Core Beliefs
The following are the core beliefs of Westside Church - Michigan 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.
GOD is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
Genesis 1:1,26,27, 3:22 Psalm 90:2, Matthew 28:19 I Peter 1:2, II Corinthians 13:14
JESUS CHRIST is the Son of God. He is equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit as God. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself by dying on a cross as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Matthew 1:22-23, Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1-5; 14:10-30, Hebrews 4:14-15, I Corinthians 15:3-4, Romans 1:3-4 Acts 1:9-11, I Timothy 6:14-15, Titus 2:13
THE HOLY SPIRIT is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ and to convict us of sin. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily.
II Corinthians 3:17, John 16:7-13; 14:16-17, Acts 1:8, I Corinthians 2:12; 3:16, Ephesians 1:13,Galatians 5:25, Ephesians 5:18
SALVATION is a gift from God to man. Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can man be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 14:6; 1:12, Titus 3:5, Galatians 3:26, Romans 5:1
Because God gives man eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and power of God that gives this security.
John 10:29, II Timothy 1:12, Hebrews 7:25, 10:10-14, I Peter 1:3-5
We believe that God desires all to be saved and that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. We believe Jesus died for all who would accept Him as Lord and Savior. We do not believe God chose some for Heaven and some for Hell.
2 Peter 3:9, Rom. 10:13
BAPTISM is the an act of obedience to God after Salvation. It is a picture of the death burial and resurrection of our Lord. Baptism is by submersion and is a public outward testimony of our Faith in Christ.
Matt. 3:13-17, Acts 2:38-41, Acts 8:12, Acts 8:36-38, Rom. 6:3-4
THE BIBLE is God’s Word to all men. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error.
II Timothy 3:16, II Peter 1:20-21, II Timothy 1:13, Psalm 119:105,160, Psalm 12:6, Proverbs 30:5
MAN is made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. He is the supreme object of God’s creation. Although man has tremendous potential for good, he is marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin.” This separates man from God.
Genesis 1:2, Psalm 8:3-6, Isaiah 53:6a, Romans 3:23, Isaiah 59:1-2
Man was created to exist forever. He will exist either eternally separated from God by sin, or in union with God, through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence.
John 3:16, I John 2:25, John 5:11-13, Romans 6:23 Revelation 20:15
THE LOCAL CHURCH is a group of baptized believers united in the faith and fellowship of the gospel. God’s plan is for each of us to be a part of a local church. Christ is the head of the church, and the members work corporately together as He has equipped each of them to serve Him and one another.
Eph. 4:11-13, Hebrews 10:25, Eph. 4:15-16
PRAYER God, through His infinite grace, allows us to communicate directly with Him in the name of Jesus Christ. This communication is essential to the life of a follower of Christ
Psalm 5:3, 1 Thess. 5:17-18, Hebrews 4:16
STEWARDSHIP We believe God’s word teaches the stewardship of our entire lives. Financially we are to give a tithe and then offerings to God through the local church.
Genesis 14:20, Genesis 28:22, Mal. 3:10
EVANGELISM We use every means possible to share the gospel with as many people as we can, because we believe God’s word teaches that we should do so. We believe the Gospel never changes but the means by which we share it is ever-changing.
Matt. 28:19-20, Mark 16:15, Acts 8:25, 1 Cor. 9:16-27
MISSIONS We believe that God desires for us to strive to tell the world about Christ. We involve ourselves in personal missions in our community, state, and the world but, since we can’t all travel the world telling others about Jesus, we support that effort with our prayers, and our finances through our regular giving, and through special mission offerings.
2 Kings 17:27-28, Matt. 24:14, Matt. 28:19-20, Mark 16:15, Acts 13:2-3
DISCIPLESHIP We believe it is the churches responsibility to aid in the training and growth of all Christians. We strive to accomplish this through one on one mentoring, small group classes, as well as through congregational preaching and teaching.
Matt. 28:19-20, 2 Tim 2:15
WORSHIP The Bible teaches that we should meet regularly with other believers for the purpose of worshipping God. We believe worship is vital to an individual’s life and to the family.
Ex. 20:3, Matt. 4:10, Acts 2:42-47, Hebrews 10:25
MARRIAGE We believe that marriage was the first institution established by God and as such is to be held in the highest regard. In light of the clear biblical teaching on marriage we believe that God has ordained marriage to be an exclusive and covenantal union between one man and one woman (Gen. 2:18-25; Matt. 19:4-6) and that this covenant of marriage was designed by God to be a lifetime commitment (Matt. 19:6; Mark 10:9). We further believe that the biblical instruction holds that legitimate sexual relations are reserved solely for marriage and within marriage (Gen. 2:24; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Heb. 13:4) and that any sexual activities outside of marriage [such as, but not limited to, adultery, incest, sodomy, pornography, pedophilia and bestiality] are inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible and the Church. We will faithfully follow this scriptural definition of marriage in the teachings and practices of this church.
Gen. 2:18-25, Matt. 19:4-6, Mark 10:9, 1 Cor. 6:9-10, Heb. 13:4
Genesis 1:1,26,27, 3:22 Psalm 90:2, Matthew 28:19 I Peter 1:2, II Corinthians 13:14
JESUS CHRIST is the Son of God. He is equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit as God. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself by dying on a cross as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Matthew 1:22-23, Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1-5; 14:10-30, Hebrews 4:14-15, I Corinthians 15:3-4, Romans 1:3-4 Acts 1:9-11, I Timothy 6:14-15, Titus 2:13
THE HOLY SPIRIT is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ and to convict us of sin. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily.
II Corinthians 3:17, John 16:7-13; 14:16-17, Acts 1:8, I Corinthians 2:12; 3:16, Ephesians 1:13,Galatians 5:25, Ephesians 5:18
SALVATION is a gift from God to man. Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can man be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 14:6; 1:12, Titus 3:5, Galatians 3:26, Romans 5:1
Because God gives man eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and power of God that gives this security.
John 10:29, II Timothy 1:12, Hebrews 7:25, 10:10-14, I Peter 1:3-5
We believe that God desires all to be saved and that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. We believe Jesus died for all who would accept Him as Lord and Savior. We do not believe God chose some for Heaven and some for Hell.
2 Peter 3:9, Rom. 10:13
BAPTISM is the an act of obedience to God after Salvation. It is a picture of the death burial and resurrection of our Lord. Baptism is by submersion and is a public outward testimony of our Faith in Christ.
Matt. 3:13-17, Acts 2:38-41, Acts 8:12, Acts 8:36-38, Rom. 6:3-4
THE BIBLE is God’s Word to all men. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error.
II Timothy 3:16, II Peter 1:20-21, II Timothy 1:13, Psalm 119:105,160, Psalm 12:6, Proverbs 30:5
MAN is made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. He is the supreme object of God’s creation. Although man has tremendous potential for good, he is marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin.” This separates man from God.
Genesis 1:2, Psalm 8:3-6, Isaiah 53:6a, Romans 3:23, Isaiah 59:1-2
Man was created to exist forever. He will exist either eternally separated from God by sin, or in union with God, through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence.
John 3:16, I John 2:25, John 5:11-13, Romans 6:23 Revelation 20:15
THE LOCAL CHURCH is a group of baptized believers united in the faith and fellowship of the gospel. God’s plan is for each of us to be a part of a local church. Christ is the head of the church, and the members work corporately together as He has equipped each of them to serve Him and one another.
Eph. 4:11-13, Hebrews 10:25, Eph. 4:15-16
PRAYER God, through His infinite grace, allows us to communicate directly with Him in the name of Jesus Christ. This communication is essential to the life of a follower of Christ
Psalm 5:3, 1 Thess. 5:17-18, Hebrews 4:16
STEWARDSHIP We believe God’s word teaches the stewardship of our entire lives. Financially we are to give a tithe and then offerings to God through the local church.
Genesis 14:20, Genesis 28:22, Mal. 3:10
EVANGELISM We use every means possible to share the gospel with as many people as we can, because we believe God’s word teaches that we should do so. We believe the Gospel never changes but the means by which we share it is ever-changing.
Matt. 28:19-20, Mark 16:15, Acts 8:25, 1 Cor. 9:16-27
MISSIONS We believe that God desires for us to strive to tell the world about Christ. We involve ourselves in personal missions in our community, state, and the world but, since we can’t all travel the world telling others about Jesus, we support that effort with our prayers, and our finances through our regular giving, and through special mission offerings.
2 Kings 17:27-28, Matt. 24:14, Matt. 28:19-20, Mark 16:15, Acts 13:2-3
DISCIPLESHIP We believe it is the churches responsibility to aid in the training and growth of all Christians. We strive to accomplish this through one on one mentoring, small group classes, as well as through congregational preaching and teaching.
Matt. 28:19-20, 2 Tim 2:15
WORSHIP The Bible teaches that we should meet regularly with other believers for the purpose of worshipping God. We believe worship is vital to an individual’s life and to the family.
Ex. 20:3, Matt. 4:10, Acts 2:42-47, Hebrews 10:25
MARRIAGE We believe that marriage was the first institution established by God and as such is to be held in the highest regard. In light of the clear biblical teaching on marriage we believe that God has ordained marriage to be an exclusive and covenantal union between one man and one woman (Gen. 2:18-25; Matt. 19:4-6) and that this covenant of marriage was designed by God to be a lifetime commitment (Matt. 19:6; Mark 10:9). We further believe that the biblical instruction holds that legitimate sexual relations are reserved solely for marriage and within marriage (Gen. 2:24; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Heb. 13:4) and that any sexual activities outside of marriage [such as, but not limited to, adultery, incest, sodomy, pornography, pedophilia and bestiality] are inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible and the Church. We will faithfully follow this scriptural definition of marriage in the teachings and practices of this church.
Gen. 2:18-25, Matt. 19:4-6, Mark 10:9, 1 Cor. 6:9-10, Heb. 13:4