Core Beliefs
The following are the core beliefs of Hilliard Christian Assembly, a family-friendly church in Hilliard, Ohio. Our beliefs are based on the foundational truths taught in the Bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.
The Bible
We believe that the Bible is the authoritative, inerrant, complete (66 books), divinely inspired Word of God which defines our faith, morality and principles of healthy spirituality. Everything that human beings need to know in order to have a redemptive relationship with God is found within the scriptures.
SO WHAT?
So…we teach the Bible–not only its thoughts and ideas, but often a verse-by-verse and word-by-word exposition of it. We really believe that since the Bible is the Word of God it contains timeless truth, just as Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will by no means pass away” (Mk. 13:31).
SO WHAT?
So…we teach the Bible–not only its thoughts and ideas, but often a verse-by-verse and word-by-word exposition of it. We really believe that since the Bible is the Word of God it contains timeless truth, just as Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will by no means pass away” (Mk. 13:31).
God
We believe that God is one triune God—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, three distinct but not disconnected Persons who coexist equally as God from eternity to eternity.
SO WHAT?
So…we worship this God in all His mystery and majesty, enjoying His reality, seeking His presence, and putting Him first in all things.
SO WHAT?
So…we worship this God in all His mystery and majesty, enjoying His reality, seeking His presence, and putting Him first in all things.
The Son of God
We believe that the Son of God (who is God), became incarnated to be a sinless man named Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary, that He would be our Redeemer and Savior. As such, He is fully divine and fully human. The Lord Jesus died for our sins on the cross and then rose from the dead on the third day. He then ascended to heaven to be the Lord of all and is coming again in the future. He is not one among many, but unique above all.
SO WHAT?
So…Christ is our centerpiece and our testimony to the world. We hope to grow in our love for Him since we have truly found that He is “chief among ten thousand” (Song 5:10).
SO WHAT?
So…Christ is our centerpiece and our testimony to the world. We hope to grow in our love for Him since we have truly found that He is “chief among ten thousand” (Song 5:10).
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit (who is God), convicts sinners, regenerates those who believe in Christ, and then dwells in them for their sanctification and transformation. He also grants to the believers gifts for service in order to build up the body of Christ.
SO WHAT?
So…since He is the essence of all our spiritual life past, present, and future, then our standard for daily living is to “be filled with the Spirit” (Eph.5:18). Although we are far from that ideal, in the middle of life’s challenges we’re striving to discover what it means.
SO WHAT?
So…since He is the essence of all our spiritual life past, present, and future, then our standard for daily living is to “be filled with the Spirit” (Eph.5:18). Although we are far from that ideal, in the middle of life’s challenges we’re striving to discover what it means.
Salvation
We believe that God provides the human race a complete salvation in Christ through faith in Christ alone.
SO WHAT?
So…we revel in God’s grace, being the happy recipients of the incredible free gift of eternal life. We not only remind each other of our blessed state, but try to pass this grace along to our neighbors by offering Christ to them as well.
SO WHAT?
So…we revel in God’s grace, being the happy recipients of the incredible free gift of eternal life. We not only remind each other of our blessed state, but try to pass this grace along to our neighbors by offering Christ to them as well.
The Church
We believe that there is only one spiritual Body of Christ, the church, and that the moment a person believes in the Lord Jesus, God places him or her into it. This unique, universal church cannot be divided by denominational differences, race, or social status. It is composed of all those of the second birth.
SO WHAT?
So…our particular congregation happily confesses that it is one small part of the universal church founded by Christ and part of the practical local expression of that church in the greater Columbus area.
SO WHAT?
So…our particular congregation happily confesses that it is one small part of the universal church founded by Christ and part of the practical local expression of that church in the greater Columbus area.
Secondary Beliefs
The term “secondary” means that these beliefs are not ones upon which we receive or exclude others. Legitimate differences of opinion exist among believers, so we do not require everyone to agree on all points of doctrine. Still, anyone considering involvement in Hilliard Christian Assembly should understand that these beliefs will be held and frequently taught.
Eternal Security: Once salvation has truly been granted to a believer, it belongs to that person forever, even if he suffers lapses in faith or behavior. However, the believer is accountable for his or her life and behavior at the judgment seat of Christ.
The Timing of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit: As soon as a person truly repents and believes in Jesus, he receives everything related to the Spirit, including regeneration and baptism. Water baptism ought to follow. A believer may later experience the effect of having been baptized in the Spirit at certain special times (i.e. a strong sense of filling, powerful breakthroughs, strength for work, particular gifts, etc.). This does not mean, though, that Spirit-baptism is a separate experience that must be sought and obtained later in the Christian life.
Use of Miraculous Gifts: While all spiritual gifts will be respected among us, public venues will not be used to promote or sensationalize miraculous gifts like healing or tongues-speaking. No spiritual gift should become unbalanced and destabilize church unity.
Eternal Security: Once salvation has truly been granted to a believer, it belongs to that person forever, even if he suffers lapses in faith or behavior. However, the believer is accountable for his or her life and behavior at the judgment seat of Christ.
The Timing of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit: As soon as a person truly repents and believes in Jesus, he receives everything related to the Spirit, including regeneration and baptism. Water baptism ought to follow. A believer may later experience the effect of having been baptized in the Spirit at certain special times (i.e. a strong sense of filling, powerful breakthroughs, strength for work, particular gifts, etc.). This does not mean, though, that Spirit-baptism is a separate experience that must be sought and obtained later in the Christian life.
Use of Miraculous Gifts: While all spiritual gifts will be respected among us, public venues will not be used to promote or sensationalize miraculous gifts like healing or tongues-speaking. No spiritual gift should become unbalanced and destabilize church unity.
Core Values
Highest commitment to the common Christian faith—(see “What we Believe” and Eph. 4:4-6, 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Rom. 3:22-24).
Uncompromising fidelity to the Bible as the Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16)—its standards of morality, theology, and the mining of its truth for deeper thoughts and sentiments.
The equipping of others to do the work of New Testament ministry (Eph. 4:12).
The cultivation of a serious spiritual inner life, according to the experiences described in scripture that are common to all believers.
Local oneness with other Christians in the uniting bond of peace (Eph. 4:3-6).
Excellence of service.
Cultural sensitivity in outreach; ministering in ways that make sense to the surrounding community without changing the truth of God’s Word.
An ongoing expectation to plant other churches.
Uncompromising fidelity to the Bible as the Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16)—its standards of morality, theology, and the mining of its truth for deeper thoughts and sentiments.
The equipping of others to do the work of New Testament ministry (Eph. 4:12).
The cultivation of a serious spiritual inner life, according to the experiences described in scripture that are common to all believers.
Local oneness with other Christians in the uniting bond of peace (Eph. 4:3-6).
Excellence of service.
Cultural sensitivity in outreach; ministering in ways that make sense to the surrounding community without changing the truth of God’s Word.
An ongoing expectation to plant other churches.