(Available as a downloadable PDF) At Exodus, we are convinced that what we believe deeply affects how we live. For this reason, we want you to know what we believe as a church. This is not all that we believe, but these are the essential matters about which we agree as members of Exodus Church. If you have more questions, please let us know.
God has always existed in perfection and glory as one God in three persons (the Trinity – Father, Son and Spirit). He has no needs or imperfections. God created and sustains all things by the word of His power. He is a good God who works all things together according to the counsel of His will for our good and His glory.
This good and gracious God has chosen to communicate with us. He reveals himself in the creation to display his existence and power. He has ultimately revealed himself in Jesus – God become man. God has been so good to us to also communicate to us through the Bible – the word of God in the words of men. We believe the Bible to be inspired, infallible and authoritative.
God who existed in perfect fellowship with Himself has created a universe to display the panorama of His power, creativity and might. In the beauty, design and intricacies of the world, we see His splendor. In this creation, God created a man named Adam to be the representative for humanity. He also made Eve to be his helper. We believe that man and woman are equally made in the image of God – to know Him and represent Him in the world. We also believe that God has created males and females with distinct gifts, tendencies and callings. Both are precious and valuable in His creation. And God called his creation—very good.
Adam, as our representative, chose to disobey God rather than to submit to His authority. In doing this, He brought sin and death into the world. Because of his act, the whole world was affected. All humanity is born with an inclination toward sin. Every part of who we are is now tainted with a rebellious, alienation that drives us from God. The creation was affected as well causing disease and death. God did not desert Adam. There were consequences for his sinfulness, but God was faithful to Adam. He also promised that there would be a Deliverer to come. Throughout the rest of the Old Testament, we are told about this Deliverer who would come to free the people from their sins. We see pictures of this deliverance in the Exodus story, the Kingship of David and the Prophets. Until, in the fullness of time, God sent His Son to make all things new.
The story of God’s deliverance culminates when Jesus – who is God became a man. He was born to a virgin named Mary, lived a perfect life of obedience to God, died a horrible death on the Cross in our place for our sin, was buried and raised bodily to new life. He ascended into heaven and will one day return. The delivering work of Jesus is a work of grace alone by Christ alone and can be received by anyone who confesses and repents of sin, expresses true faith in Jesus and submits to Him as the Lord of their lives.
After Jesus ascended, The Bible tells us that he sent a Helper – The Holy Spirit. He is God (co-equal in power and existence) and personal (not a force). His work is essential in lost and sinful people embracing the delivering work of Jesus. As the Helper, the Holy Spirit helps those who have embraced the work of Jesus understand God’s Word, empowers them to live in obedience to the commands of God and keeps them until the day of Jesus return.
Those who have been delivered by the work of Jesus comprise the Church universal – a people from every tribe, tongue and nation. The local church is to be a testimony of the power of Jesus in the community. The Church is to be led by qualified men called Elders who equip the members of the Church for the work of ministry. We practice the ordinances of the church: believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Before Jesus ascended, he gave a commission to His Church. The Church is to live in the world as Jesus lived in the world. The Church is to make disciples who make disciples. The Church is to take the gospel to the ends of the earth in fulfillment of the commands of Jesus. At Exodus, we believe that this is our mission as a church and as individuals who comprise the church.
After Jesus gave his commission in Acts, He ascended into heaven with a promise that he will return. He will receive His Bride to be with Him and He will make all things new. Because Jesus said that no one knows when that will be, we choose to have diversity in our understanding of the exact timing and manner in which Jesus will return. We do agree that Jesus wins and it’s best to be on His team when He returns.
