South Shore Church - Beliefs

The foundational beliefs of our church as part of the Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada are:

God

We believe in the one true, living and holy God, who alone is the Creator, Sustainer and Ruler of all things visible and invisible. God exists eternally as a trinity of three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They are distinct but inseparable, eternally one in essence and power.

Genesis 1:1-2; Isaiah 44:6-8; John 1:1-3,14; I Corinthians 2:9-12; Colossians 1:15-16, 2:9; Hebrews 1:3

Jesus Christ

We believe in Jesus Christ, who is truly God and truly man and in whom the divine and human natures are inseparably united. He is the eternal Son of God who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary as Jesus of Nazareth. He came to reveal God to people and announce the coming of God's Kingdom. Having lived a sinless life of perfect obedience to the Father, He died on the cross to pay the penalty for people's sin, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven. In doing so, He provided the only way for people to be rescued from their sin and God's perfect judgement against it and to experience forgiveness and fullness of life, both now and for eternity. He is the only Mediator between people and God.

Matthew 1:18-25, 4:17, 23; Luke 23-24; John 1:1-18, 6:37-47, 10:10; John 14:6; I Corinthians 15:3-8; Hebrews 4:14-15, 9:14-15; Ephesians 4:11-16

The Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit, who is fully God and one with the Father and the Son and who works in people to make them aware of their need for freedom from sin and a relationship with God. The Holy Spirit enters and lives in every person who trusts and follows Jesus Christ. He makes real in a person's life what Jesus accomplished for them through his death and resurrection. As such, the Holy Spirit gives those who turn from their sin and trust in Christ new spiritual life, understanding of spiritual truth, guidance in doing what is right and power to accomplish God's purposes in one's life. The Holy Spirit also gives all Christ followers special abilities and gifts to use for God's glory and the service of others.

John 3:5-8, 16:7-14; Romans 8:5-17, 26-27; I Corinthians 2:10-12, 12:4-11; Ephesians 3:16-21; Galatians 5:22-25; Ephesians 6:10-18

The Bible

We believe that the Bible, consisting of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, is the authoritative written Word of God and contains no error in all that it teaches. We believe in the historical interpretation of the Bible. It was written by human authors under the inspiration and supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and teaches and trains Christ followers how to grow in relationship with God and others and live a holy and fulfilling life.

Psalm 119:105; Matthew 4:4; John 17:17; II Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; II Peter 1:20-21

People

All people are created in the image of God, being like Him in character, and are made for truthful and loving relationship with Him and one another. People are the supreme object of God's creation and the ones to whom He has given the stewardship of all He has made. All people are marred by a sinful nature which is expressed as an attitude of self-centeredness and disobedience toward the will of God. Sin creates a barrier between people and God and causes much destructiveness and pain in the world, and so reveals people's desperate need for God and inability to change and become all that God originally created them to be. God loves all people and has made provision for their restoration.

Genesis 1:27-28; Psalm 139:1-16, 23-24; Romans 1:18-21; 8:5-8; Ephesians 2:1-3; John 3:16

Salvation

God is merciful and freely extends His grace to all people. Through Christ's sacrificial death on the cross and resurrection to life, God has provided the way for people to be forgiven of their sins and restored to a perfect relationship with Him. All people who respond to God's mercy and grace by repenting of their sins and self-centeredness, putting their trust in Jesus Christ as their Saviour and committing themselves to following him as their Lord receive spiritual life from God. Although good works cannot remove anyone's sin, every person who experiences God's forgiveness will begin to live a new life and do good works as a natural evidence of their new heart and faith.

John 3:16-21; Acts 2:22-42; Romans 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:19-23; II Corinthians 5:14-6:2; Ephesians 2:8-10

Holy Living

We believe that God calls every follower of Christ to live in total dependence on Him and His power; to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit; and to be fully dedicated to doing His will. Living a life of holiness involves a specific decision to respond to God's grace by fully surrendering one's life to God. Holy living requires a daily and continual surrendering to God and learning to live in constant communication with the Holy Spirit. As Christians confess their sin, receive forgiveness, trust in the Holy Spirit and obey God's will, they will reflect the character of Jesus in their lives in an increasing way and receive His power for holy living and effective service.

Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1-21; Romans 8:1-4, 9-14, 12:1-2; Galatians 5:16-26; Ephesians 4:21-24; I Thessalonians 5:23-24

The Church

We believe that the true Church consists of people around the world who have put their trust in Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord and who gather together in local communities of faith to follow Jesus together. Jesus created the Church to reflect His character and extend His heart and hands to a broken world. The Church seeks to love and worship God in a spirit of unity, to help the spiritually lost enter into a relationship with Jesus, to encourage and equip one another to become fully devoted followers of Christ and to advance God's Kingdom in the world.

Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:22-23, 2:19-22, 3:8-1, 14-21; 4:1-16; Colossians 1:18-23

The Sacraments

We believe that the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper are pledges and symbols of God's selfless love for us and of our commitment to following Jesus Christ. They are reminders of Jesus' love and provision for us, His presence with us, His unity that binds us together and His sure promise to return and take us to be with Him forever.

Baptism - Matthew 3:13-17, 28:19-20; Acts 2:38-42; Romans 6:1-7 Lord's Supper - Luke 22:14-20; I Corinthians 11:23-26

Eternity

We believe people were created by God to live forever, and that after death people who do not know Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord and have not responded to Him in faith will be eternally separated from God's presence in hell, while those who know Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord and have placed their faith in Him will live eternally with God in heaven. At a time of God's choosing, Jesus Christ will return again to the earth in great power and splendor. He will come as the perfect Judge who knows every person's heart and rewards each person according to who they have lived their life for and how they have lived it. He will create a new heaven and earth, and with His followers establish the full reign of God's Kingdom for all eternity.

Matthew 25:31-46; John 14:1-4; Acts 1:9-10; I Corinthians 15:50-57; I Thessalonians 4:13-17; Revelation 20:11-15, 21:1-22:5