What We Believe

The following are the core beliefs of James Island Christian Church 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.

Triune God: We believe in the one true and living God revealed in the Bible who exists eternally in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – each equal in every divine perfection but distinct in function within the Godhead.  He is the Creator and Ruler of heaven and earth, inexpressibly glorious and holy, and is worthy of all possible worship, honor, and devotion. Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14

God the Father 
We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He infallibly foreknows all that shall come to pass, that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. John 4:24;
Psalm 147:5; Psalm 83:13; Hebrews 3:4; Romans 1:20; Isaiah 6:3; 1 Peter 1:15 16

God the Son
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. He was born of a virgin, lived a perfect sinless life, performed miracles, and taught the things of God. We believe in His substitutionary death upon the cross, His burial and subsequent bodily resurrection, His ascension into heaven, His perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth. Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-35; Galatians 4:4; Philippians 2:6-11; John 1:1, 14; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:24-26; Acts 1:9-11; Colossians 1:13-14; Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Hebrews 8:1

God the Spirit
 We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, comforter, and guide, leading all believers toward unity in Christ. John 15:26; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 1 Corinthians 2:10-11; 2 Corinthians 13:14

We believe the Holy Bible to be the inspired, inerrant Word of God and is authoritative and sufficient for faith and practice.  We believe it is the standard by which all truth, understanding, knowledge, and counsel is evaluated. 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21

God made man – male and female – in His own image as the crown of His creation so that man might have fellowship with Him. But through rebellion and disobedience to God’s command, man entered into sin and suffered the just condemnation of physical and spiritual death. As a result, all people are separated from God by their sin and are lost and without hope apart from salvation in Jesus Christ. Genesis 3:1-6; 2 Samuel 12:15-23; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:23, 5:12, 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3; Galatians 3:10

Salvation is a free gift that comes only by God’s grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, who by His death on the cross, bore the wrath and condemnation of God toward sin, crediting His perfect righteousness to those who trust in Him. Anyone who repents from their sin and believes in Jesus Christ alone for salvation receives forgiveness of sin and eternal life. John 1:12-13; John 3:3-16; John 10:28-29; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 4:30; Isaiah 53:4-5; Romans 4:25; Romans 3:21-25; 1 John 4:10

 We believe God is a covenant-making and covenant-keeping God, and is the source of life and all necessary provision to those in relationship with Him. All those who are in covenant with God are also united in covenant relationship with one another. This means laying down their lives for one another, loving, forgiving, and serving one another, bearing each other’s burdens, and even offering correction and rebuke for the purpose of godliness when necessary. Genesis 12:1-7; Exodus 19:5-6; Matthew 26:28;
Hebrews 8:6; Hebrews 8:13

We believe the very nature and purpose of God is revealed in His Church.  Jesus established the Church as His body in the earth.  We believe the universal Church consists of all who submit in faith to Jesus' lordship, while the local church is a body of believing people, gathering regularly, observing baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and walking in covenant relationship with each other before God. We believe that Jesus Christ, who is the Head of the Church, has granted authority and given gifts to His body, including apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to equip and mature it to do His work in the earth. Acts 2:41-42; 2 Corinthians 8:5; Matthew 28:19; Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:26; 1 Corinthians 12:14; Ephesians 4:11-16

We believe the scriptures set each local church under the authority of a plurality of Elders or Pastors. The ministries of the church are additionally furthered through the faithful service of deacons. We believe the Lord commends His people toward covenant membership in local churches, under personal pastoral care for the maturing of character and development of both personal and corporate ministry. Acts 14:23; Acts 15:22; 1 Timothy 3; Titus 1:5-9

We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells and fills all believers. There are many varied scriptural expressions used to describe such encounters – among them are being baptized in the Holy Spirit, filled with the Holy Spirit, and anointed with the Holy Spirit.  These experiences should produce greater commitment to God's will, greater realization of His power, and greater edification of His Church. We further believe the Holy Spirit imparts gifts or abilities greater than our own to accomplish God's will. These gifts ought to be operative in the Church, supervised by mature leaders, and ministered in love by Christians whose lives reflect godly character. 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 2 Timothy 1:14; Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:18; Acts 1:5; Matthew 3:11; Acts 4:31; 1 Corinthians 12

By the shedding of His blood, Jesus has become our great High Priest and has granted each believer free access to the presence of the Father. There is no mediator between God and man except Jesus Christ. Each believer can now confidently come before God, receive from Him, and offer the sacrifice of worship and obedience. 1 Peter 2:5-9; Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 Timothy 2:5

We accept the commission of Jesus Christ, who is Lord, to make disciples of Him among all nations, in our neighborhoods, and in the next generation; seeking to baptize them and teach them to observe His commandments.  We join with all those believing in Him to accomplish this urgent task.  We accept this as a personal commission, as well as a Church commission. Matthew 28:16-20; Matthew 9:37-38; Acts 1:8; Romans 10:11-15; Philemon 6

We believe in the imminent, visible, and glorious return of Jesus Christ. Christians are exhorted to be watchful and obedient until His appearing.  While there are many viewpoints concerning His second coming, we believe Christians should lovingly look for His appearing, giving full attention to obedience while He tarries.  We believe His appearing will occasion the resurrection of the righteous who have died and are now with Him. Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:7; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Acts 24:15

We believe in the final judgment at the end of the age.  We believe both the righteous and the wicked shall stand before Him and be judged.  Those who are in Christ will be rewarded by sharing in God’s presence forever, serving Him, and offering Him unending praise and glory.  Those who are not in Christ will be eternally punished with Satan and His demons in hell. 2 Corinthians 5:10-11;
2 Thessalonians 1:6-12; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Acts 17:31; Revelation 20:11-12; Revelation 19:11

Through the teaching of scripture and Christ’s example, we believe in baptism by immersion in water. The obedience of baptism is for all those who have repented of their sins and who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe in the regular observance of the Lord's Supper by baptized believers as commemoration and proclamation of the Lord’s death, resurrection, and return. Acts 8:36-39; Matthew 3:5-6; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:12; 1 Corinthians 11:26; Matthew 26:26-29

Both man and woman were created in God’s image, equal as persons and distinct in their manhood and womanhood. These distinctions are ordained by God as part of the created order, and should be honored and celebrated within the Church. Biblical Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime; such uniting serves to fundamentally and profoundly depict the relationship of Christ and His Bride, the Church. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the Church, laboring sacrificially to provide for, protect, and lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the Church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:18; Ephesians 5:23-32

We believe God is the author of all authority. He has ordained civil government for the establishment of order and peace in the nations. We believe it the task of the Church to speak prophetically to the nations, both by its proclamations and its lifestyle. Meanwhile, the Church is admonished to pray for and honor civil government. Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-2