The Gateway Church of Sequim Beliefs
Our authority is the Scripture. Our statement of beliefs is a brief summary of what we understand the Bible teaches about important aspects of its message. We understand that what we express in this statement is limited in scope and precision. However, it is intended to communicate what we understand the Scripture to clearly teach. These truths will be taught at The Gateway.
Teaching and personal beliefs outside the scope of this statement may be important and held with conviction by many Christians, but The Gateway leadership has not considered it wise or necessary to state an official position on beliefs outside this statement of core Biblical truth.
The Scripture- We believe The Bible to be the inspired and infallible word of God, and that the entire Bible, from cover to cover is God’s will/plan for mankind. The bible is the Christian’s supreme authority in all matters of faith and practice. II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21; I Peter 1:25
God and the Trinity-We believe in one God, Creator of all things, He is perfect, holy, just, loving and truthful. He exist in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. While each member possesses individual, personal attributes, the Trinity is without division of nature, essence, or being. Genesis 1:1; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30; 4:24; II Corinthians 13:14; I John 4:13
Jesus Christ- We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, born of the Virgin Mary, sinless in life, who atoned for the sins of the world by His substitutionary death on the cross. We believe in His bodily resurrection, His ascension into heaven, and His High Priestly intercession for His people, and in His glorious, visible return for His overcoming bride–His church. Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:1, 14; Acts 1:9-11; II Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 7:25; 9:24; I John 2:1-2; John 14:1-3
The Holy Spirit- We believe the Holy Spirit to be the third person in the Trinity, whose ministry is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. During this age, the Holy Spirit draws men unto God; convicts men of sin, righteousness, and judgment; and He indwells guides, instructs, strengthens and empowers believers for godly service. John 14:16-17, 26; 16:8-15; Romans 5:5; 8:9-11; I Corinthians 3:16; 12:12-14; II Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 1:13-14; Matthew 28:19-20
Mankind-We believe that the first person; Adam was created in the image of God but fell into sin and that all of his children throughout the generations are sinners by nature and by choice and therefore, lost. However, we believe that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). We believe that those who accept Christ as Savior and Lord shall be forever in God’s presence and those who reject Christ as Savior and Lord will be forever separated from God. Genesis 1:26-27; Mark 9:43-44; John 3:36; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12; II Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 20:15
Salvation- We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ provides the only way for salvation for all who believe (Acts 4:12). Only those who receive Jesus Christ and are born of the Holy Spirit can thus become children of God. John 1:12; 3:16; Acts 13:38-39; Romans 5:1; 8;14-17; Ephesians 1:7; Philippians 1:5-8; Hebrews 9:22; I peter 1:18-19; 2:24
Satan- We believe in the reality of Satan as an angel who fell from his original state of heavenly glory, and is now the prince of the corrupt, anti-God world-system. We believe in Satan’s final and eternal judgment in the Lake of Fire. Revelation 20:10; Ephesians 2:2; II Corinthians 4:4; Ezekiel 28:11-19; John 14:30; Job 1:12; 2:6
The Church- We believe that the true Church is composed of all persons who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated/reborn by the Holy Spirit and are united together as the body of Christ. John 3:1-8; Acts 2:41; I Corinthians 12:12-13; II Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 4:4-6, 15-16
The Ordinances- We believe that water baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a testimony of a person’s faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Christ. It is a confession that the believer is dead to sin and risen to newness of life in Christ Jesus. Water baptism is an outward show, of an inward change. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of the Lord’s death “until He comes.” Matthew 28:19; 26:26-29; Acts 8:35-38; Romans 6:3-5; I Corinthians 11:23-26
The Priesthood of the Believer- We believe all people who have trusted Jesus Christ as personal savior have direct access to God’s ear and heart. I Peter 2:5, 9; Hebrews 4:14-16; Revelation 1:6
The Last Things- We believe in “that blessed hope” (Titus 2:13) the personal, visible, return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the saved/believers and the lost/unbelievers, the one to everlasting life (with God) and the other to everlasting death (Separation from God). Zechariah 14:4-11; Matthew 25:46; John 5:28-29; 11:25-26; Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:16-18; Revelation 20:4-6, 11-15