Emerge City Church

Emerge City Church is an interdenominational church that has its covering from Wave Church, Virginia Beach, through which we enjoy an empowering connection with the Wave Network, www.wavechurch.com .

We believe that:

1. The Holy Bible is the only inspired, infallible, and authoritative source of Christian faith and practice. The Bible is a supreme revelation from God, superior to conscience and reason, though not contrary to reason. (II Timothy 3:16,17)We believe that there is one God, eternally present in three persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

   (Genesis 1:26, Matthew 3:16,17 and John 1:1-4)

2. Man was created in the image of God, but as a result of sin is lost and powerless to save himself.

   (Genesis 1:26; Romans 6:23)

3. The only hope for man is to believe on Jesus Christ, the virgin born son of God, fully God, fully man. Through faith in Christ’s life, death and resurrection, mankind is redeemed.

   (Romans 10:9,10,13; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:1-10)

4. The Holy Spirit indwells all believers, and through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, believers are empowered for Christian service and gifted for this service. An evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues as the Holy Spirit gives utterance. The Holy Spirit also enables believers to live a Christ-like life exhibiting Godly character.

   (Luke 11:13; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 8:17; 10:44-46; 19:6; Galatians 5:22,23; I Corinthians 12)

5. The church is the body of Christ, both universal and local, and is composed of individuals who through faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. We believe that Christ Jesus is the head and Lord of the Church. The mission of the Church is worship, evangelism, discipleship, and the nurturing and care of one another.

   (Matthew 28:1-20; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 2:19-22)

6. Eternal life in heaven is the reward of all who believe and receive Christ as their Lord. According to the scripture, "the fearful, unbelieving, abominable, whoremonger, sorcerer, idolators and liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death."

   (Revelation 21:8; John 3:16-18)

7. Salvation is by faith through grace alone. No amount of good works will produce justification before God. We further believe that the manifestation of faith and grace is a holy life expressed through righteous works.

   (Ephesians 2:8-10)

8. We believe in the call and gifting of various ministries in the church including, but not limited to, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, and deacons.

9. The Church has the responsibility for recognizing, equipping and commissioning these various ministries for the edification of the Body of Christ.

   (Ephesians 4:11-13; I Corinthians 12:12-30; Romans 12:3-8)

10. Divine healing: physical, emotional and spiritual, is included in the atonement of Christ.

    (Isaiah 53:4; Matthew 8:17; I Peter 2:24,25)

11. We believe in two sacraments of the Church:

    1. The Sacrament of Water Baptism. (Acts 2:38)

    2. The Sacrament of Holy Communion (Matthew 26:26-30)

12. We believe in the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ, the consummation of the Kingdom of God and the restitution of all things spoken by the mouth of all the prophets since the world began.

    (Matthew 24:42-44; Acts 1:11; 3:19-21; Revelation 11:15)

(These 12 Articles of Faith do not represent the final authoritative word on Bible doctrine or Christian theology. They reflect the basic tenets of historical, evangelical Christianity.)