What We Believe
THE BIBLE
We believe that 66 books of the Old and New Testaments are inspired by God and useful “for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The Scriptures in the original language are without error and therefore serve as the final authority for everything relating to faith and life.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21; Proverbs 30:5; Hebrews 4:12)
GOD IS TRIUNE
We believe that there is only one true God, who has eternally exists as three distinct persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each person of the Triune God performs distinct and harmonious roles in the work of creation, redemption of man and his subsequent relationship with God, and judgment of man. The three persons of the Trinity are co-eternal and infinite in being, absolute in power, perfect in holiness, truth, and love and thus equally worthy of worship, confidence and obedience. The Triune God is spirit and personal.
(Genesis 1:1, John 1:3, 1:14, 4:24, Mark 12:29, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:18-19)
GOD THE SON
We believe that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah, the only Eternal Son of God, who entered the human race after being conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe He was born of the virgin Mary, yet still remained fully God, that He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father and voluntarily fulfilled the will of God by laying down His life as a substitute and atoning for the sin of humanity. His sacrifice satisfied Divine justice and achieved salvation for all who place their trust in Him. He was raised from the dead by God, ascended to heaven and exalted to the right hand of God where He is currently interceding for His own, awaiting His return to consummate God’s kingdom and redemptive plan.
(John 1:1-5, Colossians 1:15, Hebrews 9:24, Romans 8:34, 1 Peter 1:3-5)
GOD THE SPIRIT
We believe the Holy Spirit is present in the world to bring conviction of sin and make man aware of his need for salvation. He is responsible for the regeneration, sanctification and preservation of the saints. We believe that He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation and provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right.
(John 14:16-26, 16:7-13, Ephesians 1:13-14, Romans 8:9)
SIN
We believe that man fell from his original condition because of Adam’s sin. As a result, all of humanity, with the exception of Jesus, would inherit a sin nature, be born with a heart that is rebellious against God, and become totally depraved and unable in himself to remedy his lost condition. Man’s condition and inability to make himself right before God places him directly under the wrath, condemnation, and righteous judgment of God.
(Genesis 3:1-24, Isaiah 53:6, Romans 3:22-23, Ephesians 2:1-3)
MAN
We believe that man, both male and female, have been distinctly created in the image and likeness of God, as the apex of His creation so that they might enjoy fellowship with Him.
(Genesis 1:26-28, 2:7, 2:18-24)
SALVATION
We believe that the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ on the cross provides the sole basis for the forgiveness of sins. Therefore, salvation only occurs when a person turns from their sin and places his or her faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This means a person believes in the true identity of Jesus as the Son of God (He is Lord). This also means that a person trusts in the atoning work (His sinless life, His substitutionary death as the sufficient payment for his or her sins, and His bodily resurrection) that Jesus Christ did on his or her behalf to establish a right relationship with God (He is my Savior).
(Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 14:6; 1:12, Titus 3:5, Galatians 3:26, Romans 5:1)
THE CHURCH
We believe that there is only one true Church, the spiritual body and bride of Christ. The Church consists of all people who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus, with Jesus serving as the Head. The Church functions through local churches where all Christians can come together to worship, pray, teach God’s word, fellowship, service to the rest of the body, outreach the lost, and observe the two sacraments Jesus instituted: Baptism and Communion.
(Ephesians 5:25-27, Matthew 16:18, 28:18-20, Acts 2:42-47, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, 2 Corinthians 11:2)
SATAN
We believe there is a spiritual being whose name is Satan, also referred to as the devil. He was the crown jewel of God’s angelic creation until his own pride and ambition to become God caused him to convince many other holy angels to join his rebellion to overthrow God. He is now the unholy ruler of this world, father of lies, deceiver and tempter of man, author of every false religion, and leader over the powers of darkness and evil. He is destined to be overthrown, defeated, and cast into the eternal punishment by Jesus.
(1 Peter 5:8, Ezekiel 28:11-19, Isaiah 14:13-14, Ephesians 2:1-3, Revelation 12:10, 20:10)
THE LAST THINGS
We believe that Jesus will literally, personally, and visibly return to earth to purge the earth of sin, destroy evil, judge unbelieving man for his sin, consummate His marriage to His bride, the Church, and consummate His kingdom. We believe the return of Jesus is the blessed hope of the believer, the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal joy of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked.
(Luke 16:19-26, Revelation 20:4-6, 20:11-15, Titus 2:13, 1 Corinthians 4:5, 4:15, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-12)
BAPTISM
Baptism is always a new believer’s first step of obedience after salvation. Baptism is a public profession of one’s faith in Jesus Christ and should always follow faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Baptism by immersion symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Baptism by immersion also symbolizes a person’s dying to their old self and the beginning of their new life in Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 2:41, Acts 8:38-39, Acts 10:43-47, Romans 6:3-5, Colossians 2:12)
CHILD DEDICATION
At Resaca City Church, parents may choose to bring their child before the church for a time of dedication. During this time, we are not saying the child is baptized or is becoming a Christian. This dedication serves a two-fold purpose. First, it’s a time for the parents to commit before God and their church family that they will bring up their child to know Jesus. And, it’s a time for the church family to pray for the parents and for the child to one day come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ.
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)
ETERNITY
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, I John 2:25; 5:11-13, Romans 6:23, Revelation 20:15)
MARRIAGE/GENDER
Marriage is God’s idea. God created and sanctioned marriage to bring together one man and one woman in a covenant relationship with Himself (Genesis 2:18-25). Marriage between one man and one woman for life is uniquely designed to reflect Christ’s relationship with His Church (Ephesians 5:21-33). Marriage also serves as the foundational unit of a stable society (1 Corinthians 7:2). It provides the best chance that children will grow up in the same home with both their mom and dad (Ephesians 6:1-3).
Gender, likewise, matters. God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female (Psalm 139:13-16), and these distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God (Gen 1:26-27). Human sexuality is a wonderful gift from God (Song of Solomon) intended and designed for the marriage relationship between one man and one woman. The Bible is clear in its teaching that any form of sex outside of marriage, whether it be heterosexual, homosexual, or otherwise, is sinful and must be avoided.
(Leviticus 18:22; Matthew 5:17-20; Matthew 15:19; Matthew 19:4-5; Rom 1:26-27; I Cor 6:9-11; I Tim 1:8-10; Jude 6-7).
CHURCH STRUCTURE
Resaca City Church is an autonomous church and is not governed by any other body or organization. Resaca City Church is overseen and shepherded by the pastors who are responsible for the general oversight and spiritual welfare of the church.