Horizon Church Purpose, Covenant, Statement of Faith, and Essential Doctrines

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PREAMBLE

Placing our faith wholly and solely in the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation, believing in the teachings and practices of evangelical Christians and the distinctive principles for which they have ever stood: We, therefore, band ourselves together as a body of baptized believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and adopt for our government and plan the following articles for service.

ARTICLE I: Purpose

Section 1: Mission

The supreme mission of the Church, and of every individual member of which it is made-up, is to honor God through becoming more like Christ. We shall endeavor to live our lives to glorify and to serve Him forever (Ephesians 3:20-21; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Timothy 1:17; Romans 8:29, 11:36; Colossians 3:10; Galatians 4:19; 1 Peter 4:11).

Section 2: Vision

The purpose of Horizon Church is summarized in a single sentence based on two central passages of Scripture (Matthew 22:36-40 and Matthew 28:19-20):

We believe that a great commitment to the great commandment (to love God and one another) and the great commission (to go, win, disciple, and send), will grow a Great Church!

Therefore, Horizon Church will encourage its members to proclaim the gospel (God’s “good news” of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ) to unbelievers and to biblically train every believer to become fully functioning followers of the Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47; 2 Timothy 3:16; Matthew 28:19-20; Ephesians 4:12-13; Romans 12:1-2; Hebrews 6:1; Colossians 1:28-29; Matthew 22:37).

Section 3: Core Values

Horizon Church exists first and foremost to:

  1. Celebrate God’s Presence through Worship
  2. Demonstrate God’s Love through Ministry
  3. Educate God’s People through Discipleship
  4. Love God and one another through Fellowship
  5. Communicate God’s Word through Evangelism

The practice of the following values will enable us to fulfill our purposes:

  1. Intentional Prayer should characterize both the leaders and the laity of the Church. Prayer releases God’s power for ministry! God hears our prayers and desires for all believers to call upon Him passionately, specifically, persistently, expectantly, and submissively (Colossians 1:11; Ephesians 3:16; 6:18-20; Exodus 17:8-13).
  2. Dependence upon God’s Word is vital to the Spiritual health and growth of the Church. The leaders and members of Horizon Church will study God’s Word in order to be adequate, equipped for every good work, and always ready to preach the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 4:2; Hebrews 4:12).
  3. Spiritual maturity is God’s design for every believer (Ephesians 4:13-16; Colossians 1:28-29). Every believer, regardless of their station or stature in the Church, is called upon to serve God and one another to the glory of God (Ephesians 2:10).
  4. Evangelizing the lost is God’s “heartbeat” (1 Timothy 2:4; Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 19:10; John 3:17; 2 Peter 3:9).
  5. Worship is God’s desire for His people (Exodus 20:4-6; Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Psalms; 1 Peter 2:9; John 4:23;
    Colossians 3:23; 1 Corinthians 10:31)

ARTICLE II: Covenant

Having been led by the Holy Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith in Christ, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God, His holy angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We engage therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this Church in knowledge, holiness and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, doctrine, and discipline; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the Church, the relief for the poor, and the spread of the Gospel both at home and abroad (2 Corinthians 8–9).

We do hereby pledge to initially assign 10% of our budget to the monthly support of our Missionaries, both domestic and foreign.

ARTICLE III: Statement of Faith

In all essential beliefs—we have unity! “There is only one Body and one Spirit . . . one Lord, one Faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of us all” (Ephesians 4:4-6; Philippians 1:27).

In non-essential beliefs—we have liberty! “Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters . . .. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his master he stands or falls . . .. So then each of us will give an account of himself to God . . .. So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God” (Romans 14:1, 4, 12, 22).

In all our beliefs—we show love! “And if I have prophecy, and know all mysteries and posses all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing”
(1 Corinthians 13:2).

Horizon Church shall function as an independent, evangelical Bible Church, solely committed to the fundamental, historic truths recorded in the Holy Scriptures—held to be the inerrant and plenary revelation of Almighty God! All elders, staff, and teachers, those holding ministerial positions within Horizon Church, must wholeheartedly agree with the Essential Doctrines of the Faith, Article IV, following.

ARTICLE IV: Essential Doctrines

Section 1: The Bible

We believe that the Bible is the fully inspired and inherent Word of God to man. All Scripture is declared to be the inerrant and infallible (in the original autographs) product of Spirit-controlled men, and therefore, it provides man with a complete and final revelation of the mind and will of Almighty God. The Bible therefore serves as the Christian’s supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be judged (2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 19:7-11; 119:105; Revelation 22:18-19).

Section 2: The Godhead

We believe in One God, eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three Persons are co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and possess the same attributes and perfections (Genesis 1:1, 26-27; 3:2; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 12:29; John 1:1-4; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

Section 3: The Person and Work of Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He came to reveal God to mankind and to redeem our sinful race by voluntarily giving Himself as the sinless substitutionary sacrifice on the cross of Calvary, thereby satisfying God’s righteous judgments against sin. He then arose bodily from the dead and ascended to the Father’s right hand where He presently serves as High priest interceding on the believer’s behalf. All Scripture, from first to last testify of Him (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 52:13–53:12; John 1:1-2, 14, 18; Matthew 1:22-23; Luke 1:26-35; 24:27; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 10:5-7).

Section 4: The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person, possessing all the attributes of deity, and in essence is equal with God the Father and God the Son (Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 1:14).

  • In His relation to the unsaved world: He restrains the Evil One (Satan) until God’s purposes are fulfilled, and He convicts the unsaved of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, thereby making men aware of their need for Jesus Christ (John 16:7-15;
    2 Thessalonians 2:3-12).
  • In His relation to the saved: He is the supernatural Agent in regeneration and sanctification, and baptizes all believers into the Body of Christ, indwelling equally and permanently all believers from the moment of salvation. He provides every Christian with power for living, understanding spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives spiritual gifts to every believer, according to His sovereign and gracious will. Christians are exhorted to submit to the Holy Spirit’s daily control in their lives (John 3:5-8; 14:16-17; 1 Corinthians 12:4-14; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18; Galatians 5:22-25).

Section 5: The Angels, Fallen and Unfallen

We believe that the Bible teaches that God created an innumerable host of sinless, spiritual beings, known as angels. The leading angel, “Lucifer, son of the morning,” became filled with pride and rebelled against God, thereby becoming Satan; a great company (1/3) of the angels followed Satan in his moral fall; some of the fallen angels became demons who actively serve Satan in the carrying out of his unholy purposes, while others who fell are confined to “everlasting chains until the judgment of the great day” (Genesis 6:1-13; Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19; 1 Timothy 3:6; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6).

Section 6: The Condition of Man

We believe that man was originally created in the image and after the likeness of God, free from sin. He subsequently fell into sin by a voluntary act of personal disobedience to the revealed will of God, lost his spiritual life, and became dead in sin and corrupt in nature. These effects of sin have been transmitted to the entire human race, Jesus Christ excepted, and thus every person born into the world is alienated from the life of God and incapable of remedying his lost and depraved condition apart from divine grace (Genesis 1:26; 3:1-24; 6:5; Psalms 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10-18; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3).

Section 7: The Means of Salvation

We believe that salvation from the guilt, power, and condemnation of sin is possible only as the gift of God’s grace. Salvation cannot be gained by good resolutions, sincere efforts, nor submission to the rules, regulations, or ordinances of any church, but is freely bestowed on any and all who put their faith in Christ and trust in the work which He accomplished on the cross of Calvary. All who so trust the Savior pass from death unto life, are forgiven of their sins, accepted by the Father, and born into His family by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God (John 5:24; Ephesians 1:6, 7; 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:23).

Section 8: The Believer’s Assurance and Responsibility

We believe that all who have been born again by God’s transforming grace are secure in Christ forever. It is their privilege to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation, not on the basis of their own worthiness, but on the basis of God’s faithfulness and the testimony of His Word. However, this assurance must not become an occasion for sin. The reality of their faith in Christ is demonstrated by subjecting their fleshly natures to the power of the Holy Spirit and by doing the good works for which He saved them, especially by demonstrating a Christ-like love for one another (Matthew 7:20; John 10:27-29; 13:34, 35; Romans 6:13; 8:28-39; Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 2:10; 1 John 3:14, 23; 5:13).

Section 9: The Church

We believe that the universal Church is the body and bride of Jesus Christ, which being completely distinct from Israel, was initiated on the Day of Pentecost, and is comprised of all born again believers who have been united to the risen and ascended Son of God, Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit. We believe that when a person exercises faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, they are at that very instant baptized into, and become an eternal member of the body of Christ, whether Jews or Gentiles, and having become members one of another, we are now under solemn obligation to preserve the bond of unity of the Spirit, and to fervently love one another with a pure heart (Matthew 16:16-18; Acts 2:42-47; Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 1:20-23; 4:3-10; Colossians 3:14-15).

A. The Ordinances of the Church: We believe that Christian Baptism and the observance of the Lord’s Table are the only two ordinances Christ mandated for the Church to practice. Both ordinances are meant to merely serve as a testimony to commemorate Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, and second coming.

  1. Baptism in water (by immersion) of all believers who profess faith in Christ provides a beautiful picture or emblem of faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to new life (Romans 6:1-7; 1 Corinthians 12:13).
  2. The regular observance of the Lord’s Table is likewise a commemoration of His death, until He comes for us. It should always be preceded by a time of solemn self-examination and confession of sin (1 Corinthians 11:23-29; 1 John 1:9).

B. The Gifts of the Spirit: We believe that enabling gifts for service are bestowed according to God’s own will upon all believers by the Spirit of God to be exercised for the edification of the Church and for the glory of the Lord. These gifts are sovereignly bestowed by God in order to fulfill specific purposes in His sovereign program (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Ephesians 4:7-16).

Section 10: The Second Coming of Christ

We believe that the next great event in the fulfillment of prophecy is the personal return of Jesus Christ to remove from the earth His Church, both dead and living believers, and to reward each individual believer according to his works. After the removal of the Church, the righteous judgments of God will be poured out on the unbelieving world during a seven year period known as the Tribulation, and will be climaxed by the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth with power and great glory to defeat the armies of mankind, to establish His Millennial Kingdom, to bind Satan and place him in the abyss, to lift the curse which now rests upon the whole creation, to restore Israel to her promised land and to give her the realization of God’s covenant promises, and to bring the whole world to the knowledge of God (Deuteronomy 30:1-10; Isaiah 11:9; Ezekiel 37:21-28; Daniel 2:34-35, 44-45; 7:13-14, 24-27; 9:27; Matthew 24:21, 29-31; 25:31-46; Acts 15:16-17; Romans 8:19-23; 11:25-27; 1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 3:15; Revelation 19:11-16; 20:1-3).

Section 11: The Eternal State

We believe that people have been created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally united with God through the forgiveness and salvation made available through faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that at death the souls and spirits of those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation pass immediately into His presence and there remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the glorified body when Christ comes for His own at the Rapture of the Church, whereupon soul and glorified body reunited shall be associated with Him forever in glory. At death the souls of unbelievers pass immediately into torment. At the close of the millennium they will be reunited with their physical bodies, face the final judgment of the Great White Throne, then cast into the eternal Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power (Matthew 1:8; 2:44-46; Luke 16:19-26; 23:42; John 3:16; 2:25; 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Revelation 20:11-15).