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At West Oaks Fellowship, we hold certain beliefs as essentials within our Christian faith and spiritual experience. Thus we advocate and proclaim the following convictions:
God is an intelligent, sovereign, immutable (unchanging), spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator of the universe. He is revealed to us as The Father, The Son (Jesus Christ) and The Holy Spirit; three distinct persons, but without division of nature, essence or being, and each having a distinct purpose in God’s relation to His creation and all people. (Genesis 1:1; Exodus 15:11; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 83:18; 139:7-9; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30; 15:26; 1 Corinthians 8:5-6)
- God the Father is the First Person of the Trinity; perfect, infinite, eternal, holy, loving, righteous, just, omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful), and omnipresent (always present). Who is absolutely separate from and above the universe, yet everywhere present in the universe as the Upholder of all things. (Luke 9:34-35; 10:21-22; 23:34; Matthew 6:1-34; 10:32-33; 16:17; John 1:14, 18; 5:17, 19-37; 14:1-17:26; Acts 1:4-7)
- God the Son (the Lord Jesus Christ) is the second Person of the Trinity, the eternal Word, Only Begotten Son, Creator and Sustainer of all things; without any change in His divine Person, He became a human being by miracle of the Virgin Birth, thus to continue forever as both true God and true Man, one Person with two natures. As Man He was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin. As the perfect Lamb of God, He gave Himself in death upon the cross bearing the sin of the world and suffering its full penalty of divine wrath in our place. He arose from the grave in a physically resurrected body as our great High Priest and ascended into Heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of God the Father as our Advocate and Intercessor. (John 1:1, 14; 3:16; Matthew 1:18-25; Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:6-10; Colossians 1:16-17; 1 Corinthians 15:3-7; Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 John 2:1-2)
- God the Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity and the Divine Agent (Representative) in nature, revelation and redemption. He convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. He regenerates, indwells, baptizes, and seals believers in Christ. He further empowers, guides, teaches, sanctifies, and fills believers who daily surrender the control and direction of their lives to Him. (John 3:5; 14:16-17, 26; 15:7-14; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 1:21-22; 12:13; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 1:13; 5:18)
The Bible is God’s inspired Holy Word; accepting fully the writings of the OLD and NEW TESTAMENTS, as canonized by the III Council of Carthage, circa A.D. 397, excluding the apocrypha, as the very Word of God, verbally inspired (God-breathed) in all parts and therefore wholly without error as originally given by God, altogether sufficient in themselves as our only infallible, inerrant (without error in its original form), and authoritative rule of faith and practice. (Psalm 119:160; Proverbs 30:5-6; 1 Corinthians 2:12-13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
Satan was originally created a spiritual being, one of the highest angelic creatures, but through pride and wicked ambition, rebelled against God becoming utterly depraved in character. He is the great adversary (enemy) of God and His people, leader of all other fallen angels and/or evil/demonic spirits; the deceiver, a liar, and god of this present world system. His powers are vast, but strictly limited by the permissive will of God, Who overrules all his wicked devices for good. He was defeated and judged at the cross of Jesus Christ and in His victorious resurrection; therefore, Satan’s final doom is established and certain. We are able to resist and overcome him (Satan) only in the Armor of God, by the Blood of the Lamb, the Word of God, the word of one’s testimony (as believing in Christ), and through the power of God’s Holy Spirit. (The Account of Job, Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11; Ephesians 6:12-17; 1 Peter 5:8-11; 1 John 2:14-17; 3:8; Revelation 12:9-11; 20:10)
Human Life is uniquely created in the image and likeness of God, and therefore deserves respect, honor, and protection, without any form of discrimination or prejudice. (Genesis 1:27)
Mankind (Humans), by personal disobedience to the revealed will of God became a sinful creature, thus birthing of the entire fallen human race which is universally sinful in both nature and practice. Mankind is thus alienated from the life and family of God, under the righteous judgment and wrath of God, and has within himself no possible means of salvation. (Genesis 3:6; Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:23; 5:12, 19; Galatians 3:11)
Salvation is the free gift of God, neither merited (deserved) nor secured (gained) in part or in whole by any virtue or work (deeds) of mankind, but received (granted) only by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In Him, all true believers have as a present possession the gift of eternal life, the immediate indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit, a perfect righteousness, adoption in the family of God, heirs of God, deliverance, and security from all condemnation. He provides every spiritual resource needed for life and godliness, and the divine guarantee that believers shall never perish. Salvation affects the whole (emotional, physical, spiritual) being and apart from Christ, grace, and faith there is no possible means of salvation. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; John 1:12; 3:16-17; 10:28-29; Romans 8:1; Philippians 1:6; Romans 8:17)
Death: upon death, the spirit/soul of all believers goes immediately to be with Christ. Alternately, upon death, the spirit/soul of the non-believer (unsaved) will descend immediately into a place of torment where they are kept under punishment until the Day of Judgment (The Great White Throne). (Luke 16:19-23; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:21-24)
Bodily Resurrection: Believers are raised from the grave/dead when Christ comes and gathers His own. At that moment the spirit/soul of each individual believer will be reunited with a glorified physical body and ultimately rule with Christ in His Kingdom. (1 Corinthians 15:1-58; 2 Thessalonians 2:1; 2 Corinthians 4:14; John 11:21-27)
Judgment: Each believer’s spiritual work during their life shall be judged before the Judgment (Bema) Seat of Christ for the determination of rewards, which will take place after the time when Christ comes for and gathers His own. In a seperate event, all non-believers will be judged according to their works at the Great White Throne Judgment and are cast into Hell “Lake of Fire”, permanently separated from God in the place of final and everlasting punishment. (2 Corinthians 5:9-10; Revelation 20:11-15)
The Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ are two seperate events:
- The Rapture: He is coming to resurrect and gather His Church (all true Believers), which is our blessed Hope, and this event is always imminent (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:1; James 5:8)
- The Second Coming of Christ: After pouring out the judgments of God upon the unbelieving nations, Christ will together with His Church (Believers) establish His glorious and literal Kingdom upon the earth, ruling and reigning over all the nations for a thousand years. (Hebrews 10:37; Jude 1:14-15; Revelation 19:11-16; Revelation 20:4-6)
The Lordship of Jesus Christ: Christ alone is Lord of all, over all creation, each individual human, all believers, and His Church, where all Christians are united in one universal spiritual body of which Christ is the head. He will ultimately be recognized and fully acknowledged by all creation and every human being as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:15; Philippians 2:9-10; Revelation 17:14)
Two Institutions, the Family/Marriage and the Church, were uniquely designed, founded, and formed by God for His glory and the benefit/blessing of His most prized creation — humanity.
- The Family/Marriage is the spiritual, physical, and civil union of one man/male, as a husband to one woman/female, as a wife in a biblically created, sacred covenant relationship for God’s ordained purposes of life-long companionship, exclusive heterosexual intimacy, and procreation (the conception, birth, and subsequent rearing/training of children). (Genesis 1:27-28; Genesis 2:18-24; Leviticus 18:18, 20; Proverbs 5:15-19; Matthew 19:5-6; Romans 7:2-3; Hebrews 13:4)
- Christ’s Church is a local, independent, self-governing, New Testament, spiritual organization, where disciples are made, His followers equipped, and the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ as the Head of the Body is faithfully served and worshipped as Lord. The New Testament church is an assembly of born again, baptized believers, where Christ’s followers express the Lordship of Jesus Christ by assembling regularly and are united for the purpose of worship, praise, prayer, fellowship, teaching, discipleship, service, practicing the ordinances established in the New Testament, and carrying out the “Great Commission” of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:41-42; 1 Corinthians 11:2; Matthew 28:19-20; Hebrews 10:25; Ephesians 4:11-16)
Christ established two ordinances for His Church/people (which in no way affect an individual’s salvation, but are carried out within the Church by Christians (believers) in obedience to Christ’s command):
- Baptism is the voluntary act by which believers publically and unashamedly declare their faith and belief in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior as well as identify themselves as part of His Church. This act is carried out by immersion, thus portraying the death, burial, and the resurrection of our living Lord, Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38, 41; Acts 8:38)
- Communion is a voluntary worship experience where believers partake of the bread and the communion cup by the believer as a continuing remembrance and memorial of the physical suffering inflicted upon Christ in His body, and the blood Christ shed in atoning payment for sin. (Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-23; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32)
Independence and Autonomy of Christ’s Local Church; each New Testament church is free to govern itself without denominational interference and should cooperate with other New Testament churches as directed by God’s Holy Spirit in the propagation of the Gospel and the making of Christian disciples. It is responsible to follow the pattern established in God’s Word (Bible) by Christ’s New Testament Church relating to its purpose, organization, and governing, being directly accountable to, and only to, the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Head of the Body (Church) and its Chief Shepherd. (Matthew 18:17; Acts 1:1-26)
Spiritual Gifts, Ministries, and Manifestations of God’s Holy Spirit, as spoken of and clealy defined in God’s Holy Word (the Bible), they are active, present, desired, and fully functioning in today’s Church (Christ’s Body). Every believer has received a Spiritual Gift evident within themselves to be employed in ministry to one another. Christ has appointed ministries within His Church (the body of Christ) for every Christian’s benefit and participation. These Spiritual Gifts and Ministries are guided and directed by God’s Holy Spirit as each individual believer matures and yields to His control. Additionally, God allows certain manifestations (supernatural displays) of God’s Holy Spirit in believers’ lives according to His will. (1 Corinthians 12:1-6; Gifts – Romans 12:5-8; 1 Peter 4:10; Ministries – Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Corinthians 12:27-28; Manifestations – 1 Corinthians 12:7-11)
The Priesthood of all Believers; since Christ is our Great High Priest and through Him every believer has direct access into God’s presence without the need of any human agency, each believer has both the right and responsibility to personally study and interpret the Scriptures under the teaching and guidance (understanding) promised by God’s Holy Spirit. (John 14:6; Hebrews 4:14-16; 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Peter 2:1-9)
Righteous Living & Faithful Service is the call of every believer. Not as a means of salvation in any sense, but as proper evidence and fruit of true salvation. Therefore, as Christians we should obey God’s Word (The Bible), follow the leadership and direction of God’s Holy Spirit, seek first the kingdom of God, walk as He walked, and accept our solemn responsibility of sharing the Gospel to a lost world. A victorious and fruitful Christian life is possible only for those who in gratitude for the infinite and undeserved grace and mercies of God have presented themselves as a holy and living sacrifice for His purpose and glory. (Ephesians 2:10; Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 2:16; James 2:20)
"In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good
servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of
the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following."
— The Bible, I Timothy 4:6