What We Believe
Learn about more about the core beliefs of The Ark!
Our basic beliefs about God aren't just theoretical… they shape our actions.
➢ Bible > God used man to write a book.
➢ Trinity > God: Three in One
▪ Father > God, the uncreated Creator.
▪ Son > God became human.
▪ Holy Spirit > God is always present.
➢ Eternity > Our Heavenly destination
➢ Humanity > God's image bearers
➢ Salvation > God's grace and mercy extended to mankind.
➢ Church > The physical Body and representation of Jesus Christ
The Bible
God used man to write a book – The Bible, comprised of the Old and New Testaments, is the divinely inspired Word of God, the final and trustworthy authority for faith and practice. The Bible is a direct connection with God in which He reveals who He is and what His expectations are for our lives. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Because it was inspired by God, the Bible is inerrant and is found today exactly as God intended it to be. It is to be interpreted responsibly under the guidance of the Holy Ghost within the community of faith. The Bible clearly reveals the essentials necessary for Salvation and the basics of how to conduct our lives. It is the standard by which human conduct, principles, and opinions should be measured.
(Deut. 4:1-2; II Timothy 2:15, 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21)
Trinity – God
Three in One – God has existed in relationship with Himself for all eternity. He exists as one God in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Although each member of the Trinity serves different functions, they each possess equal power and authority.
(Gen. 1:1; Deut. 6:4; John 4:24, 14; Gal. 4:6; 2 Pet. 1:17; Psalm 2:7ff; Isaiah 7:14; John 1:1-18; Hebrews 1:8; Psalm 51:11; 1 John 4:13; Acts 5:3-4)
The Father
God is the uncreated Creator. He is all powerful, all knowing, ever present, unchanging, completely worthy of our trust, and above all, holy. Because He is righteous, we can trust Him as the ultimate judge of moral authority, and He deserves our reverence. It is in Him that we live, move, and have our being. God is good: He is our Father. He is loving, compassionate, and faithful to His people and His promises. He genuinely cares and is concerned with each of His creations.
(Exodus 3:14; Numbers 23:19; Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; Psalm 11:4-6; Malachi 3:6; John 3:16, 4:24, 5:26, 14:1; Acts 17:28; Romans 3:3-4)
The Son
God became human – Jesus Christ is the Son of God, begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, fully divine and fully human, the eternal and pre-existent Word. By His death Christ made full atonement for our sins, and by His resurrection He showed Himself to be the Lord and giver of life to all who believe. He is the only plan for bringing people who are enemies of God back into a right relationship with God. He lived a perfect life, so that He could be a substitution for us in reconciling us with God, Who is perfect. He received punishment for our sins when He died on the cross to satisfy God's wrath. He defeated death in His resurrection so that we could have life. He overcame sin, death, and evil to set the world right. He ushered in the Kingdom of God here and now and for eternity.
(Isaiah 7:14; 53; Matthew 1:18-23, 3:17, 8:29, 14:33, 16:16, 28:5-6; Luke 1:34-35; 22:70; 24:46-47; John 1:1-3, 14; 10:30; 11:25-27; 17:1-5;Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 8; 10:4, 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-11;Colossians1:15; 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16; Hebrews 1:1-3, Hebrews 4:14-15, 12:2, 13:8; 1 John 4:14-15)
The Holy Spirit
God is always present – His presence assures us of our relationship with Christ. He guides believers into all truth and exalts Christ. He convicts people of their sin, God's righteousness, and the coming judgment. He comforts us, gives us spiritual gifts, and makes us more like Christ. (Genesis 1:2; Psalms 51:11, 139:7 ff.; Isaiah 6:1:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Mark 1:10; Luke 1:35, 4:1, 11:13, 12:12; John 15:26, 16:7-14; Acts 1:8, 2:1, 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Peter 1:21; Revelation 22:17)
Eternity
Our Heavenly destination – Humans were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternallyseparated from God by sin, or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated fromGod and given over to Satan for eternity is Hell. To be eternally in union with God is eternal life. Heaven and Hellare places of eternal existence. Jesus Christ will return visibly; at which time He will raise the dead and judge allpeople. Believers will enjoy eternal fellowship with God as they participate in the fullness of His eternal reign,while unbelievers will suffer eternal separation from God in hell. (Matthew 24:29-31; Matthew 25:31-46; John 3:16, 36; Romans 6:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1 John 2:25, 5:11-13; Rev. 20:4-6, 11-15)
Humanity
God's image bearers – Humans are made in the image of God and are the supreme object of God's creation. Humanity was created to have fellowship with God but became separated in that relationship throughsinful disobedience. As a result, human beings cannot attain a right relationship with God through our owneffort. Every human personality is uniquely created, possesses dignity, and is worthy of respect and Godly love. (Genesis 1:26-30; 2:7, 18-19; 3; Psalms 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18, 23; 5:6, 12-21; 6:6; 7:14-25; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19, 21-22; Ephesians 2; Colossians 1:21; 3:9-11)
Salvation
God's grace and mercy extended to mankind – The blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, providesthe only way of salvation through the forgiveness of sin. Salvation occurs when people place their faith in the deathand resurrection of Jesus as sufficient payment for their sin and as a redeeming of the created order of God.Salvation is a gift from God, and it cannot be earned through our own efforts. Through Christ the believer becomes a new creation whose mind and will are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit from loving sin, to loving theLord with all our heart, soul, and mind, and loving all people as we love ourselves. (Isaiah 1:18; 53:5-6; 55:7; Matthew 1:21; 22:37-38; 27:22-28:6; 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 2:21; 4:12; 16:30-31; 17:30-31; Romans 1:16-18; 3:23-25; 5:8-10; 6; 8; 10:9-10; 13; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; Ephesians 2:8-22; Philippians 2:12-13; Hebrews 9:24-28; 1 John 1:6-2:11; Revelation 3:20)
The Church
The physical Body and representation of Jesus Christ – The church is a local community ofregenerated believers unified through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. It is committed to the teachings of Christ, toobeying all of His commands, and it seeks to bring the gospel to the world. The Church works together in love andunity, intent on the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ. Such believers claim a personal relationship to Godthrough Jesus Christ, are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, follow the Lord in believer's baptism by immersion, share inthe Lord's Supper, gather regularly for worship, and covenant for mutual edification and caregiving. That theChurch is called to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ and God's reconciling grace in the power of the HolySpirit, inviting persons to receive salvation and follow Christ as His disciples. As disciples, we seek justice for allpersons and the reform of society. (Matthew 16:15-19; 28:18-20 Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 1:8; 16:30-33; I Corinthians 6:19; 11:23-26; Galatians 3:26-28; Eph. 1:22-23; Hebrews, James 1:27; 2:8)