolence (Galatians 6:10). We believe the congregation functions as one body by each member complementing the other members (1 Corinthians 12:12).

We believe that the congregation assembles on the first day of the week to praise the Lord. These assemblies are characterized by specific activities led by the men of the congregation including a cappella music (Colossians 3:16), the Lord’s Supper (Corinthians 11:23-25), prayer (Colossians 4:2), scripture reading (2 Timothy 3:16-17), teaching (Matthew 28:20), edification (Hebrews 10:24), and giving to support the work of the church (1 Corinthians 16:1-22, Corinthians 8:1-4).

Back to “What We Teach and Believe”

Church Pattern

John H — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 21:45:09 +0000

God’s pattern is that each congregation will function independently. Therefore, each congregation is established with more than one elder (Titus 1:5) that oversees the affairs of the congregation (1 Timothy 5:17), prepares God’s people for works of service (Ephesians 4:12), and shepherds and protects the flock (1 Peter 5:2). These men are made elders by the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:28) and must give an account (Hebrews 13:17) to Jesus Christ.

The congregation selects men from within the congregation who are “full of the Spirit” to serve as deacons (Acts 6:3). These men work under the oversight of the elders, to perform the work of serving by leading, organizing and carrying out the work. Evangelists, also under the oversight of the elders, preach the Word and are prepared in season and out of season to correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction (2 Timothy 4:2).

Back to “What We Teach and Believe”

One Church

John H — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 21:40:49 +0000

We believe that there is only on Church that was built by Christ (Matthew 16:16-18) and purchased by His own blood (Acts 20:28). Jesus adds us to his Church when we are saved (Acts 2:47). The New Testament teaches that the Church is the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23) and that Christ is the head of that body (Colossians 1:18). Therefore, all authority belongs to Christ. It is our responsibility to obey the commands of Jesus Christ (John 14:23) and to teach others to obey His commands (Matthew 28:20). If we love Him, we will obey His commands (John 14:15).

When someone places membership at Mountain View church of Christ, he or she is not “joining” the Church. In fact, they must already be members of Christ’s body. They are placing membership to become an integral part of the work of this congregation and accept the authority and leadership of the elders (Hebrews 13:17). Each congregation is a visible portion of the Church or Christ’s body (1 Corinthians 12:12).

Paul’s plea was that we be united. “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought” (1 Corinthians 1:10). He also instructed His disciples that they and we would be known by the love shown to each other (John 13:35). Finally, the apostle Paul asks us to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21).

Back to “What We Teach and Believe”

Holy Spirit

John H — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 21:33:50 +0000

We believe God sent the Holy Spirit (John 14:26) to counsel and teach the apostles. We receive the Holy Spirit at the time of our baptism (Titus 3:5-7). Jesus answered Nicodemus, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit”. (John 3:5). From that moment on, the Holy Spirit lives within us. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own” (1 Corinthians 6:19).

Back to “What We Teach and Believe”

Baptism into the Son of God

John H — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 21:16:51 +0000

We believe that Jesus is the Son of God (Matthew 3:17). “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us” (John 1:14). Jesus appeared in human form, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, and was taken up in glory (1 Timothy 3:16). “Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:11). We are saved by our faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8), our belief that Jesus is the Son of God (John 20:31), our decision to change based on Jesus’ offer of salvation (Acts 2:38), our confession that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9), and our baptism (Matthew 28:19, 1 Peter 3:21) for the forgiveness of our sings (Mark 16:16). Baptism by immersion is essential to salvation. Only through Baptism do we come in contact with Christ’s blood (Romans 6:3-6).

Back to “What We Teach and Believe”

Inspiration

John H — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 21:12:47 +0000

We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16) and we accept no other source of God’s gospel to man (Galatians 1:5). Therefore, as Christians, we recognize no other written creed or confession of faith other than the Bible. We learn about God and His will through our study of scripture (2 Timothy 2:15). We accept the Bible as being true and complete as God’s revelation to man. “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3).

Back to “What We Teach and Believe”