The Bible

We believe the Holy Bible is the authoritative Word of God. It alone is the final authority in determining all doctrinal truths. In its original writing, it is inspired, infallible and inerrant. The Scriptures, and their intended original meanings, are still as important to a believer today as they were when they were written. The Word of God is crucial to the growth of a believer and should be seen as the final authority in their life. Psalm 119:160, 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20, John 10:35, John 17:17 John 8:32 Psalm 119:105, Romans 10:17, Romans 1:1-2, Mathew 24:35

God

We believe there is only one God, Who is Sovereign above all. God is infinite and all-powerful. He has been revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is the creator of the heavens and the earth and the author of the plan for man’s redemption. We believe God is involved in the everyday life of his creation and seeks a relationship with mankind. He is faithful and always keeps his promises. John 3:16, 1 John 4:8, Romans 5:8, Ephesians 4:6, Matthew 23:10, Psalm 68:5,   Malachi 2:10, Psalm 103:13, John 10:30, Romans 8:15, John 1:18 

Jesus 

We believe that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He was 100% God and 100% Man. He lived a sinless life and performed miracles healing all He encountered. HE died on the cross, as a living sacrifice to forgive our sins, and rose from the dead on the third day, conquering death and the grave. He ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return in power and glory. Luke 1:35, Matthew 14:33, John 1:1, Matthew 28:18, Romans 1:4, Hebrews 9:28,   Titus 2:13, Matthew 24:42, Colossians 2:9, Colossians 1:15 

Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ Jesus. He empowers them to the work of the Kingdom, to preach the gospel, and also to bring those lost to salvation. He was sent as a gift to the believers on the day of Pentecost and continues to reign in the heart of every believer to this date. The Holy Spirit works throughout the world and the Church. The Holy Spirit reveals, unifies, and illuminates truth in the life of a believer and the church. Genesis 1:1-2, 1 Corinthians 12:13, John 14:26, Isaiah 11:2, Romans 8:16, Galatians 5:18, 1 Corinthians 3:16, John 14:26, 1 Samuel 10:6, Ephesians 1:13 

Creation

We believe that God is the creator of everything. He created the heavens and the earth in a literal six days just as the account in Genesis states. On the 6th day, God created man in His image.  God’s creation was perfect until the fall of man in the garden, where sin took a toll on his creation and will do so until Christ once again restores it to its pre-sin state. God’s existence can be found throughout creation. Hebrews 11:3, Revelation 4:11, Genesis 1:1, Psalm 33:6, Job 38:4, Genesis 2:7, Exodus 20:11, Isaiah 32:5, Hebrews 1:10, Colossians 1:15  

Man

We believe man was created in the image of God and was in right standing with Him until the original sin took place in the garden. We believe that the account of Adam and Eve’s fall into sin in Genesis was an actual event that should be taken literally. When Adam and Eve sinned it not only affected them but every single person that would be born afterward. Every person that has been born of a man and woman is born with a sinful nature and is alienated from God and requires redemption which only comes through the finished work of Christ. Man’s nature leans towards sin and without the Holy Spirit’s lead man is unable to come to the understanding of how the fall has affected them and their need for saving. Romans 5:12, Romans 3:23, Genesis 3:17, Ecclesiastes 7:29, 1 Corinthians 15:22, Romans 8:21, Jeremiah 17:9, Psalm 143:2, Isaiah 53:6, Romans 3:1

Salvation

We believe that salvation can only be attained through the grace of God by faith. Salvation comes from a person accepting that they are born into sin, that there is nothing that they can themselves do to put them in right standing with God and they must receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Jesus’s death on the cross was the atonement that paid the price for each man to find salvation from their own sin and be able to spend eternity with God without eternal punishment. Salvation is a gift from God for all of mankind, but God gives mankind free will to accept or decline the gift. Ephesians 2:8, John 14:6, Psalm 3:8, John 3:16, John 3:36, Psalm 25:5, Philippians 1:6, Titus 3:5, Acts 4:12, Acts 2:21 

The Church

We believe that the church is not a building but the body of Christ. Believers must take part in relationships with other believers. Each believer is a part of the global Church but should also be a part of a local community of believers as well. The fellowship of the church should be made of believers worshiping, praying, caring for each other, and serving those in the community. Matthew 16:18, 1 Corinthians 12:27, Acts 2:42, 1 Corinthians 3:17, Colossians 3:16 Matthew 18:20, Hebrews 10:25, 1 Corinthians 12:12, James 5:14, 1 Corinthians 3:9 

Water Baptism

We believe that a believer that comes to faith in Christ Jesus should be baptized in water out of obedience to the command of Jesus to do so. Water baptism represents the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord and the washing away of one’s sin. Mark 16:16, Acts 2:41, Colossians 2:12-13, Acts 10:48, Acts 1:5

Communion/Lord’s Supper 

We believe that believers should take part in taking the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of our Lord. The bread and the cup represent the broken body and blood of Jesus that were given freely for our salvation.  We believe in open communion for all who have accepted Christ as their savior regardless of church membership or denomination. John 6:33 , Luke 22:19-20, 1 Corinthians 10:17, John 6:51, 1 Corinthians 11:28

Judgment

We Believe that God is holy and just and with that being said God must place judgment on those that have turned their back on his plan for redemption through his Son Jesus. When the day of judgment comes those that have accepted Jesus will be found not guilty for their transgressions because of the blood of Jesus shed on the cross at Calvary. 2 Corinthians 5:10, Romans 6:23, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, Mark 9:43, Hebrews 9:27, John 3:36, Psalm 16:10, John 3:16, Psalm 145:20, Luke 23:43

Marriage

The term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union. We believe that God creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God.  We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other.  Genesis 2:24, Hebrews 13:4, 1 Corinthians 6:18, Genesis 1:27, Matthew 19:4

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, and confirm the power of the Gospel. The Bible’s lists of these gifts are not necessarily exhaustive, and the gifts may occur in various combinations. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of Biblical parameters. Hebrews 2:4, 1 Peter 4:10

The Bible is god’s perfect guidebook for living. 2 Timothy 3:16

Nothing in creation “just happened.” God made it all. Genesis 1:1

God is one; infinite in power, holy in nature, and personal in his love for mankind and through redemption has revealed himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Deuteronomy 6:4, 2 Corinthians 13:14, John 1:1

Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, and as such is fully God and fully man. He is the son of God in whom the completeness of God exists. I Timothy 3:16, Matthew 1:23

Grace is the only way to have a relationship with God. Ephesians 2:8-9

We are buried with our Lord Jesus Christ in the waters of baptism. Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:38, Romans 6:4

Through his Holy Spirit, God lives in and through us now. Acts 1:8, 19:1-6

The fruit and gifts of the Spirit are to be a part of the believer’s life.  1 Cor. 12, 13, 14

The Church is people, not a building or a denomination. 1 Cor. 12:27

Faith is the only way to grow in our relationship with God. Romans 5:2

There are eternal rewards and judgments. Death is a beginning, not the end. Hebrews 9:27, Revelation 22:12, 1 Corinthians 3:12-15

The Church is to serve people like Jesus served people. James 1:27, Matthew 25:45

Sex is a gift for marriage and marriage is between one man and one woman. Matthew 19:4-6, Hebrews 13:4

Healing is made available by Jesus Christ. 1 peter 2:24

Jesus is coming again. Revelation 22:20

Thrive Church is a member of The Destiny Church and Minister’s Network.
The statements listed above are in conjunction with Destiny Ministries’ Statement of Faith which can be found here.